I agree with you about the general approach. Celtics (even the depleted Celtics) did the best job on him even with guys like John Scalabrini and a suddenly hapless Mikey Moore. You front, you single cover, you get help from the guards, you live with some jump hooks.

I believe that your scenario is highly probable about the fouls.

The company men (as Donaghy called them) too many times influence games and outcomes.

To me, they should be invisible to the game and only call fouls if a player gains a clear advantage offensively or defensively or violates the NBA rules about blocking or charging with the resticted area in the paint

Too many times, the TV analysts replay a foul and say...that was not a foul....and then I immediately assess....Hmmmm that player now has two fouls and has to come out the game......or three fouls...etc..etc..etc... and more often times than not, it is LA Lakers opponents that are getting the suspect foul calls on them and not a suspect foul call being made against the Lakers....Hmmmmm.

Folks, the company men still exist and they do appear to have a cozy relationship with the Lakers or calls tend to go the Lakers way.

That being said, your prediction about Howard foul trouble is highly probable as the NBA will see to it that Phil and LA gets it done yb any means neceassary.

1.  yes, thats what I said.

2.  yes, I have taken a few dribbles here and there.  I once made a basket at the local fair and won a stuffed animal!  Woohoo

3.  I didn't know Hedo, Rafer, Lewis, Lee, Pietrus were defenisve players of the any year.....

Guys that play defense hard no matter how they are doing on offense are specialist or effort players.  Those are players like Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, Dennis Rodman, Trevor Ariza, Kendrick Perkins, LeBron James.....you get the drift.  Most of the players in the NBA put forth more effort on the defensive end when they are playing better offensively.  If you don't see that from game to game then there are some things you don't understand.  Game 6 with the Lakers and Denver is a prime example of this.  Look what they did offensively and look at the effort they put forth defensively.  Then look a the games when the baskets were going in and see how active they were on the other end of the court. 

Sup Jim buddy

What I'm saying is that if the Lakers double team Dwight, Orlando's shooters will get open 3 point looks right?  Even if the Lakers make the rotation to the 1st guy, Orlando will swing to the 2nd or 3rd until its a open shot.  I'm guessing but I know for a fact that their percentages will be a lot higher if they are getting open looks as opposed to contested looks.  So if the Lakers stay at home with the shooters and let Dwight go off, that basically takes out the game of their 3 point shooters.  We all know Orlando loooves to shoot the 3 ball, if those guys are getting their normal looks, its only natural for them to start getting anxious and soon they start to take bad shots just because they didn't get to shoot in a while.  We often see a shooter or scorer take a horrible shot just because he hasn't shot in a few mins.  Almost as though he was thinking, man I haven't shot in over 6 mins.  So the next time he catches the ball he just throws up something that normally he wouldn't.  Hell I see Dwight do that from time to time.  He'll get the rebound outlet it, and someone will jack up a 3 just after he crosses half court.  He back on defense again, then the same thing happens 4, 5, 6 possessions in a row.  Guess what next time in the half court set, Dwight gets the ball and throws up a nasty ass 7 foot hook shot that has no chance of going in.  Why the hell did he do that?  He knows he could get a way better look. 

Everyone knows the most of part of the game is scoring, which is true for probably 90% of the players.  If you're not having fun, because you're not scoring, its natural to lose interest and lost some intensity. 

I've been trying to tell that to everyone (friends & family)...but it seems no one will come off their Laker high! Orlando does not panic when down 20, and for the "live by three die by three" shit...THIS TEAM NEVER DIE BY THE THREE!