







ORLANDO, Fla. – For the relentless punishment Dwight Howard meted out on this franchise and these fans, for such an inglorious exit and ultimately a spectacular return on Tuesday night, there was still such an immense part of him desperate to win back everyone.

All around the Los Angeles Lakers' bench, the fans harassed and heckled Howard. His eye contact with these people was unwavering, his cute responses determined to diffuse the anger and remind them of the good times here, of the way they once cheered him, of the way they did love him.

"You [bleeping] suck Dwight!" the man beneath the basket with the baseball cap screamed.

"You [bleeping] suck!"

Howard laughed and mouthed back to him, "I'm having fun … I'm having fun."

And then, Howard climbed back off the end of the Lakers' bench, marched onto the floor and obliterated these Orlando Magic. Once again, he broke everyone's heart here.

[Related: Orlando billboard mocks Dwight Howard's return]

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The Magic tried to prey on all his insecurities, all his fears, and yet, finally, there was no stopping the self-proclaimed Superman. Over and over, the Magic grabbed Howard, slapped him, wrapped arms around those massive shoulders and dared him to immerse himself in the moment, concentrate and make free throws. The Magic played a Hack-a-Dwight, dared him to stand alone in downtown Orlando and make free throw upon free throw.

Thirty-nine times Howard shot them, 25 times they dropped into the net and ultimately 39 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks punctuated the Lakers' 106-97 victory over the Magic.

"I needed that to learn how to block a lot of things out, despite the boos and all that stuff," Howard said.

That's always the issue with Howard: Where's his mind? Where's his focus? What's his mood? Since the All-Star break, those within the Lakers have declared him transformed. After such a reluctance to embrace the burden that comes with this franchise, Howard has "come with an intensity, a ferocity," Bryant told Yahoo! Sports. "He understands that with the Lakers, it's a championship or nothing."

From the coaching staff to the players, they think Howard has become a better teammate, more willing to do things big and small necessary to propel the Lakers into contention. Within the Lakers, they believe that Howard is progressing physically because he's pushing himself harder.

Slowly, surely, his back has provided him with more mobility, explosion. Most mornings, Howard goes for acupuncture on his back, diligently trying to bring it all the way back. Howard has streamlined his personal life, too. He's leaned on a nutritionist, reshuffled his inner circle with the elimination of a long-time business manager. His circle is tighter, and some think that's productively narrowed his world.

[Related: What we learned from Dwight Howard megatrade]

Before the game, Bryant's message to Howard was unmistakable: "Kill them," Kobe told him. What Bryant didn't want was a conciliatory Howard, the nice guy trying to undo the ill will manufactured upon forcing his departure after eight seasons.

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