In a four team blockbuster trade on August 10, 2012 started it all. Dwight Howard was now a L.A. Laker, joining forces with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, and new point guard Steve Nash. Many believed that the West was won before training camp even opened. The Lakers goal this season was to win a championship and win an heir apparent to Kobe Bryant to steer the franchise the next seven years, Dwight Howard.

Howard coming off back surgery started the season with limited mobility, which led to a very slow start for the team. A slow start not feasible for GM Jim Buss, who decided Mike Brown was not the right coach for his band of All-Stars, MVPs, and future Hall-of-Famers. Phil Jackson was next up, but Jim Buss decided to find a coach that fit Nash and Bryant’s style instead of Howard’s, Mike D’Antoni. The Lakers would go on to play below .500 most of the season.

Flashforward to April 13th, the Lakers on the back of Kobe Bryant’s 46 minutes per night, lose him for the rest of the season and playoffs. The hopes of #LakersNation rested now on the broad shoulders of the upcoming unrestricted free agent Dwight Howard.

How does Howard respond? Lakers get swept in round one and Howard checks out early. As Howard leaves the court headed to the locker room, for what may be the last time, out walks Kobe Bryant on crutches to the roar of the fans inside Staples Center. The captain wants to go down with the ship.

During the postgame press conference, Howard stated his apologies to #LakersNation and stressed how bad he felt to leave his teammates hanging, but when asked what will he do next season he replied, “don’t know.” We are all left to ponder for another summer.

Dwight’s decision to stay in Los Angeles will hinge on more than just a max contract. What will be the his demands to stay there? Many speculate that Howard would make bringing in Phil Jackson as the coach his ultimatum before signing long-term. #LakersNation would not have a problem with that, at all.

Would he request that they amnesty Kobe Bryant? Would Jim Buss be so crazy to do it? Howard’s description of this season was a “nightmare.” He has never been in the locker room with a star brighter than his before. He has never had a teammate that would play hurt for the entire game and not hold is tongue when speaking about his teammates before.

What if Howard decides not to return to L.A.? When you watch Brooke Lopez, Tyson Chandler, Andrew Bogut, Al Horford, and Serge Ibaka do you feel that Howard is still the absolute best center in the game? Would any fanbase in the NBA accept your star player getting ejected in game four of a playoff series?

So many question surrounding Dwight Howard, yet no answers…

Follow Rodney Fisher on twitter @RodneyRFisher

October 30, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power small forward Metta World Peace (15) and Dallas Mavericks small forward Shawn Marion (0) go a loose ball in the first half of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

The Los Angeles Lakers come to Dallas for their second matchup of the season against the Dallas Mavericks with an unexpected set of circumstances:  the Lakers hope to avenge and earlier loss and are struggling at 6-7 while the Mavericks have a better record at 7-6.

Who’da thunk it?

The Lakers opened the season 0-3 and have struggled ever since.   Upon firing Mike Brown after only 5 games and hiring Mike D’Antoni to replace him, things have been better but not much.  After a string of 3 wins earlier this month they have dropped their last two games.

Meanwhile the Mavs have had struggles of their own but are without their best player, Dirk Nowitzki, and have been missing other key contributors for stretches during the season.  Nevertheless, O. J. Mayo, Chris Kaman and Vince Carter have all stepped up and had solid seasons so far.  The consistency of the entire team, however, particularly point guard Darren Collison and overall field go percentage, rebounding and turnovers have been inconsistent.

The Lakers obviously have been inconsistent as well and since D’Antoni’s takeover they are still 1-2 and despite his offensive prowess as a coach, the Lakers have failed to reach 100 points in each of the last 3 games even with Kobe Bryant leading the league in scoring.   The Lakers of course, are not only without Steve Nash but also his backup Steve Blake.  While Metta World Peach has stepped up and Kobe continues to play beyond his years, Pau Gasol has struggled offensively and Dwight Howard has had off nights as well.  In their last loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the “Twin Towers” scored 13 points and grabbed 8 rebounds between them.  D’Antoni benched Gasol in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies game after he struggled for the previous 7 periods.

The key to the game for the Mavericks may be not necessarily shutting down Kobe Bryant, who is likely to get his points anyway, but in keeping the rest of the team from being effective.  There is no one better to defend Kobe than Shawn Marion and it won’t be Kobe’s easiest night but if he is able to find easy outlets to Howard and Gasol, it could be a long night for the Mavericks who have struggled defending opposing big men all year.

The Mavs need to use the defensive talent they have (Marion, Elton Brand, Bernard James, Dahntay Jones) to disrupt the flow of an offense that clearly doesn’t have the routine down yet and is missing its best drivers.  Kobe is leading the team in assists at 5.1 apg, which is surprising considering he’s carrying the offensive load.  Overall, the Lakers are still struggling to find an identity and the Mavericks need to take advantage while not allowing Howard to dominate inside.

As I predicted earlier in the year, the Laker’s bench is still suspect and several of them are shooting under 40%.  The starters are being overplayed and that can’t be good for the team long-term.  While Antawn Jamison finally showed up against the Grizzlies with 16 points and Jordan Hill was very effective against the Mavericks on Oct. 30^th, overall the bench has played as expected.  For the time being, the Mavs have a huge advantage and should be able to use it when the Lakers have to go to the bench.

Game time is 7:30 P.M. CST at the American Airlines Center.