Josh Howard- Mid- Season Report

In the NBA the biggest accomplishments are achieved as a team. At this seasons mid- way point, Josh Howard and the Dallas Mavericks sit at 35-18 good for the sixth seed in the competitive Western conference. While most teams would be content being seventeen games over .500, Howard and the Mavericks have something to prove after last seasons first round playoff exit to the Golden State Warriors. Last season the Mavericks claimed the No.1 seed in the west, while compiling a 67-15 record, good for 6th all time. Forward Josh Howard and his Mavericks team have learned that records are over rated.
In an effort to keep his team amongst the western elite, Josh Howard has taken his all- around game to the next level. In his fifth season out of Wake Forest, Howard has given the Mavericks another 20 point scorer to pair alongside All- Star Dirk Nowitzki. Last season Howard had a career year and was recognized with his first All- Star selection with per game averages of 18.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. This year, Howard headed a long list of All- Star snubs despite averaging career highs in minutes (36 per game), points (20.3), rebounds (7.4), and assists (2.1). Even though he was left off the All- Star team, Josh’s teammates recognize his impact on the team. When asked about making his seventh All- Star game, teammate Dirk Nowitzki said,“It’s always an honor to be nominated and represent a great organization. It’s been great, but I’m more disappointed than anything about Josh not being there. He’s had an unbelievable year. He deserves to be there as much as I do. He’s been probably our most consistent player throughout the whole year, so it’s disappointing”.
Howard truly has been a model of consistency this season, in the 47 games he has played, he has scored double figures in 46. In one of the most entertaining games of the season, Howard scored a career high 47 points on December. 8th in a wild 125-117 victory over the Utah Jazz. Even amidst a breakout performance, Howard has remained humble and focused on the long term goal of helping his team win a championship. “I want to be a more complete player.” Howard says “A big part of helping this team out is doing a little bit of everything. I know if I can score a little bit more, it is going to take the pressure off Dirk [Nowitzki] and Jason [Terry], as well as [Jerry Stackhouse]. I want to keep doing the little things to help my team.” In addition to his offensive output, Howard has taken pride in shutting down the leagues leading scorers on a nightly basis, while trying to brush aside the notion that teams have the same gameplan against him.
“Josh is a tough player to slow down because he’s mixing up his game more now,” Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. “He’s getting us layups on the break, he’s running the offense for us, he’s getting in-between shots, he’s making the long shot and now he’s making some terrific passes when he’s covered.”
In the West, the Mavericks are going to need all the help they can get from Howard. When asked to sum up the Western conference in one word, Avery Johnson said, “Parity”. With only 4½ games separating seeds one through nine, the second half should go down to the wire as teams claw for positioning and a playoff berth. In a further effort to win, and win now, the Mavericks completed an eight player trade that will bring Jason Kidd, forward Malik Allen, and guard Antoine Wright to Dallas. In return the Nets received a package of five players centered around point guard Devin Harris. Also headed to New Jersey are center DeSagana Diop, swingman Maurice Ager, forward Trenton Hassel, and retired forward Keith Van Horn along with two first- round draft picks and $3 million.
"We feel (Kidd's) skill set can help us finish stronger, finish games better," coach Avery Johnson said. "Obviously he's not the guy we're going to lean on for points, points, points, points. He's going to help us because at the end of games, he just knows how to win."
Now teamed with Jason Kidd, the 3rd all time leader in triple- doubles, Josh Howard and the Dallas Mavericks seem bound for an exciting second half finish. Kidd should only enhance Howard’s game, opening up the floor and creating open looks. Howard has proven himself as a model of consistency throughout his career, improving each of his five seasons in the NBA, and with a great core of players around him sky is the limit. Howard may not have made the Western conference All- Star team this season, but as far as Dallas is concerned not many stars have shined brighter than No. 5.
Related Stories
Mavs- Nuggets- Josh Howard a focus too
(Mavs.com, Jan. 27, 2008)
http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/MavsNuggets_notes_012708.html

Josh Howard lights up Utah for 47
(Mavs Courtside, Dec.8, 2007)
http://mavscourtsideview.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2007-12-11T15%3A47%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=7

Dirk an All- Start, Josh snubbed
(Mavs Courtside, Jan. 31, 2008)
http://mavscourtsideview.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-01-31T19%3A41%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=7

Mavericks’ midseason report
(DallasNews.com, Jan. 24, 2008)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/012508dnspomavsmidseason.26a1a91.html

Kidd reintroduced in Dallas after 8-player trade with New Jersey
(Yahoo Sports, Feb. 19, 2008)
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AoxAU2ImRWoIPaXFeb1c30Q5nYcB?slug=ap-nets-maverickstrade&prov=ap&type=lgns

Josh Howard Game Log
(NBA.com, Feb. 19,2008)
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/josh_howard/game_by_game_stats.html