Last week, it was reported Dwight Howard is working towards being ready to go for the Los Angeles Lakers season opener, which prompted a tremendous amount of speculation. Most of the talk came in lieu of if the center is truly near 100% of if he’s just rushing things.
Another report is suggesting that Dwight Howard wants to be ready for a preseason exhibition game via the Los Angeles Daily News.
After he joined his teammates for all of their drills on the opening day of the Lakers’ training camp, center Dwight Howard said he was hopeful of playing in at least one exhibition game before the regular season begins Oct. 30.
This isn’t about being “near” 100%, it’s about Dwight Howard being 100% healthy, if he is, indeed, healthy to play in a preseason game, then great. However, if he’s feeling pressured by whomever to come back sooner, then there will be an issue.
The Lakers want a ring this season after two dismal postseason appearances in 2011 and 2012, but that’s reliant on Dwight Howard being the picture of health, but he does go on to say:
“I don’t know the date when I’m going to return, but I’m looking forward to (today’s) practice to see how my body feels when I wake up,” Howard said. “We can only go by time right now and how I feel after practice. We’re not in a rush. These guys need me for the whole season and not a couple of preseason games.”
That’s what needs to happen — among a few other things — for the Lakers to be successful this season.
