Thanks to the free-agent deals that brought LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Beach this off-season, many people believe the Miami Heat are now the team to beat in the NBA.
Orlando’s Dwight Howard is not among them.
The Magic center and reigning defensive player of the year has once again voiced his displeasure at the media’s treatment of the Heat. According to Stefan Bondy of the NY Daily News, Howard has some interesting quotes in an upcoming interview in VIBE Magazine.
“I hate talking about Miami,” Howard said. “That’s all everyone talks about. People are giving them this trophy that they have to earn.”
Howard said he was unaware of James’ infamous “John Dillinger Tweet,” but said he would “call my team the Feds” once told of how the real John Dillinger met his demise.
He also declined to include the Heat among his “teams to beat” in the East this season, instead citing the Celtics, Cavaliers, Hawks, Bobcats, Bucks, and his own Magic.
The VIBE article is hardly the first time Howard has made his dissatisfaction with the media’s fixation with the Heat known. Howard also complained to AOL Fanhouse in September, stating that the media “[have] given the Heat the trophy for the next 12 years.”
That Howard would be somewhat upset by the attention being given to his division rivals is understandable. The Magic finished second in the Eastern Conference and first in the Southeast Division last season — 12 games better than the Heat.
But while the Magic have mostly stood pat, adding low-risk players like Quentin Richardson and Chris Duhon, the Heat have completely transformed their roster. Gone are Richardson, Michael Beasley, Jermaine O’Neal and Rafer Alston. In are James, Bosh, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mike Miller and Eddie House.
“I understand the hype,” Howard said. “But as they say, you beat the hype by going out there and showing everyone what you can do.”
