Dwight Howard is the reason why the Magic won't win the series.

[indeedproceed]

The magic have made a concerted effort to make Dwight Howard both the franchise cornerstone and a leader on the squad. They've guaranteed that he's their leader, and their driving force.

Smith is so focused on turning Howard into a leader that he's taken some counterintuitive steps—such as excising players who are too influential, even in positive ways. "We loved Grant Hill, and he was great for this franchise, but we thought it was best for Dwight as a leader if he weren't here," Smith says. "Same for [outspoken reserve guard] Keyon Dooling last year. We'll protect Dwight until the point where he can handle what I call a dominant personality."

And when will that happen? Smith guesses "when he's 25 or so," noting that "he doesn't have a Garnett-type mentality." So while Nelson would qualify as a team leader, he and Howard are so close and so closely allied that when guard Keith Bogans was with the Magic, he referred to them as "sisters." As for the rest of the team, it falls into the mold of mellow (Lewis), quirky (swingman Hedo Turkoglu) or just plain young (plenty of players). That means that with Nelson lost for the season to a shoulder injury, Orlando heads into the playoffs, for better or worse, with a goofy 23-year-old at the helm.

They kicked out Grant Hill because he was too much of a good leader, they kicked out Keyon Dooling because he wouldn't shut up. They aquired guys that couldn't or wouldn't challenge a young 6'10 physical freak of nature (that despite being only 23 shares a lot of common qualities with 13 year olds) as a leader. One might also argue that this is a large part of the reason why the Magic just HAD to have Pietrus and Lewis. Both of these guys are extremely talented players that are in the end, supporting actors. Neither guy wants to be "the guy".

This is why the Magic will ultimately lose this series, either tonight in Orlando or Sunday in Boston. They'll lose because they are a team without a competent leader. I agree with Charles Barkley in that the magic are the more talented team. The difference is that the Celtics are the team with leaders that are necessary to advance in the playoffs. For all their talent, the Magic don't have a guy with nearly as much heart or determination as Paul Pierce....or even for my money, Eddie House.

[Who]

Jameer Nelson is the leader of the team.

[indeedproceed]

You mean Dwight's sister Jameer.

What do you think about Otis Smith's strategy, who? Does it pay off when he's 25 or is he just not the right guy?

[Drucci]

Jameer Nelson's absence is really hurting the Magic right now. He is a great player and he is their best player in crunch time.

Weeks or months ago a journalist wrote an article in which he criticized Howard, saying that he was always joking and not enough serious to be considered as a great player or the Magic team as a contender. Many people reacted immediately, saying that this was ridiculous and that it was a part of Howard personnality that didn't hurt his game.

I thought at the time that the journalist was right and I think that this is what we are witnessing today. Of course it's not the only explanation for the Magic struggles but I think that Howard is too "soft" and that he is not a real factor in the game, decision/reaction wise.

When the things don't go in his favor, he complains to the refs and from there he seems totally disturbed in the game, as if he wasn't focused enough to be a positive factor for his team. Star players complain about the refs but then they keep playing the game the right way and the calls get to them. Instead, Dwight is rushing his shots, traveling or making poor decisions.

It's hard to tell if he'll be a true franchise player in the future but right now he isn't clearly not one.

[Who]

You mean Dwight's sister Jameer.

What do you think about Otis Smith's strategy, who? Does it pay off when he's 25 or is he just not the right guy?

Dwight Howard is Jameer's little brother on the leadership scale. Dwight defers to Jameer's lead, he always has and will continue to do so for the immediate future. Dwight is still uncomfortable leading the troops, doesn't really understand how.

I don't like Otis Smith's strategy, I think it's unnecessary.

I do believe Howard will become a better leader down the road though, because he's shown improvement as a leader throughout his time in Orlando. He's gone from being someone who is completely uncomfortable as a leader, to becoming a good lieutenant. But I think Howard's growth as a leader happens anyway, and perhaps even quicker, without Otis's strategy.

Edit: I agree with Crownsy on the post just below mine -- I think it's best to surround young players with good leaders, I think that helps them develop as leaders.

[crownsy]

You mean Dwight's sister Jameer.

What do you think about Otis Smith's strategy, who? Does it pay off when he's 25 or is he just not the right guy?

I think the way to make a guy a good leader is to surround him with good leaders as he grows up, but mabey just works for us.

I mean, does anyone doubt that KG, Ray, Paul and heck, even PJ, posey, and others is why rondo and others are developing into (by all accounts anyway) good young leaders?

it just seems bizarre to me that you get rid of hill because he's "to good" a leader. dooling i understand, he was a loud mouth, but his strategy here is to rip out any leaders and hope that d-12 fills the void by having no other choice?

I would rather keep good leaders around and have him learn from them, but mabey that's just me. Good veterans pass things on to younger guys...seems odd to expect a younger guy to suddenly spring up as a leader.

[indeedproceed]

You mean Dwight's sister Jameer.

What do you think about Otis Smith's strategy, who? Does it pay off when he's 25 or is he just not the right guy?

I think the way to make a guy a good leader is to surround him with good leaders as he grows up, but mabey just works for us.

I mean, does anyone doubt that KG, Ray, Paul and heck, even PJ, posey, and others is why rondo and others are developing into (by all accounts anyway) good young leaders?

it just seems bizarre to me that you get rid of hill because he's "to good" a leader. dooling i understand, he was a loud mouth, but his strategy here is to rip out any leaders and hope that d-12 fills the void by having no other choice?

