<font size="+2">Mavs' Howard starts to define game </font> <font size="+1">Third-year player is becoming a frontcourt force alongside Dirk </font> <font size="-1">09:58 PM CST on Sunday, December 25, 2005 </font> <font size="-1">By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News </font> On the Western road swing last week, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson was asked if buzz around the league that Josh Howard is one of the game's most underrated players was accurate. "He's not underrated in our book," Johnson snapped back. "He does a lot for us. And when you do things on a more consistent basis, you tend to catch people's attention." Howard no longer is surprising anybody around the NBA. He's been too good too often this season to be a secret weapon. Even on a trip when he had back-to-back poor shooting games (a combined 8-for-35), he bounced back with an efficient 8-of-13 showing against Seattle. With a couple of days off for the holiday, Howard's right ankle ? which cost him eight games ? should be closer to 100 percent for tonight's meeting with the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center. The 6-7 forward has steadily climbed the rungs of NBA success. When you are the last pick of the first round, as he was in 2003, there are no fast ascents. Instead, he has slowly become one of Johnson's most important players. So much so that he's no longer under the radar, although Howard still occupies a place in Dirk Nowitzki's shadow. "I've been kind of underrated all my life," said Howard, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C. "So I'm used to it. It gives me motivation to keep playing hard, recognized or not. "I was never big on being recognized anyway. If it comes, it comes. If not, I'm not going to worry about it." Howard shies away from talk about being an All-Star someday. But the more he strings together double-doubles and continues to raise his game as Nowitzki's trusted sidekick, the more he's bound to get noticed. "All that All-Star stuff is just a bunch of hoopla," he said. "The same players [are chosen] every year. They might get one guy every few years who hasn't been there." Howard looks at Nowitzki, in his eighth season, and sees how much work it takes to be an elite-level player. He's never been afraid to put a little elbow grease into the job. That's not a problem. At this point in his career, however, part of the learning process is psychological. Howard won't arrive at a new echelon without letting his confidence out of its cage. "A lot of it's mental for a young player," Johnson said. "I have a vision of how I want him to play on a daily basis and how I want him to practice. He's getting there. "He understands, and I think he really wants it. He's maturing day by day." So is Howard a future All-Star? "I would rather see him be a future champion," Johnson said. Howard has averaged just over 17 points and 7.5 rebounds in the last six games. But there have been some wild swings in that stretch. He had just one rebound in Los Angeles against the Lakers in a game in which he shot 3-of-16. He is searching for consistency. "I'm on the improve," he said. "I can't wait to see what's going to happen next year. I get better each year, hopefully. And I haven't [finished] riding this one out." E-mail esefko@dallasnews.com JOSH HOWARD Who: Mavericks forward (6-7, 210 pounds) Age: 25 College: Wake Forest Draft: Dallas took him with the last pick (29th overall) in the first round of the 2003 draft. Contract: The Mavs exercised their option year on his rookie contract the day after last season ended. He is making $873,880 this season and will earn $1.577 million next season. The team still holds an option for 2007-08 ? at $2.366 million. Career highs: Points ? 30 Rebounds ? 18 Assists ? 6 Steals ? 6 Blocks ? 6 Great article by the DMN, he is really showing improvement. Where can you see Howard in his prime?
He needs to focus on using his length to his advantage, like what Tayshaun Prince did to Kobe. It'd be great if he could also get some blocks going, watch Kirilenko for some ideas He has a lot of potential, because he has the basic fundamentals down.
I see Howard improving his all-around game over the next three years, but especially his knowledge of other players on the defensive end and how not to pick up fouls, and his mid-range pull-up jumper which he displayed beautifully in the 3rd quarter of the Seattle game. He has improved every year in college and in the NBA, and he has the right attitude to be coached and improve. The best public example of Howard's mindset recently was an interview about 3 weeks ago in which he was asked about his growing reputation in the League: he said that Dirk was a star and that he "and Marquis" were "up and coming." I have seen the quote twice since and each time the "and Marquis" was dropped. Howard, like his coaches in college and in Dallas, is always supportive of his teammates and does not promote himself, but also does not shy away from challenges or displaying confidence. He's a guy Dallas should stick with for the long haul.
