The Los Angeles Lakers met the Phoenix Suns and once again suffered an embarrassing loss to a team at the pit of the standings. Dwight Howard had a decent game, but is his focus in the right place? Instead of winning, the Lakers' All-Star center might have been focusing on petty things.
This is what he had to say as Lakers reporter Dave McMenamin tweeted.
Now, the companionship is admirable and heartwarming. It's probably something many wouldn't have associated with the Lakers at the beginning of the season. However, if you ask me, the Laker players shouldn't "want to win" for anybody else or anything that isn't relating to the NBA playoffs.
Beating the Suns should have been the objective, period. Howard should have wanted to win to increase a lead over the Utah Jazz who lost to the New York Knicks. The Lakers would have increased their one-game lead over the Jazz who are currently in ninth place.
The Lakers should have wanted to win because it's what they're supposed to do against any sub-.500 team at this point of the season. They lost to a Suns team that is 23-45. They should have wanted to win because they are trying to make it to the playoffs.
It's that simple.
Again, Howard's intentions were great, but it's time to stick to the ultimate goal. If Steve Nash wants to set a personal vendetta against his former team, then that's his business, but Nash wasn't trying to beat his former team for any personal reasons. At least, these weren't made public because Nash played like he wanted to defeat his former squad. Nash was the game's leading scorer dropping 19 points.
Howard on the other had a decent 16 points with 11 points while missing 12 shots and turning the ball over five times.
From now, as the season winds down and the Lakers hold a fragile lead for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, what Howard can do is try to win for the team in general and for only cause that should be in this team's head; the playoffs.
The Lakers face the Washington Wizards on Friday as it will be one of 14 regular season games remaining in the year.