I would rather keep good leaders around and have him learn from them, but mabey that's just me. Good veterans pass things on to younger guys...seems odd to expect a younger guy to suddenly spring up as a leader.

Would it be fair to say that instead of a traditional team model, Otis Smith is using the highly controversial "Lord of the Flies" leadership model?

[crownsy]

You mean Dwight's sister Jameer.

What do you think about Otis Smith's strategy, who? Does it pay off when he's 25 or is he just not the right guy?

I think the way to make a guy a good leader is to surround him with good leaders as he grows up, but mabey just works for us.

I mean, does anyone doubt that KG, Ray, Paul and heck, even PJ, posey, and others is why rondo and others are developing into (by all accounts anyway) good young leaders?

it just seems bizarre to me that you get rid of hill because he's "to good" a leader. dooling i understand, he was a loud mouth, but his strategy here is to rip out any leaders and hope that d-12 fills the void by having no other choice?

I would rather keep good leaders around and have him learn from them, but mabey that's just me. Good veterans pass things on to younger guys...seems odd to expect a younger guy to suddenly spring up as a leader.

Would it be fair to say that instead of a traditional team model, Otis Smith is using the highly controversial "Lord of the Flies" leadership model?

hehe, they way i remember it, that way of doing thing didn't quite leave enough people alive and unscarred to form a deep 12 man squad 

[QuinielaBox]

BINGO, Underdog said it best. Dwight Howard needs to be traded (to the Phoenix Suns) after this season is over so Shaq can man him up. Dwight Howard is the Real Big Baby in this series. Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins are just a young men doing their jobs and doing it well. 

Orlando's problem is between the ears.

[connerhenry43]

i agree with everything said here, but just to be devil's advocate, if glen davis does not hit a 16 footer at the buzzer, or if a formerly quiet backup point guard does not explode for 12 points in 6 minutes, it is 3-2 the other way and we are hanging on for dear life.
 
it is a fine line, but i agree with most written above.

[indeedproceed]

i agree with everything said here, but just to be devil's advocate, if glen davis does not hit a 16 footer at the buzzer, or if a formerly quiet backup point guard does not explode for 12 points in 6 minutes, it is 3-2 the other way and we are hanging on for dear life.
 
it is a fine line, but i agree with most written above.

That line is very fine but to me it has become a lot more distinct in the last 2 years. Bottom line is that some teams have the guts and the skill to use the luck and their own abilities to close out games...and some teams don't. Seems like to me we're pretty firmly entrenched in the former category.

[papa shuttlesworth]

I think when most people think of athletic leadership, they think of a Jordan-type: the best player who will get in the face of his teammates and demand a certain level of performance.

But there are many types of leaders and trying to fit that mold when you are not that type of player is where many stars have problems.  Kobe, for example.

Just because you are the best player does not mean you are the best leader.  It is probably best for many stars to become "role players" in the leadership category if it doesn't suit them and let someone like Grant Hill or Avery Johnson help lead the team.

It was neat to see the Celtics last year (and this year) have multiple leaders.  Ray Allen is not the in your face outspoken leader on the court, but his commitment to practice and preparation are unequaled and he is great lead by example guy for anyone who wants to put in the work, like Rondo.  KG is more of the yell at your face leader, which can work to pump a team up, but can be tiresome over a season, I bet.  Pierce is more of the in-game leader who can carry the team on his back for stretches but also shows the value of not having to take every shot.  It all combines with a matching coaching philosophy to form a very effective leadership.  Banner 17 would still be a far off dream if any of those three tried to be Jordan like Kobe, Lebron, etc. do.

[Roy Hobbs]

i agree with everything said here, but just to be devil's advocate, if glen davis does not hit a 16 footer at the buzzer, or if a formerly quiet backup point guard does not explode for 12 points in 6 minutes, it is 3-2 the other way and we are hanging on for dear life.
 
it is a fine line, but i agree with most written above.

That line is very fine but to me it has become a lot more distinct in the last 2 years. Bottom line is that some teams have the guts and the skill to use the luck and their own abilities to close out games...and some teams don't. Seems like to me we're pretty firmly entrenched in the former category.

Probably.  However, Orlando had been 52-1 when holding a lead with 5 minutes left.  I wouldn't put them into the category of teams that can't close games.

[connerhenry43]

i agree with everything said here, but just to be devil's advocate, if glen davis does not hit a 16 footer at the buzzer, or if a formerly quiet backup point guard does not explode for 12 points in 6 minutes, it is 3-2 the other way and we are hanging on for dear life.
 
it is a fine line, but i agree with most written above.

That line is very fine but to me it has become a lot more distinct in the last 2 years. Bottom line is that some teams have the guts and the skill to use the luck and their own abilities to close out games...and some teams don't. Seems like to me we're pretty firmly entrenched in the former category.

the c's could be the gutties team in the history if the nba; if glen davis does not hit that jumper, we are down 3-2. i am a gutty guy too, but i do not think i could guard chris paul! 

also, remember the c's last year. game 5 against detroit, huge lead almost lost it all. game 2 against LA, huge lead almost lost it. it was not because of lack of heart. it was just a team learning to win in the nba playoffs.