Com'n Dwight, You Really Want The Ball In The Stretch?

In today's Orlando Sentinel, Dwight Howard is quoted as saying, he wants to have the ball down the stretch and the game is in doubt. According to Howard, he needs to have the opportunity to carry the team in the waning minutes of the game. He should have the confidence of the coach to get the job done. He also pointed out, rightfully so, that Kolbe did not have that assassins mentality when he first came into the game. I agree with Dwight on that point. Kolbe had to get confident and the coaches had to let him miss, so he could learn how to finish and win games for the Lakers. Where Dwight fails to understand is that Kolbe, never had a 40% free throw average. Other teams did not seek out Bryant, to foul him and send him to the line, knowing that the chances were greater that he would miss the free throw and thus help the opposing team. There is now a hackaDwight philosophy, and there never was a hackaKolbe play. Howard is correct that players have to be given that chance to win the game for his team, but when you cannot even come close to hitting your free throws, the right thing for the team is to place the ball into the hands of someone else. I have enjoyed watching Dwight, until this year. He has started to take that diva approach that has always turned me off to some professional athletes. Dwight has thrown teammates under the bus and now he is taking dead aim at one of the top coaches in the NBA. My advice to Howard is quite simple. Keep playing hard, which you always have done and learn to make your free throws at a much higher rate. Once you do that the coaches, wherever you end up playing, will want the ball in your hands. Until then be satisfied with the role you play.