LOS ANGELES – Maagang nawala sa eksena si Dwight Howard sa huling bahagi ng season ng Los Angeles Lakers.
May 9:51 minuto pa ang natitira sa third quarter ng Game 4 kontra sa San Antonio Spurs, na-eject na sa laro si Howard dahil sa kanyang ikalawang technical foul.
Habang naglalakad si Howard palabas ng court ng Staples Center, tinapik niya ang mga kamay ng kanyang teammates at kinausap niya ang mga ito bago inihatid ni gene-ral manager Mitch Kupchak sa locker room na hinuhulaang huling mga sandali nitong suot ang Lakers uniform.
“It’s like a nightmare,†sabi ni Howard matapos lasapin ng Los Angeles ang 103-82 pagkatalo para ma-sweep ng San Antonio sa kanilang first round playoff series. “It’s like a bad dream and we couldn’t wake up out of it. That’s what it felt like.
“It seemed like no-thing could go right, right from the start, injuries and all that stuff. We get an opportunity to get some rest for guys who are injured. A chance to rehab and think about what we can all do to better ourselves,†dagdag pa ni Howard.
Nang tanungin kung ang huling bahagi ng kanyang sinabi ay nagbabadya ng kanyang pagbabalik sa Lakers, sinabi niyang; “You’re reading too much into it.â€
Si Howard ay magi-ging unrestricted free agent ngayong summer. Maaari siyang sahuran ng Lakers ng five-year, maximum $117.9 million contract.
“I’m going to step away from everything for a couple of weeks,†ani Howard. “I’m going to clear my head before I do or talk about anything as far as next season. I think I deserve that and that’s what I’m going to do.â€