Note to coaches who wish to employ the Hack-A-Dwight strategy: if the man starts making his free throws – and he is capable of making them if you send him there frequently enough – ditch the stubborn tactic and go to something else.
For some reason, Orlando Magic coach Jacque Vaughn kept going to this play, despite Howard’s gradual increase in success rate. The Los Angeles Lakers center eventually made 16 of his final 20 attempts at the line, finishing 25-of-39 overall – matching the record he set last season against the Golden State Warriors for the most free throws attempted in a regular season game.
[Related: Howard hated being the only player people knew from Orlando]
Overall, Howard had himself quite a night, finishing with 39 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks against his former team. He certainly caught the attention of the usually-critical Magic Johnson:
-For my words are going to be heard and read, if there’s any way humanly possible
for me to see to it, with the Grace of God. Therefore, I admonish you to make whatever allowances for these facts are appropriately applicable,
whenever the general designation “you” is employed in the
midst of what follows. ), let-alone TRUTH and JUSTICE, as long as
you have yours (which, therefore, doesn’t even rightfully belong to you.