Dwight Howard Says All He Can Do is Keep Practicing Free-Throws

The Orlando Magic rode some unconcious shooting and Hack-a-Dwight to a stunning victory in Los Angeles last night. According to Howard — currently shooting a career low 46.5% on free-throws, including a horrific 9/21 against his former team — more practice from the charity stripe is the only remedy for his woes at the line. Per the LA Times: “Howard had 21 points and 15 rebounds but made only nine of 21 free-throw attempts at Staples Center. The team he left in a dramatic four-way trade in August picked on him by purposely fouling him four times in the fourth quarter. He made four of eight from the line in the latest ‘Hack-a-Howard’ episode. He was unhappy afterward, his jovial personality replaced by tight answers and pressed lips. What were his thoughts on being fouled intentionally? ‘I don’t have any thoughts,’ he said. Did he feel like a chapter was closed by playing his old team? ‘That chapter was closed when I got traded.’ Is he happy in L.A.? ‘Obviously, I’m enjoying myself,’ he said almost morosely. Howard flat ignored some questions from an Orlando television reporter with whom he had a hostile relationship after asking to be traded by the Magic. A Lakers publicist stepped in toward the end, telling the reporter to ‘quit antagonizing him.’ Howard opened up a little bit, eventually, about his dire free-throw shooting. ‘I’m going to continue to practice,’ he said. ‘That’s all I can do, is continue to practice and they’ll start falling.’ Coach Mike D’Antoni said he wouldn’t remove Howard in late-game situations despite his 46.5% free-throw accuracy. ‘I could, but you want to do that? You take him out, that’s drawing a big line,’ D’Antoni said. ‘He’ll get through this.'”