Sebastian Langkilde

Dwight Howard on Inside The NBA

Watch the interview here

I just watched a thriller with the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs could have definitely won the game but the obligatory blown calls and a few missed rebounds opened the door. Russell Westbrook took the opportunity and won the game for his team. When Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Steven Adams, and EnesKanter have played together they have dominated the boards and exposed the age of Tim Duncan and inability of David West. I knew this event would play out in the last few minutes of the game. Now we can confirm neither of these players can handle either Kanter or Adams together.

As Chris Webber and Marv Albert wound down the game they pointed out how the Spurs haven’t had an answer for the Thunder’s bigs. It occurred to me they haven’t tried Boban Marjanovic yet. He was DNPed this game but they’re down three games heading into Oklahoma. They ought to try Boban. He’s inexperienced but far more athletic than Duncan or West. I may be going out out on a limb here but I see him as their future starting center. He, Kawhi, Danny Green, and LaMarcus Aldridge seem like the future of the team. Not sure if Patty Mills is their point guard of the future but this line up with Boban feels legit. He gives me the same impression Kawhi did when he was coming up.

After the game, Inside The NBA discussed the game with special guest, and future ex-Rockets center, Dwight Howard. I was a bit surprised he was on the show but intrigued to listen to his take on the game. To my surprise he suggested Boban too. Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith were both impressed since they hadn’t thought of it first. Good call Dwight! Chuck moved quickly into asking Howard how he felted about being hated, if he checked out on the Rockets, and if he was opting out of his deal. He did check out but who wouldn’t when you’re playing with James Harden. The guy plays 90’s isolation ball and doesn’t know what defense is. As Chuck pointed out of course he’ll opt out of his contract. Sure he’s probably over Houston but this comes down to money. Opting out allows him to cash in one last time in his career. This summer’s free agency sees a huge cap increase for teams to play with. If he’s healthy and not cast as one of the main guys he may help a team push for a championship run.

Howard’s response to being hated was quite interesting though. He acknowledged when he was winning in Orlando everyone loved him. I remember when my Lakers beat him in the Finals. He was a faster and more athletic version of Shaq. When he went to LA I was over the moon. He was going to prolong Kobe’s career and help us get another championship. When it didn’t happen we hated him. Howard failed in LA for many reasons. Kobe didn’t exactly help matters and injuries unfortunately hampered his abilities. Now Howard never had the stuff needed to play in LA or deal with guys like Kobe. You don’t have to get along with guys off the court but do your job on it. He acted like a baby. It’s not all been on him in LA or Houston but his attitude doesn’t help his case. I think he floundered in LA but Houston failed him.

Dwight came off genuine and believed what he said for the most part. Like all players he listens to what people say about him and he’s going to opt out of Houston. He can’t say it on record yet but he will. I think he understands people don’t like him. I’ve personally cooled off a bit but Laker nation still hates him. I liked his explanation for not looking engaged, not famously smiling, saying he doesn’t like to lose. He’s “interested in winning” and obviously losing sucks. They had a shitty record this year coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance and getting embarrassed by Golden State, minus some Steph Curry, in the first round. Many like my guy Zack Lowe had predicted a big season for them and they failed miserably. I blame Harden who is fool’s gold much like Allen Iverson (most overrated guard ever), Stephon Marbury, and Steve Francis. He’ll probably opt out and hopefully he’ll go to another team. With a healthy body it could get real interesting for him.

Protected: Tormented

The Fall Guys

C'mon Man

As the NFL season approaches, ESPN has cut some old Countdown faces and added new voices to their programming. The Mothership completely ousted Ray Lewis and Cris Carter while retaining Mike Ditka, but removing him from Countdown. Matt Hasslebeck, Randy Moss, and my man and former Raider great Charles Woodson will fill out Countdown. Trent Dilfer may also be out of ESPN though nothing has been officially reported yet. Either way the purging in Bristol continues almost everyday.

I have to say these acquisitions are upgrades over the last incarnation of the program. Ditka is uninteresting or uninsightful. Hasslebeck has been talked up over the years as a sharp guy. I expect his long career as a back-up and franchise player to bring a modern perspective the show has needed for a while. I’m sure people still want Berman and Tom Jackson out of Countdown. Wingo is the man, but there is still a bit of magic and nostalgia when I see those two together. They have a distinct chemistry that takes years of working together and a bit of luck. It’s kinda like the Spurs. Surround the old fading guys with new fresh talent. They keep the ship up but the old anchors bring the experience I like in key moments. I’m sure they and ESPN know Woodson, Moss, and Hasslebeck will carry the weight and bring a modern perspective to Countdown.

Hasslebeck recently backed-up Andrew Luck which should bring unequaled insight to his development as a player and the Colts organization. Their GM Ryan Grigson sucks. He’s only employed thanks to Andrew Luck, not even Al Davis couldn’t fuck that up, and his boss happens to be Jim Irsay. Not a man or family known for making good decisions. Hasslebeck also helped take the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl and once backed up Brett Farve. He should bring an intelligent take on many situations that will arise each NFL season. I look forward to seeing if he can separate himself from other former-commenting-players on TV.

The other two analysts seem more unknown but have retired more recently from the NFL. Maybe they can offer more contemporary opinions. Moss was at Fox for a few years but I saw him maybe once on air. I’d bet most of America never saw him on Fox. This will definitely raise his public profile. Woodson is a complete mystery however. Just retired from the league, I biasedly expect him to be good eventually but it may take the season for him to learn and feel out his new job. Over the next few seasons I expect my Raiders to start competing for the playoffs and hopefully someday contend for a deep run. It seems unlikely now but many of the key pieces are in place with Derek Carr, Khalil Mack, Amari Cooper, a strong offensive line, and a developing defense. As the team grows and gains success Woodson’s relationship with the team may help him on Countdown.

I like these new hirings for ESPN. They’ve been taking a beating, rightfully so, for cutting and losing former employees. These changes were smart and probably cheaper. It’s not clear what lead the Mothership to dropping Carter and Lewis. Their contracts may be up. ESPN usually extends contracts before the last year is up according to Dan Patrick. If you check in after his interview with Mike Tirico he mentions this practice. Perhaps they planned on letting Lewis and Carter go for cheaper replacements. They certainly have excuses for letting each of them walk. Lewis was never great. He ended up relying on cliches and couldn’t give viewers insights on the game like a Cris Collinsworth. I don’t remember a time where he pointed out a nuance in a game that we as the viewer could never see without a solid analyst. Carter was far better than Lewis but he’s definitely replaceable. The fall guy comment with Warren Sapp doesn’t help either. He might get a job elsewhere. As NFL Memes said, R.I.P. C’mon Man.