Play to your strengths

I'm really tired of all the Dwight Howard criticism.

Whether it's from Shaq, Chuck or Kareem, I don't want to hear it anymore- I'm just over it.

"Dwight has no low post game"

"He's mentally-soft"

"He's a good player but not a great player"

"You can't build championship teams around Howard"

"He's too much of a goof"

"Dwight is too worried about whether fans like him"

All this might be true. But who cares?!

Now, he's (over)reacting to his non All-Star starting selection. (Just check out this ridiculous pledge)

Seriously, so what? Roy Hibbert has been one the most in-form players this year-certainly more dominating than Dwight Howard in leading the Pacers to the top of the league- and was snubbed by the fans.

It's a fact that centers are the the hardwires of basketball and have to get their hands dirty in providing their team with the physical nitty gritty. Centers have to use their physicality under the rim, they protect the rim and must out hustle strong opponents for rebounds.

Take Bill Russell as your case study. He is the greatest center to ever play basketball. Russell averaged 22 rebounds, 15 points and 4 assists per game.

He was an 11 time NBA champion, 5 time season MVP and 12 time All-Star.

Although Russell is renown for his defence and rebounding, he was an excellent scorer.

But scoring was never his primary concern. His concern was to play to his strengths.

Former teammate, Don Nelson said, "There are two types of superstars. One makes himself look good at the expense of the other guys on the floor. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was."

Dwight Howard could be the new modern version of Bill Russell. But he's too concerned with his offense, always looking to become more of a low post scorer.

Why?

Is it because he's like everyone else and likes to score points?

Does he want the fantasy stat line?

Does he want the limelight in looking to be included on daily highlight reels?

Is it for his image?

I don't know.

He isn't the only player in the NBA who becomes distracted with scoring in neglecting the rest of their game.

I just know that if Dwight Howard played to his strengths, the Rockets and himself would jump to another level.

 If he really came to Houston to win a championship than Dwight should be like Russell. He should focus on his defence in getting blocks and rebounds for outlet passes and finish the fast break with endless highlights of emphatic dunks.

I can let go now

I have put this off for too long.

I can't put it off any longer.

But now I have no choice to confront the reality- Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are no longer Celtics.

The Big Three 2.0 era is over.

I've been mulling what I would write for months now.

Although it was official during the preseason, I refused to believe it was over.

My mind couldn't digest that Pierce and KG would no longer be wearing Green.

But tomorrow will be the final nail that hammers home the reality as KG and Pierce return to Boston to face the Celtics.

Ironically, it falls in the same week that the Celtics face the Heat and Thunder- Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins were the other two members of the Celtics 2008 Championship team who have since departed Boston.

Many remember the 2008 championship as the the highlight of the Big Three era. The Celtics dominated the league with a 66-16 record and looked primed to go back-to-back.

It couldn't be a better time to be a Celtics fan. I was in my early 20s having finished high school and trying to find myself as I entered what seemed like a new world to me. It was a world where 20 year old somethings have something to prove and feel pressured to do so.

For me, the 2008 season became everything I tried to emulate in my life.

Growing up, at times, I used to be lazy and ill-disciplined towards my studies. I rarely fully applied myself, merely satisfied with an adequate effort as I coasted through life. It was as if I was waiting for my life to take course on its own.

As I slowly realised the reality I faced, fears and uncertainty flooded in.

However, I slowly began to find myself as the 2008 Celtic team became my blueprint for how I approached life.

I created a hybrid version of myself in taking certain qualities of each player. (Think Sylar from Heroes)

Ray Allen was the ultimate professional who ensured he was prepared for any situation by training hard. Kendrick Perkins was known for his fierce scrawl in intimidating opponents. Paul Pierce played with his whole heart and soul in doing whatever the team needed. Kevin Garnett was inspirational and passionate, and was never afraid to show it.

That championship team pushed themselves to levels that they had never attained before. You know the story- KG couldn't get it done in Minnesota, Ray Allen was known only as a three point shooter and the Celtics were coming off a miserable season with a 24-58 record featuring a franchise record 18 game losing streak.

