Swish Mag August.2013 | Page 22

D12 LEAVES LA TO PLAY FOR THE ROCKETS! NEWS Without Dwight Howard in the Lakers next season will they be able to get into the Playoffs? It’s really hard to say, without Howard in LA , Pau Gasol has to step up and shine like he used to, Gasol and Bryant both won back to back championships together in 2009 and 2010. Although Dwight has left the lakers it wouldn’t stop kobe’s confidence in winning, kobe will put everything on the line, he will be pushing his limit to the max. If veteran Steve Nash and Pau Gasol meets up with the franchises expectations then there will be a slight chance in getting into the playoffs. Houston Rocket legend Hakeem Olajuwan was one of the reasons why Dwight Howard wanted to sign with the Rockets. If you didn’t know, Hakeem Olajuwan is one of the best lowpost players in NBA history and has won two NBA championships. In summer 2010 Howard flew to Houston to train with Hakeem for three days; Olajuwan taught him his secrets and his different moves such as the dream shake. Olajuwon also taught him that being a center isn’t always about power and posterizing other players, it’s about using speed as you’re advantage and using efficient moves to score points. At first Howard didn’t realize that three days in Houston would improve his fundamentals. Coincidently, three years later he signs with the Houston Rockets. Houston Rocket’s manager Daryl Morey said “We are going to bring Olajuwan in as full-time as is possible” Olajuwan and Daryl have mutual interests in making it happen.