Los Angeles, CA

Dwight Howard wants to focus on winning the championship and is shunning all forms of distractions.

Among the hurdles are his injuries and trying to fit the Los Angeles Lakers' system amidst trade rumors.

Suffering from a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder, he is considered a game-time decision and will be out against Brooklyn Nets Tuesday. Howard did not take part in the team's morning shoot-around.

Howard underwent a minor procedure Saturday in Los Angeles and did not play Sunday against Detroit due to an inability to lift his shoulder high enough.

But feels lucky he has not missed any game from complications of offseason back surgery.

"I really don't think people understand the severity of the surgery and the injury," he laments. "Even sitting down in this chair right now is causing my legs to go numb, and just having this tingling sensation all the way down my legs. So, that happens when I'm playing." .

Howard is averaging just 16.5 points per game, his lowest scoring output since his second season in the league. He is slowly coming to terms with playing alongside Kobe Bryant, who averages 21.1 shots per game to Howard's 10.3.

After general manager Mitch Kupchak stated that will not be traded, he called the potential atmosphere of the announcement 'a circus' and said he does not want to focus on the future just yet. But the Lakers may want 'Superman' to commit before the Feb. 21 trade deadline or end up trading him.

The Los Angeles Lakers are 22-26 after more than three months into the season.

They trail the Houston Rockets by 3½ games for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff picture.

 

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