Dwight Howard is still not ready to think about his debut with the hometown team.
The Hawks new center, born and raised in Atlanta, said this week that he did not want to think about the emotional homecoming. He reiterated that Wednesday, the day before the Hawks open the regular season with a home game against the Wizards.
“Everybody has talked about it,” Howard said with a smile. “I’m trying to stay away from it. I don’t know how it will be. I try not to think about it because with everybody saying ‘Man, it’s your first game. Are you going to cry?’ Leave me alone.”
Howard has received considerable ovations in the three sparsely attended home exhibition games during the preseason.
“I try to block it out,” Howard said. “I don’t want to think too much. Even when my friends are in the stands, I see somebody that I grew up with and they’ll yell ‘Dwight,’ but I’m focused. I don’t want to find myself getting too distracted.”
Howard was willing to talk about his health going into the regular season after a full training camp. Last season with the Rockets, Howard missed most of the preseason with back issues. He was suspended for the season opener because of an accumulation of flagrant fouls during the playoffs. He missed four of the next 13 games because of his back.
“This has been my first preseason in a while where I’ve really gotten a chance to play,” Howard said. “I think that’s going to help me with the start of the season. I’m really looking forward to getting out there and getting this thing going.
“This season I’ve played in all the games (in which starters were not rested), been healthy and have been able to get in great shape.”
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