The newest NBA Lakers rumors of 2012 are taking a look at the key players and their contributions for the upcoming pro basketball season. The latest analyzes Dwight Howard and how he will help to improve the Lakers in terms of defense this coming year. Will D-Howard's defensive skills and presence be his biggest contribution to the Lakers?
According to Bleacher Report, this year could see Los Angeles return back to glory in the championship round of the NBA playoffs, with Howard helping them get there. It could also be a season in which Dwight picks up his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. That achievement would tie him with two other defensive stars of the NBA past: Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace. At least one of those guys won a championship too.
It's noted that Howard is a "bit of" an upgrade from previous Lakers center Andrew Bynum. Bynum certainly ranks among the top centers of the league, but isn't a Dwight Howard when it comes to athleticism. They both had the same number of blocked shots last season, although Howard played in six less games. Howard also had 3.5 more rebounds per game than Bynum, an important aspect of the defensive side of things. Grabbing those defensive rebounds to get the ball up court on fast breaks is an essential aspect of the best teams in the league.
More importantly, having one of the NBA's best defenders on your squad can lead to a championship. It may not have panned out for the NY Knicks, but Tyson Chandler isn't Dwight Howard. Had Howard been healthy, he more than likely would've been the star player, and best defender on Team USA. With the Lakers ranking at #14 overall in terms of opponents' points per game and #9 in opponents' field-goal percentage, it seems they have room to improve. Howard can certainly help them do that. Now add in the complimentary basketball skills of Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, and Kobe Bryant, and you can see why LA fans are pretty excited for the 2012-13 season to get going.
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