Oct 14 2009
Player Preview: Juwan Howard
You can be my intern, and in turn, I’ll show you how I cook up summer in the winter.
We’re going to keep today’s preview short and sweet – much like the length of Juwan Howard’s playing time this year. To put it simply, this season will be a disaster if Howard averages more than 15 minutes per game.
But what’s the good news? Howard’s just about the nicest person alive. Seriously. He gave me a Tootsie Pop after I spoke to him. Where did he keep it in his shorts? Maybe I don’t want to know. I’m mildly disturbing myself right now. Little known fact, he gives Steve Blake piggyback rides after practice by choice. He found a twenty dollar bill on the street, and totally asked if anyone dropped it. AND THEN WAITED FOR THE PERSON TO COME BACK FOR ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR. When the person didn’t, he bought a pitcher of beer for Rudy Fernandez, Martell Webster, and Joel Przybilla. And it wasn’t even PBR.
Anyway, Howard is the ideal player for the Blazers to have coming off the bench. He knows his role, God knows he’s already made his money, and all he wishes to do is to contribute on a winning team. Even better, he understands his most important contribution probably doesn’t involve playing time. When I spoke with him, he said something to the same effect. He wants to teach the young guys as much as he can, and his door is open for them to come in and talk to him and absorb as much as they want while he’s still with the team. Dante Cunningham, I hope you enjoy your winter internship.
