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.