With the All-Star break approaching, it would be difficult for Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard to take the midseason MVP trophy out of LeBron James' hands, but it is safe to say that the 23-year-old Howard's stellar season has catapulted him toward becoming the Eastern Conference's best pure big man.
Howard, who apparently has not received the memo that "NBA star" translates to "bagging the dunk contest," will attempt to defend his crown in February after breaking the record for most votes received with over three million. It doesn't hurt that Howard's Magic, standing at 34-10, have emerged as one of the five best teams in the NBA.
The only hole in Orlando's starting five comes at shooting guard, where Keith Bogans, Mickael Pietrus and J.J. Redick have shuffled in and out thus far, none of whom has made a lasting impact. If Redick, who three years ago was one of the best players in college basketball, can develop into a Steve Kerr or Jeff Hornacek-type player who is unafraid to hoist up threes the way he was at Duke, the Magic will improve significantly.
Right now, however, the Magic's bench is thin, and they match up poorly against conference rivals in the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, not to mention the Los Angeles Lakers out in the Western Conference. The Celtics have righted the ship after an early-January losing bout in which they went 2-7 and are currently in the midst of an eight-game winning streak. Their current streak includes a Jan. 22 beating of the Magic in Orlando, a game in which Orlando's weaknesses were particularly exploited.
Celtics Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, both young and inexperienced at the start of the 2007-08 season, have matured into above-average players at their respective positions. Boston's bench, likewise, has become balanced and effective. Even Brian Scalabrine, both a fan favorite and object of ridicule, has returned to relevance. Right now, even a completely healthy Cleveland team would have a hard time beating Boston in a playoff series. Time will tell if Stephon Marbury, the former New York Knicks castaway who seems intent on joining the Celtics, will bolster or hinder the team, but there is no doubting Marbury's talent as a basketball player. A healthy and mentally dedicated Marbury would definitely be an asset to the Boston franchise.
Up ahead for the Celtics is a crucial Western Conference-heavy schedule that will take them into the All-Star weekend. In addition to a Feb. 5 showdown with the Lakers at TD Banknorth Garden, the Celtics also have the Southwest Division opponents San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks on their schedule before the break.
The Cavaliers, who host the Lakers on Feb. 8, have been plagued by recent injuries but should be fully healthy within the next couple of weeks. The frontcourt trio of Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas could potentially neutralize, or at least contain, Boston's Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis and Leon Powe. Also, Cleveland's addition of Mo Williams has proven to be one of the league's best off-season moves, as Williams is a pure point guard who takes pressure off of LeBron James to be the lone offensive producer. James, as a result, has stepped up his defense and is having his finest personal all-around season. Guards are too small to cover him, and forwards are too slow. He is embarking on the stage of his career that will see him cement himself as one of the best players to ever step on a basketball court.
Already a monstrous marketing tool for the league, James has played his potential departure from Cleveland in 2010 perfectly. By saying nothing, he has ensured that New York fans will be interested for the next year and a half and that Cleveland fans can also claim, realistically, that he will remain a Cavalier. His actions, such as wearing his new "Big Apple" LeBron sneakers against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, are left up to every fan's own interpretation. Throw in his commercials, which showcase his sharp sense of humor and showman's acting skills, and LeBron has truly become the face of the NBA, a title not held since the departure of Michael Jordan. It remains to be seen if this is the year he brings his team along for the ride.
