It’s no secret that Dwight Howard’s inaugural season with the Los Angeles Lakers hasn’t gone as he and the organization planned.
The team has struggled mightily, and while they’ve certainly improved as the season's progressed, they’re far from being elite in a tough Western Conference.
But let’s get one thing straight right now. Regardless of the team's record, and regardless of their spot in the playoffs, Howard is the game’s best center; no questions asked.
For Howard to be considered anything less than the league’s best center, that would mean somebody else would have to claim that title. Can you think of anyone else in the league who is as physically dominant yet athletically gifted as the Lakers big man?
Howard is a rare breed of player who can impact both sides of the ball. His timing and leaping ability make him one of the best shot blockers in the NBA, and his ability to clean up shots at the rim creates for easy buckets on offense.
The big man may not have the most refined low-post skills, but when you're athletic enough to create high-percentage shots, the back-down game becomes icing on the cake; not a requirement.
No center rebounds as well as Howard, no center puts the ball in the basket as often and no center shoots as high of a field-goal percentage while taking double-digit shot attempts.
Howard is still the best in the game at the center position, and it’s a matter of reminding those who have simply forgotten.
The main thing that Howard has going against him is his health. As of Dec. 23, 2012, Howard is still in the process of coming back and working toward becoming his old self (according to USA Today’s Sam Amick).
There have certainly been times where we’ve seen him lumber up and down the court, and there’s been more than one occasion...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
