Dwight Howard Says They Are Going to Win the Series

Call it confidence. Call it false bravado. But Dwight is saying big things and trying to rally his troops against a 3-0 deficit that means certain elimination in the NBA. The Celtics have put a vice grip on the Magic and everyone wonders if they will survive the night.

Dwight Howard isn't one of them.

It was just a few minutes before the locker rooms were closed to the press. I went into the Magic locker room for the first time to get a feel for the mood there.

Dwight Howard was there without a large media contingent around him (rare for playoffs) and a few other Magic players were sitting around. The media blitz had moved on. Mickael Pietrus, Anthony Johnson, and Jason Williams and maybe one other were there.
 
The interaction was understandably a bit strained, but worth sharing on the blog.

What is the feeling in this locker room right now?

DH: Ready to hear this quote?

TT: I’m ready……silence as Dwight thinks about what he might say.

DH: Who is this for?

TT: This is for Celticsblog.

DH: Celticsblog?

TT: Yeah

DH: Laughter. I don’t think you want to hear this quote. Nevermind.

TT: You guys are in a tough spot obviously. What is the feeling in the locker room at this point? If you were to describe it quickly….

DH: Oh we’re feeling good. We’re ready to go. We still believe we’re going to win this series. Ain’t no doubt in our minds.

TT: Then tonight’s got to be the beginning. What do you guys need to do better?

DH: Have a better first quarter.

Have a great first quarter and the rest will take care of itself.

And the big man gotta dominate.

(End of conversation.)

And for those a bit slow on the uptake…that is Dwight talking about himself.

So there you have it. We will see how things shake out shortly.