– Dwight Howard shines
While the sample size is small, it is clear that Dwight Howard is looking to prove that he can still be a good player in this league. Howard has embraced his role as the backup center for the Lakers, and he has been doing a great job off the bench.
In the win over the Hornets, Howard totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in 23 minutes. Howard was a force off the bench for the Lakers, as he was an active player on the offensive glass nearly every time. Howard getting three offensive rebounds just helps the Lakers get extra possessions and builds momentum.
Howard ended up having the best +/- on the entire team, as he finished +23 for the game. It is also worth noting that Howard played more minutes once again than JaVale McGee in the game. While McGee is getting the starting nod, Howard is the center that is playing better.
The Lakers aren’t running many things through Howard at the moment, but he is finding ways to get stats. Going 8-for-8 from the field is obviously extremely efficient. Even though he wasn’t their first choice in the free agency, taking the chance on Howard is paying off so far.