From Magic to Disaster

Before this season I was a supporter of Dwight Howard and his demands in Orlando. Honestly, all he wanted was a competitive team to go against the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat of the worlds. But as the season went on, you saw him throw teammates, coaches, and upper management figures under the bus, and the artificial facade of lovable goofball slowly started to chip away. Yesterday afternoon, you finally saw him for what he was...I calculating ingenuous self absorbed drama setting phony that doesn't give two squats about the franchise.

Before the season we all knew there would be massive media attention on Howard due to possibly that he may opt out of his contract after this season. Howard didn't just mismanage the situation, he turned it into a full blown circus. From openly saying which teams he'd sign long term for, then entertaining media outlets everywhere saying "he could see himself" with teams outside the original four he named. From there he criticized upper management, spoke of Jameer Nelson's inefficiencies, and yesterday's BOMBSHELL that he went behind Stan Van Gundy (SVG) to upper management and wanted him fired. Then you look at the actual video, and what you see from Howard (mainly his denial) is even more damaging.

SVG "heard it straight from the top" apparently, that Howard wanted him out as coach. Stan really has no reason to lie about this. All Howard keeps saying is these decisions arent up to him (which is partially true), but he knows management will at least listen to him. Now Van Gundy is pretty calculating himself, and should share some of the blame. Using a nationally televised game with the NY media in house to drop this early yesterday, but not nearly as damaging as Dwight's denial. Howard was smug, cocky, and cheesy (for lack of a better term) during his Q&A portion yesterday. But he denied, denied, denied even when told HIS coach was the source. The only way this situation can get worse is if Howard was to return next year...oh that's right. Howard opted in for another year of alienating everyone in the greater Orlando area. Personally I'm surprised SVG is still the coach (as of this publishing) in Orlando. Not because he doesn't deserve to be the coach, but because someone has to take the downfall.

As of March 29 the Magic were the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference, as of today they are the #6 seed after losing 5 straight. If this continues Orlando may not make the playoffs, of course that's a formality because even if the make the post season they will be one and out. The fan battle cry usually is wait until next year, but even the most hardened Magic fan can't want any part of this next year. Whether Van Gundy is fired or Howard is traded or both one thing is for certain. Whether Howard leaves and the Magic get nothing or if he's traded and they get some actual return, Dwight has been more detrimental to Orlando this year than LeBron James was to Cleveland or Carmelo was to Denver. Yet fans are more defensive of Howard because of the image he sold fans. But last night Dwight tanked it...mailed it in...his first points came with 3.5 seconds left in the 3rd Quarter....thru 3 quarters he had 5 turnovers, 4 fouls, and 2 points. Ended the night with 8 points, bricking 3 free throws and just not playing. If perception is everything how come you'll see many fans giving him a pass? TNT's channel slogan is "We know drama." Well it was in full view last night. Howard quit on SVG and Orlando...time to stop coddling this fraud.