I went to Game 4 of the Pistons-Magic series on Saturday, and I still can’t believe what I saw. Not only did the Magic completely blow a chance to tie the series at 2, they also didn’t get Dwight Howard the ball down the stretch. I mean he only had two points during the final three quarters, to finish with eight total.

How can an All-NBA first team center only have two points during the last three quarters, and barely touch the ball down the stretch? I couldn’t figure it out, until I saw a column in the Sentinel, from Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp.

Sharp’s column had several good points, namely that,

“Howard didn’t get the ball enough, especially late, because he didn’t want the ball enough.”

I agree with Sharp. I don’t recall Howard ever getting extremely mad about not getting the ball. I never saw him go to the bench and yell at his teammates to give him the ball either.

And…

“Howard’s offensive repertoire remains at a rudimentary level. He’s not comfortable making an away-from-the-basket offensive move. He rushes shots, clumsily throwing up garbage and then complaining that the referees aren’t giving him a fair whistle.”

This was a tremendous observation by Sharp, and one that I have not read from the Sentinel’s columnists. Could it be that Howard didn’t want the ball in the clutch because he is still not comfortable when he has the ball in his hands?

Could it be that his teammates are still hesitant to give him the ball in the post, because he looks so uncomfortable with it when he gets it?

As I think back over the season, Howard really has dominated at points, but there aren’t many times when I can remember him getting the ball in the post, making a move, and putting it in the basket. Most of his points still seem to come off rebounds and tips, especially when he runs the floor.

I have read so many times this year about how much Howard has improved, how dominat he has become, and I think he has, but not to the point where most local media members believe. He still has a long, long way to go. Howard should want to be the most dominat player on the court. He should want the ball every time down the floor, and each time he gets it, he should score.

Defensively, his game is there. Also, he might be the best rebounder in the league, but a truly dominant player needs to take over offensively as well.

Last summer, I spent some time working out at the RDV Sportsplex, where the Magic practice. While I was there I watched a pickup game, between a few people, including Howard and Bo Outlaw. I understand that it was just a pickup game, and I understand Dwight is just a kid, playing against some 40 year olds, but I watched him dribble down the floor and heave up jumpers the whole time.

I get that he was probably just trying to have some fun, but it was still kind of strange. If I were him, I would be in the gym working on my post moves, the enitre off-season. Maybe he did, but his performance thus far, especially in the post-season shows that he needs some work.

If the Magic have any chance to get back in this series, Dwight needs to show up on both ends of the floor. He has got to want the ball.

Howard is one of the best players in the game, but there are still times when he disappears offensively. If I were the Magic, I would go find Hakeem Olajuwon and have him work with Dwight all off-season.