http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-nbanotes1606jun16,0,2573445.story?coll=orl-magic
Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard said he's even more determined to work on his outside shooting after watching Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal being constantly double-teamed by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

"It does," said Howard, who attended Game 4 on Thursday night in Miami and served as a guest analyst for NBA TV.

Howard averaged 15.8 points per game, working mostly under the basket.

"It's hard to double-team Dirk [Nowitzki]," he said. "Shaq is stationary. You can't double-team him. I want to expand my game. A jump shot will make me a better player."

Howard, 20, said being around the atmosphere of The Finals drives him to make the playoffs next season.

"It's crazy. I brought a camera to take pictures [Tuesday night at Game 3], but I couldn't. I wanted to be on the floor. I want to be there so bad," he said.

Howard said he weighs 265, close to his playing weight but hopes to be in better shape for camp than he was last year. "I took too much time off [last summer]," he said.

Howard said he talked to guard DeShawn Stevenson, who espn.com reported late Thursday has opted out of his contract. He said he tried to sell Stevenson on his belief the Magic will make the playoffs next season. "I hope he stays. He wants to be here," Howard said. "He can be one of the guys who helps us take it to another level."

Dwyane and LeBron

Heat Coach Pat Riley was asked whether it bothered him that Dwyane Wade and Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James were so chummy. They exchange text messages and e-mails frequently.

"No," Riley said. "If they want to become roommates, it would bother me. No, I'm just kidding."

Etc.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban wrote on his blog that no one told him to take down a "Go Mavs Go" banner on his boat parked outside AmericanAirlines Arena.

"I don't own a boat," he wrote. "My apologies to the real owner of that boat who is getting pestered with helicopters and people trying to corner them." . . .

Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, according to the Dallas Morning News, said on his radio show that O'Neal's free-throw woes are a "psychological problem and there are some physical things." Added Jackson, "Watching Shaq shoot free throws when you're his coach, makes you nervous. I stopped even watching it after a while."

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Man this kid is already a beast and the best part about him is that he works as hard as he possibly can so he can squeeze out every single last drop of how good of a player he can be. Adding a jumpshot to this kids game is going to make him a lethal weapon.

I know its offtopic but I just don't think theres enough players with this attitude in the NBA and when you take a look at our roster, there just aren't enough players with this mentality.

BTW: Trevor Ariza should be in the gym with Dwight every single day that Dwight is in there.

[Edited by - nyk4ever on 06-16-2006 12:56 PM]