Does Dwight Howard’s Return Breathe New Life into the Struggling Lakers?

Dwight Howard returned to the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup on Sunday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers after a shoulder injury sidelined the All-Star center for the past three games. Howard led the Lakers with 22 points and 14 rebounds, as Los Angeles snapped a six-game losing streak.

The Lakers currently hold a 16-21 overall record and sit in 10th place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles entered the season with high expectations, due in large part to the acquisition of Howard from Orlando.

When the Lakers acquired Howard this summer, many speculated on exactly when the center would be ready to play, as Howard missed the remainder of the 2011-12 season due to a back injury. Although he has played through the pain, its clear that the injuries are playing a factor in Howard's game.

But after an impressive performance on Sunday night, many questions may be asked. Is Dwight Howard really healthy? Have injuries played a major role in his performance? Is a full-strength Laker lineup really as good as people speculated before the season started?

The injury bug has plagued the Lakers all season. Not only was there speculation that Howard opened the season less than 100 percent, but Steve Nash fell victim to injury during the season opener against Dallas and sat out until late December. Nash's backup, Steve Blake, has also missed the majority of the season due to a torn abdominal muscle.

Now, the Lakers find themselves without two of their big men. Pau Gasol has yet to pass a concussion test and will miss his fifth consecutive game, while Jordan Hill is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a hip injury against Denver.

Having Dwight Howard back is a necessity for the struggling Lakers to bounce back. Despite the team's lack of success, Kobe Bryant has had an MVP-caliber season, leading the league in scoring. However, the team needs its other superstars to step up as well.

Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers