<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">An exhausted Dwight Howard plopped down on a bleacher seat and spotted Marcin Gortat by the watercooler. "Hey, rook!" Howard yelled. "Get me a drink!" The affable Howard broke out laughing. He has been waiting for a while to haze another rookie. Even as the NBA's No. 1 overall draft pick, he spent last season fetching drinks and towels and whatever else the veterans needed. Now Howard is a veteran -- at 19. He'll be expected to carry the Orlando Magic franchise soon, his load likely increasing this season. "I expect to get the ball more," Howard said, after a summer-league practice at RDV Sportsplex. "When the season comes, it's going to happen." Howard, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound power forward, said he feels he is ready for greater responsibility. He was frustrated at times as a rookie last season. He and his family thought he should have been getting more shots, but he bit his tongue, saying, "My time will come." Howard barely could get his hands on the ball, attempting just more than eight shots per game. The Magic had several offensive-minded veterans, relegating Howard to rebounder and shot-blocker. Prying the ball from guard Steve Francis isn't easy for any teammate. Howard, though, said he feels he has gained Steve-O's trust. "It'll be cool," he said. "He'll do it this year." Actually, Howard wasn't quite ready until midseason anyway. His offense often was stymied by foul trouble, and he needed to develop pet low-post moves. But the more he played -- taking the best shots from the league's veteran big men -- the more you could witness jaw-dropping glimpses of promise. He posted double figures in shot attempts in 12 of the Magic's final 20 games. Howard became the first high school player to go directly from high school (Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy) to the NBA and start every game. Not even Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James can say that. He averaged a double-double -- 12 points and 10 rebounds per game -- and played 32.6 minutes per night.</div> Source
I posted this same article another thread only I directed it to a different area of the article. Anyway I think that Howard will be seeing many more touches this season under a new system. This new coach was the guy who got us to the finals and coached Shaq into the beast he was early in his career. I can not wait to see what he does with Howard. I think Howard needs to improve his aggressiveness when stepping to the basket, and his overall scoring ability when on the perimeter to become more effective. I think he will average around 16 and 10 this season that may be stretching it a little, but this will be a season were he will grow into a big time player. I do not think he will be an all-star this season like some may, but if this team makes it to the playoffs he will be a big part. I found an interesting part of the article when he said he thinks he has earned Steve?s trust now in reality that was in the same boat as everyone last year. Besides for Kelvin Cato and Cuttino Mobley that was the first season everyone on that roster played with Francis so I do not see why he trusted some people more than others. I think it?s just his normal ball dominating personality.
