Everything happens for reasons, right?A You'd have difficulty convincing Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and the others of the weary, but still breathing, La Lakers, who've tripped, tumbled and stumbled through an extremely strong NBA season. Bryant's late-game injury against Golden State Friday night regrettably felt just like the common nail in the coffin for a team that's been snake bit all year.A Bryant almost certainly is done for the season and L.A.'s trim playoff dreams have suddenly become that much worse. Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Steve Blake, Metta World Peace, Jodie Meeks, Earl Clark and Antawn Jamison saw their fallen chief slowly lifeless to the Lakers' locker room with 3 minutes to perform and somehow found a method to beat the Warriors without him, 118-116. With two games left in the regular season and no wiggle room to spare, Howard and the Lakers are on course to break in to the NBA postseason as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. AABut now they should do it without fifth leading scorer in the NBA history. With Kobe out, the Lakers are now legally Dwight Howard's team.Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports Regardless of the apparent stress and anxiety the team has suffered as it claws its way in to the playoffs, there is a silver lining from which Howard can learn and grow from.A The big heart came to La to win titles, so experiencing a of bumps and bruises along the way can only gain him as he attempts to restore his Superman position on the court. Initially, Howard got the advantage of the question because he is still dealing with major right back surgery that certainly stunted his abilities early in the season.A AAAAtorn labrum didn't help either.A Add to that a fast-break, run-and-gun coach who inherited a half-court staff and you have the makings of a hockey disaster waiting to occur. Howard has reported significantly more than once about not getting enough touches, about how the staff needs to spread out the offense, help out on security and interact like one big, sort-of-happy family.A It was rather clear that Howard was often irritated by the big/little brother relationship he appears to have with Kobe Bryant. The Orlando Sentinel stopped just in short supply of calling Howard an immature child who destroyed the Orlando Magic operation (haven't we noticed that before ).A Well, really they did and a lot more than once.A Prior to their sport in Orlando last month, writer George Diaz wrote: I assume the NBA doesn't keep an eye on such data, but listed here is one significant little bit of NBA history in which Dwight Howard will take pride: He is were able to wreck two groups in one year. Howard has brought warmth in Orlando and Los Angeles, where media and critical fans continuously blasted him for not hustling down the court, not rating enough items, not clogging the center well enough on defense and not leaping over tall buildings in one single bound. That is not to say a number of the critique wasn't warranted. Apart from changing to an international crime and working through three coaches and numerous injuries, Dwight Howard has had to endure the mental aspect of being on a group of All-Stars that were not earning and appeared at risk of not even making the playoffs.A They still might not make the postseason. Howard seems honest when he says that he's learned a great deal in 2013 and it has made him stronger and better as a player, both on and off the court. Then there were these four days in Houston during the All-Star break, when Howard had an opportunity to feel and reflect, some thing he admits to doing frequently.AAA I am a big thinker," Howard told ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne within an interview last month.A A"So I just kept in the hotel and seriously considered the first half of the season and how I could do better for our team.A And I just told myself, 'I am going to devote myself to being better for the second half of the season.'" Since the break, Howard has been much better, calculating 18 points in March and 19.4 this month.A In his last four games, he is put in 25, 19, 20 and 28 points.A He also made 14 free throws contrary to the Warriors in a game title where every stage mattered. Howard told L.A. Times reporter Mike Bresnahan several days before he was confident the Lakers could make the playoffs and make lots of noise once they do. AAThis, obviously, came before Bryant's key harm on Friday. "If we enter the playoffs, there's no doubt in my head and in virtually any of our heads, that we could win a tournament. AIt would be silly of me to remain here and say to you [media] folks when we ensure it is to the playoffs, we'll be out in the initial round. AI have confidence in our team." One wonders how Dwight Howard is considering the playoff picture today, comprehending that their chief and major scorer,AKobe Bryant, is most probably through for the entire year (via ESPN). In an exceedingly unfortunate, bittersweet way, this latest Lakers' drawback will, in the long run, serve as still another check in the ever-evolving progress of Dwight Howard as player and team leader.
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