Dwight Howard puts the Boston Celtics on an upset watch.
The former Orlando Magic Star Center has chosen his old team to disrupt the Celtics in seven games in the first round series in the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Howard says on his podcast he is “D12 on the rim.” The magical defenses say are the reason for the stunning first round of upset.
“Who’s going to stop a healthy Paolo? [Banchero] In the 7-game series? ” he asked his co-host.
One of “Derrick White” replied, and Howard replied, “You’re Trippin.”
Howard was then a hit with “Jaylen Brown.” He replied again, “He’s too little.”
Howard also said, “Who’s going to stop Jalen? [Suggs] From defending? ”
The Suggs are one of the best border defenders in the NBA, but he’s out for the season with a knee injury.
The argument that Howard probably should have done is that Orlando will protect Boston better than anyone in the NBA.
The magic allows 3-point attempts (32.5) per 100 possessions while the Celtics fire the farthest away (32.5).
Orlando also defeated reigning champion Boston in six of his final nine meetings dating back to December 2022.
It’s even more shocking that magic can pull this off when Suggs and Mo Wagner come out. Not to mention the fact that they are 13-point losers in Game 1 in Boston and that they’ll be +2200 to win the series, but the defending champion Celtics are -8000.
Selected to the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Class, Howard was selected as No. 1 overall by Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft and appeared on the team until his departure after the 2011-12 season.
While playing in the NBA, Howard was a four-time defensive player of the year and eight-time All-Star, leading the magic to the 2009 NBA Finals, losing to the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers in five games.
Of course, the former center continued to play with Bryant in the 2012-13 season, but the experiment was poorly executed as the team fought brilliantly from the first round in the playoffs, with Howard bolting to the Houston Rockets a season later.
