Dwight Howard named Defensive Player of the year

[Mexi]

-AP: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AmYu...p&type=lgns

Early this season, the Orlando Magic center was talking to Patrick Ewing and Mutombo. The once great big men were giving Howard some tips, and Mutombo asked him a simple question.

“He said, ‘What do you want to be remembered as, the great dunker who won the slam dunk contest with a Superman outfit on, or do you want to do something better than that?”’ Howard recalled Tuesday. “I said, ‘I want to be one of the greatest players.’ And he said it starts with defense.”

Mission accomplished.

The 23-year-old Howard became the youngest player to win the NBA’s defensive player of the year award Tuesday. Howard was only the fifth player to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season, a goal he set in training camp.

“A lot of guys don’t want to go up (for blocks) because they’re afraid of getting dunked on,” Howard said. “Dikembe and Patrick told me, ‘As many times as you’re going to get dunked on you’re going to have more blocks.”’

Howard led the Magic to a second straight Southeast Division title and 59 wins in the regular season, one shy of tying the best record in franchise history set in the 1995-96 season. Orlando trails Philadelphia 1-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Game 2 is Wednesday, and Howard said his scratched eyes won’t affect his play for the game.

Howard received 542 points, including 105 first-place votes from a panel of 119 writers and broadcasters. Cleveland’s LeBron Jamespoints was second with 148 and Miami’s Dwyane WadeThis finished third with 90 points.

James’ defense has improved immensely since he first broke into the league. season, his run-down blocks became as spectacular as his dunks.

no suprise here. he definitely deserved it the most

 

[Pugz]

Wade was closer to winnign it then Bron imo

 

[lonesomefx]

Congrats to Superman.

 

[MapleLeaf]

dwight howard is a basketball player for the basketball team in orlando

 

[.GR]

I thought LeBron was going to win. I totally forgot about D12 somehow. lol

 

[Lake Louise]

Congrats Superman. Definately noone more deserving for it this year.

 

[RipCity32]

I'm shocked.

 

[Rios15]

I also was another one to think Lebron would win it.

 

[Lake Louise]

I know Lebron played amazing defense this year, but Howard did better, in his own respect. Plus, Lebron is already going to win MVP, and maybe complimenting that with a Championship, so it`s not like he will end the season empty-handed.

 

[PiStoL31PeTe]

hopefully this is a sign for better things to come for D. Howard.

 

[Dice-J]

Oviously the best defender in the NBA

 

[Oiler35]

Anybody that has the most blocks, and rebounds in a season deserves it.



Congrats Dwight "Superman" Howard.

 

[elcheato]

Oviously the best defender in the NBA

I wouldn't say that.. I'd still take some big men over him if I had to pick one guy to play defense, but he had the best season for defensive stats so its why he won.

 

[Pugz]

I know Lebron played amazing defense this year, but Howard did better, in his own respect. Plus, Lebron is already going to win MVP, and maybe complimenting that with a Championship, so it`s not like he will end the season empty-handed.

Bron might win MVP, but Kobe will win the Bill Russel Award -- Finals MVP