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 en...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
