Los Angeles Lakers: Three huge positives through seven games

1. Dwight Howard

The man has been an absolute beast, and has single-handedly revitalized his career. Dwight Howard is out there grabbing boards, blocking shots, defending the paint, rotating, the whole nine.

The Los Angeles Lakers were not asking him to be the beloved dominant 2009-2012 center, they were simply just asking him to go out there, play big, and defend. And he is doing exactly that, and Laker fans are absolutely loving it.

In these first seven games, Howard is averaging 6.8 points, grabbing 8.2 rebounds and blocking 2.4 shots a game. Now, these are not double glance numbers, but the thing is he is only playing 21 minutes a game. The big stat would undoubtedly have to be the rebounds.

His last good statistical season was with the Hornets back in 2017, averaging 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. But those were more empty stats, he was on a team that did not make the playoffs with mainly unknown players aside from Kemba Walker.

This season, he is playing alongside two of the top five players in the NBA and he is holding his own and clearly leaving a stamp on each game. Dwight came in wearing caution tape but game after game that tape is falling off.

Another big stat he is producing is his blocks. It seems to be that in every game the Lakers play, Howard is jumping straight up smacking the ball away from the rim towards the thousand dollar seats at courtside.

The former three-time Defensive Player of the Year is energized on the court and has brought ease to the fans that were cautious of his return. Howard stated he has a new sense of focus, and it seems as if he is right. Let’s hope Superman keeps this up.