The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the most talented teams in the NBA on paper, but for some reason, the players don’t seem to gel together. Even though the Lakers have played much better as of late, not all of the players are comfortable with their roles.
Dwight Howard was a dominant force in the paint for the Orlando Magic on both ends of the court last season, but he has struggled in his first run with the Lakers. Despite the fact that Howard is dealing with various injuries, it does not seem like he has fully adjusted to his new position in this Lakers system.
—- See Steve Nash through the years in photos! —-
Steve Nash spoke to the OC Register, and he talked about Howard and the way he has performed this season. Nash would like Howard to play the way he did in Orlando, and that includes being more of a pick and roll threat.
“We’d like to get him in the pick and roll more,” Nash said Sunday. “I think that’s how he was really good in Orlando. He’d pick and he’d dive and they’d swing and put it in to him, so he could get deeper catches and the help side has a more difficult time coming to him.
“I don’t know. It’s been difficult really to get him into that game — running into pick and rolls, diving hard, looking for the ball. We really haven’t found that rhythm from him yet.”
The Lakers need to have all of their star players on the same page in order for them to make the post-season. At this point, Los Angeles is still chasing opponents in the extremely competitive Western Conference and time is running out for the team.
The second half of the season is a little easier for the Lakers than the first, but a lot of work remains for them to reach the playoffs.
