The Los Angeles Lakers’ paint protectors:
Dwight Howard – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is perfect for Dwight Howard in more ways than one.
Of course, the words big, thunder, mountain and railroad can all be used to describe the 6’10, 265 lb beast that is Howard but that’s not the only reason. The attraction itself takes riders through an abandoned mine shaft that’s supposedly haunted and filled with explosives before finding tons of gold at the end. In a way, that’s what the Lakers did when they took the chance on signing Howard last offseason.
Howard’s career was on the verge of being over after he and the Wizards parted ways. He wasn’t able to stay healthy and he just wasn’t producing at the same level that he previously was.
For all intents and purposes, Superman was gone.
Then, DeMarcus Cousins’ injury opened a roster spot on the Lakers and they chose to fill it with Howard. The Lakers got on the ride and hoped that the abandoned mineshaft that was Howard would yield gold at the end of it. They knew that it was loaded with traps, dynamite and dead ends but still believed in him anyway. Fast forward to now and Howard has been one of the Lakers’ most important players.
Serving as the Lakers’ primary interior defender, he’s helped them achieve the third-best Defensive Rating (105.5) in the league. Now, with him officially heading into Orlando, the Lakers will hope to strike gold once again with Howard.
JaVale McGee – Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
McGee is depicted best by the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor for obvious reasons, he’s one of the Lakers’ funniest players. Not just because of his jokes in the post-game interviews or his pre-game dance routines, but some of the things that he does on the court are also hilarious.
For example, how many teams can say that they’ve got someone who has successfully executed this mastermind play?
Although McGee’s “Shaqtin a Fool” days are behind him, he still finds a way to make all of Lakers Nation crack a smile every now and then.