Dwight Howard: Superman for NBA MVP?

One of the handful of players worthy of being the 2009 NBA MVP also happens to smile more than any other player on the court.

He is the lone player who has earned the right to call himself "Superman." He won the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest wearing a cape and a Superman emblem on his chest.

The man I speak of is, of course, Dwight Howard. You will not find a player who is a more intimidating force in the National Basketball Association.  

Sorry, Shaquille O'Neal.  You are no longer the player most feared in the paint.

Even if SI and its players' poll named him the most intimidating player in the association, "The Big Cactus" does not have the same prick to him that he once had.

Howard is garnering attention for the most coveted of postseason awards, and should continue to do so throughout the season.

His statistics really belie the overall impact he has on games and the league.  They are impressive, still: 20 PPG and 14 RPG. He also posts almost one steal per game (.98) to go along with his super-shot blocking of nearly three per contest (2.92).

Funny thing is, two of his Orlando Magic teammates have taken more than 70 more shots than No. 12 this season, and he still manages to dominate.

But Dwight has intangibles in addition to stats.

Dwight Howard Controls the Paint

Shots flying toward the rim is a regular occurrence in league play. What is not the norm is one player sending so many shots back, flying in the opposite direction.

Many teams are forced to settle for jump shots outside the painted area due to the presence of Howard. When you block as often as a young child with Legos, you will have that sort of impression on an opponent's tendencies.

More Than Just a Space-Eater

Howard does take up room in the lane, but like the comic book hero Superman, he has more than just strength. His long wing-span makes for adjusted shots (and sometimes nothing more than desperate attempts at the rim).

He gathers rebounds as if he were a magnet gathering metal. Imagine if his only duty was to focus on rebounding, à la Dennis Rodman for so many years. Might we say that 30 boards on a nightly basis would be possible?

Consistently Playing Valuably

Shooting 50 percent from the field in one NBA game is respectable for one night. Play around 40 minutes that same day and you get a little more respect for the day.

Now apply those averages game-in and game-out. That's almost Dwight Howard-good. He's making shots at a clip of 56 percent to this point.

But Superman Does Have His Kryptonite

There is a weakness in Dwight Howard's game: free throws.

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