Dwight Howard: Whiny Center's Subliminal Shots at Coaching Staff Are Unjust

How badly does Dwight Howard want to get out of town?

He’s thrown his teammates and his city under the bus, and now, he’s thrown his coaching staff there as well:

"I want to become a closer. The only way you get there is by getting the ball and have coach have the confidence in giving me the ball."

OK, so we’ll assume he’s talking about head coach Stan Van Gundy here. Once again, Howard sounds immature by airing out his concerns through the media. Why can’t he just address this privately behind closed doors?

Because that’s how badly he wants out. He is willing to make it sound like one of the best and longest tenured coaches in the league doesn’t know what he’s doing. He wants what LeBron James had in Cleveland with Mike Brown: a coach that is at his complete mercy, willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the superstar is happy.

Van Gundy isn’t that guy. He is a hard-nosed, outspoken coach who doesn’t coddle or provide special treatment.

Besides, the one that calls himself “Superman” can be a liability at times when it matters most. Howard is making a career-low 49.1 percent of his free throws, down from his career average of 59.2. Just play the numbers and apply the hack-a-Shaq way of defending him and assume he makes one of two from the line.

When Van Gundy was asked if Howard should get more touches at the end of the game, he didn’t sound ready to cave in:

"

Certain nights, I’ll kick myself a little if he doesn’t get the ball enough, and other nights I’ll kick myself if other guys don’t get the ball enough, I think we’re a team that has to take what the defense gives us. I don’t think we’ve got the one-on-one isolation guys.

"

Howard compared himself to Kobe Bryant early in his career when the Lakers star had to go through the trial and error of taking the last shot. Howard doesn’t understand that Kobe can create his own shot whenever he wants to, while he needs to be set up. Howard doesn’t have the prolific passing skills to find the open man when double-teamed.

It’s a ridiculous statement for Howard to make, and further proof that he already has one giant foot out the door. He is no longer emotionally invested in the only franchise he’s ever known and can’t leave town fast enough.

I’m sure the feeling is now mutual with the Magic players and coaches.