Dwight Howard's Should Shoulder Blame for Magic's Failures

We've discussed in the past the inability of Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to be a leader of a team.

Great player? Absolutely.

Leader? Not a chance.

Howard could go a long way to changing that image by stepping up now and doing what a leader should do. He needs to shoulder the blame for the Magic's failures. Especially after a very disappointing loss to the woeful Charlotte Bobcats.

Things haven't exactly been Howard's fault, as his numbers are outstanding, but a real leader shoulders the blame anyway. A real leader is a guy who takes the pressure off his teammates. Howard is not that guy, because if he were, he would welcome having everything thrown his way.

In most instances, though, he should be doing that anyway.

Despite having the NBA's fifth-best record at 25-15, this Magic team has no passion at all and very little fight to them. A majority of the finger-pointing should go to Howard for that, since he's had one foot out the door all season long.

But there's a chance to rally this team if they have a leader step up.

Whether he likes it or not, Howard is still wearing a Magic jersey as of today, which means he has certain responsibilities to live up to. If he wants to be paid as a leader should be paid, he needs to act the part as well. Simply stepping up, shouldering the blame and taking the pressure off his teammates is what a leader should do.

This Orlando team is a good one. They could be much better, though.

If they had a leader.