Dwight Howard: Mental Adjustments Center Must Make to Excel in Los Angeles

Dwight Howard's physical ability will translate flawlessly to Los Angeles' bright lights, but his mentality raises some concerns. 

Despite his undeniable physical gifts, Howard will have to make a few important adjustments if he wants to excel under Los Angeles' halogen-caliber lights. They have nothing to do with his ability to dunk a basketball or swat a shot away from the front of the rim.

They have everything to do with this:

You're Not in Kansas Anymore

OK, Orlando isn't Kansas, but the saying fits like a glove. Los Angeles is a massive media market. The Los Angeles Lakers are the New York Yankees of the NBA in terms of pressure placed on their athletes.

We have no idea if Howard is ready for that. It's easy to say that he is, but some players just can't handle the incredible expectations fans in major cities place on their players.

In the Lakers' case, it's even bigger than that. As a franchise, they've won 16 NBA titles. They've also been cold in that department since 2010, and those win-hungry fans are becoming more impatient by the minute.

There will be no excuses for the Lakers this season, and Howard is the center of that. An All-Star season and an NBA title is expected from Howard and the Laker franchise.

Howard is used to being a big fish in a small sea. He's still a big fish, but Los Angeles' waters are much larger than Orlando's ever were.

It's Not All About Dwight Anymore

Howard was the end-all-be-all for Orlando, and he's used to that approach. They didn't really have a choice but to cater to his every need.

The Lakers will make him happy, at least for awhile, but Howard isn't the only high-caliber player in the Lakers' rotation. You'd like to think he's going to adapt a "team-first" mentality, but who knows? He hasn't shown an ounce of selflessness throughout the entire offseason.

Howard is entering Kobe Bryant's city. He's also the second All-Star name they've added this offseason (Steve Nash). Pau Gasol isn't a huge name, but he's still an All-Star talent who commands his own respect.

Adjusting to playing with other big-name players will be easy as long as the Lakers win, but Howard's attitude doesn't make me confident that he can defer to other players when the moment calls for it.

With the Lakers, he's going to have to.

Rigorous Western Conference

Howard isn't going to have the cellar-dwellers of the Eastern Conference to beat up on next season, at least not as much. Add that to the Staples Center-sized target pinned to the Lakers' collective back, and there aren't any nights off for Howard next season.

Not that there ever should be "nights off" for any professional athlete, but Los Angeles' "win-now" attitude makes that even truer in this case. Everyone will be gunning for the Lakers' "Big Four," and the Western Conference has enough talent to make things difficult on their star-studded rotation.

I still think it's difficult to pick against the Lakers this season, but Howard is used to beating up on the Eastern Conference. This year Howard will only have 30 out of 82 games against Eastern Conference opponents. A handful of those come against Indiana, Chicago and Miami, so those won't be easy either.

I'm not saying Howard can't do this, but adjusting to the Western Conference will be different. It's traditionally a much-tougher side of the league, and everyone will want a piece of the Lakers' new toy.

Howard will need to play well in the low post this year, but he also must make sure his head stays in the right place. If he does, the Lakers will be very happy with the end result.

If he doesn't, expect the "boo-birds" to come out early.