Good Juan Howard article. Not only covering the center position, he is taking Joel's role as veteran motivator. Love it. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/12/juwan_howard_is_walking_the_wa.html
Howard's a stud. He's the type of veteran influence this team has needed for a while. He gets away more on smarts than abilities these days, but his mid-range J is silky smooth and he seems to always be there on the offensive boards.
Love it! And even if everyone else doesn't agree I think the blazers should resign him next year just for that veteran lockeroom guy position. It really can't hurt and I think he could teach everyone a thing or two.
I cannot believer what an important signing he ended up being. The man oozes professionalism - something that's pretty rare in pro sports these days. Love him!
I thought, like a lot of us here, that he was done, nothing in the tank, completely useless except in the locker room. My apologies, Mister Howard.
Yeah, great signing. I'd love to see Juwan stick around another season if he wants to. Seems like he's taken Pendergraph under his wing, and hopefully he can be somewhat of the big man's coach when we're healthy.
There's something Juwan is bringing to the team, a confidence, an enjoy the moment kind of attitude. I didn't get it until about a week ago. I'm watching games where we are up 5 in the 4th quarter and then we hit a dry spell and all of the sudden we are down 4 and call a t/o. Flash to Juwan, who is SMILING bigger than life with his arm around one of our younger guys walking back to the bench. I see him chest bumping Bayless, and getting up from the bench waving his towel. He's really enjoying this, and it's rubbing off on the team. Remember when Roy said that he "wished there was an older player HE could turn to"? That being the leader of this team at such a young age is sometimes hard for him? Juwan has assumed the role of "keep the team loose" guy, and it's simply amazing to watch. Juwan looks like he's still one of the "Fab 5" emotionally. He's just enjoying every game, which you just don't see in this league. Can it last for 50 more games? Conventional wisdom says no, but after the last 7 games I'm throwing everything I thought I knew out the window.
You know, if we lose Monty this summer, I'd totally sign Juwan as an assistant to replace him. I'm not sure about signing him to play another year... but I definitely don't want him to leave!
From our outsider perspective that sounds pretty good to me. Who knows what the dynamic is within the team...but I really am liking Juwan this year!
Thank you Howard! Thanks for helping our ball club! I didn't know you had it in you. Not only are you a good "locker room guy, you have actually rounded out some double doubles for us as well. WOW! I hope you keep this up and get our team back on track!