Similarly I was motivated to do the same. I pushed myself to levels I never envisioned.

Fitness became a priority for me and I promised to fully apply myself in my studies.

But a funny thing happened. It wasn't the success that I fell in love with. It was about the effort.

After missing the 2008 NBA Finals, I felt I had to travel to America to watch the Celtics replay the Lakers in 2010 Finals. I travelled to LA and Boston and back to watch all 7 games.

I was left heartbroken after the Celtics lost game 7 in LA. It is still a painful and bitter memory that I must change the channel when replays are televised.

2010 was a very challenging year for me personally. My Grandmother, who I was very close with, passed away and I felt a poignant moment where I was wondering what would become of the rest of my life.

In hindsight, that 2010 Celtic team is my favourite team.

To me, they embody what the Celtics and the rest of sport should truly be about.

That team suffered multiple injuries during the course of the season, including KG who was still troubled with his season ending knee injury from the 2009 season.

The Celtics stumbled through the season losing to lowly teams and many critics proclaimed the Celtics were as dead in the water as their chances of winning another championship.

But the Celtics refused to listen to the doubters as they defeated the heavily favoured Cleveland Cavaliers (led by season MVP, LeBron James) and Orlando Magic (led by Dwight Howard) on the way to the Finals.

It was my sports-spiritual awakening.

Although the Celtics lost in the Finals, I was thoroughly entertained along the ride.

It was my first lesson in learning that it's not the destination that counts, but ultimately it's all about the journey.

We can't control what happens in life. All you can do is best manage your situation. It's about how well you embrace the challenge and learn the lessons that come through.

Sport can be annoyingly tacky and preachy. Moreover, sport is just so trivial in the grand scheme of it all.

But even the smallest gatherings turn out to be the special occasions the same way beauty can come from the unlikeliest of places.

For what seems so insignificant to many, has become a very profound moment in my life, and I will always cherish that when I reminisce over all the memories I have for the KG and Pierce-led Celtics during their return to Boston tomorrow.

Lance Stephenson is not All-Star worthy

Lance Stephenson is not worthy of being selected as an All-Star this year.

And it's not only because of his ridiculous campaign video. (Trust me, I've seen worse-here's looking at you Chris Bosh).

The fourth-year guard is second on the Pacers in scoring 13.7 points a game, first in assists with 5.1 per game, third in rebounding (6.6) and third in field goal percentage with 50.2%.

Moreover, Stephenson also leads the league with three triple doubles.

Is it enough for him to get an All-Star nod in the East?

Most probably but only for the reason that coaches select players based on team records and in the Eastern Conference, picking players based on team records is not a task anyone would envy.

I know I am not a coach but I wouldn't pick him.

Let me explain.

Stephenson is a product of the system.

Do you think he would have the same production if he weren't playing for the Pacers?

The Pacers are currently first in the league with a 32-7 record and are holding opponents to a stingy 88.2 points per game (8.4 points ahead of the Spurs who are second in allowing opposition points with 96.6).

Offensively, the Pacers are a match-up nightmare for everyone.

Paul George is a threat at both ends of the floor as a tenacious defender and specialist scorer. Roy Hibbert is one of the few true big-man centres and is near impossible to either defend or score on.

With David West able to play in either the post or stretch the floor, George Hill and Lance Stephenson are unleashed to capitalise on the match-up advantage.

Don't get me wrong, I am thoroughly entertained whenever I watch Stephenson play with that New-York flair he grew up with. (I thoroughly encourage you to watch the coolest sports doco-Gunnin' For That Number 1 Spot )

But with the Pacers submitting Paul George, Roy Hibbert and David West, there isn't enough room for Lance Stephenson.

Now the East is really bad but there's still the Kyrie Irvings, Carmello Anthonys, Joakim Noahs and Joe Johnsons that are ahead of Stephenson.

Then again, having said all that, the East is not just bad-it's atrocious and maybe Indiana deserve to have four All-Stars for having the best record.