15 replies to this topic

[Cato]

Dwight's said recently he's only at 75% right now. Personally, I haven't seen much of a physical improvement (athleticism, lift, lateral mobility) since the pre-season.

Do you guys think we'll see anything close to the dominant Orlando-Dwight at any point in this season?

Especially with Pau out, everything depends on it.

[Cj2008nw]

No

[AirTupac]

0%

[last stand 2.0]

back when andrew came back from knee surgery he was able to get better but there was a limit because physically he couldn't improve during the season. with the offseason andrew was able to get his body right and suddenly in 2011-2012 he had a career year

i've said it 100 times but rehab only gets you back to status quo. it gets you back to the most basic, ground level athleticism for each person.

so until he gets an offseason to lift, run, jump, and get in the basketball gym he won't be himself.

[bigfetz]

So pointless to talk about right now. Still have like 35 more games

[Busty Bluth]

0 point 0

His long term health is more important.

[24allday]

0.. agree completely with last stand. If Dwight resigns I believe we will see a complete different guy next year

[BasketballIQ]

Yeah, major surgeries usually take a guy a year to get back. First of all the confidence, but just like the LOCKOUT last year, when these guys don't work out during the summer, they can't be what we're used to seeing. That's why metta, crawford, Felton, and amare really suffered. Guys were 10-15 pounds overweight, and overall just not in condition you are used to seeing.

[lakerfan0307]

These guys here are spot on. If anything, I think we might see more energy from him in the playoffs, but he won't be completely back until next season.

[Lagunero]

even if a player starts the season at 100%, all players are pretty beat up when seasons end. so i doubt he returns to his dominate form

[MiguelSanchez]

None. His back injury, which has limited strength in his legs, has caused him to get his shoulder injured. His labrum is displaced from the glenoid and that isn't going to heal itself. He's going to continue to have pain and instability until he can get that fixed. I believe he has been bringing his arms down because that's how you improve explosiveness when your legs aren't there. If he had been more healthy (i.e. hadn't rushed back to start the season) he wouldn't have to put his arms and shoulders into jumping to dunk. He could keep his arms above his head and just use his legs.

I'd still want him to stay with the Lakers long term. He should be much better next year on both ends. Hopefully he recognizes these injuries are limiting and Kobe doesn't drive him away, so he knows this season is an aberration. And I really hope the Lakers don't pick D'Antoni over Dwight.

[hotpocket]

He won't be to form this season, that's pretty apparent.

Honestly, he needs surgery on his labrum, and then a full 6 months to rehab both his shoulder/back and conditioning before he can attempt to be what he was.

[UKUGA]

There's no way.

Dwight wants this season to end so he can have shoulder surgery and finish rehabilitating his back. If we miss the play-offs, then he can get started sooner and be ready for the start of next season.

[gque24]

12%

[LakerGeezer]

0.. agree completely with last stand. If Dwight resigns I believe we will see a complete different guy next year

^The off season will be critical to find out how close to the old Dwight is possible. Whether he can return to what he was capable of at 24/25 after major surgery and when he is 28 still remains to be seen. Work ethic will have alot to do with it.

[Cato]

Sure, it's fairly apparent he won't be the same player this year he was in Orlando - but will he see improvement as the season progresses or stay about that same as now?

That's the important question.