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Almost a year after methodically breaking down the Atlanta Hawks in a historic postseason sweep, the Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic became the unexpected victims of revenge.

Atlanta, of course, was expected to be first round fodder, a stepping stone or simply a minor temporary inconvenience as the Magic marched toward their championship-or-bust preseason goals.

Now the future of almost everyone associated with the Magic has since come into question.

The amount of job security head coach Stan Van Gundy possesses is in doubt for failing to navigate the Magic past the first round of the playoffs and the inability of the team to adjust to the Hawks’ defensive schemes. 

Ditto for general manager Otis Smith, who is now being taken to task more than ever for disrupting the core of the 2009 Finals team, the two blockbuster deals he orchestrated last December and his refusal to sign another frontcourt presence to pair alongside Howard.   

Even long-time starting point guard Jameer Nelson’s tenure is in doubt, as the team owes backup Gilbert Arenas over $19 million next season and management has expressed the desire to see Arenas log more minutes.

But the glaring omission in the blame game has surprisingly been All-Star center and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard.

Sure, Howard put up unworldly numbers in the series versus Atlanta posting averages of 27 points and 15.5 rebounds on 63 percent shooting. But while those numbers dwarfed his regular season averages by a wide margin, his leadership or lack thereof put the Magic into a deeper hole.

During the regular season, especially post All-Star break, Howard posed as a one man army guiding the injury-depleted Magic down the stretch and maintaining their grip in the Eastern Conference’s hierarchy.

However, when the bright lights of the postseason came calling, Howard withered under the pressure despite what the herculean numbers may suggest.

The proof is there.

Howard lost the mental battle by constantly being frustrated by the inferiorly-talented Zaza Pachulia, Jason Collins, Hilton Armstrong and Josh Powell.

Howard, instead of focusing on overcoming the series deficit his team faced, lashed out in the locker room on a mainstream journalist who was speculating on his impending free agent status (destination) in 2012.

Howard was constantly embroiled in back and forth exchanges with referees after each foul called – whether directly on him or one of his teammates.

Howard committed a whopping 5.5 turnovers per game during the series.

After consistently and unquestionably demonstrating MVP leadership during the regular season, Howard displayed little of it as the Magic were getting bounced out of the playoffs.

Simply put, Howard must overcome his frustrations if he’s ever going to strap the Magic on his back and bring a title to Orlando. All the great ones have had to overcome the same obstacles.

Howard was the recipient of over 700 fouls in the regular season and none of them were called flagrant. In the playoffs this year Pachulia, Collins, Armstrong, Powell and company ensured the big man made 15 trips to the free throw line in every contest during the series.

{AUTHOR_BOX} It’s no secret, Howard is routinely pounded nightly and oftentimes opposing players aren’t making the slightest attempts at the ball during the hack. The Hawks assortment of big men conspired to do nothing different. That was their sole intent – to frustrate, maim, disrupt, makes things uncomfortable, flop and force the referees to use their whistles. How Howard reacted is the problem.

Let’s take a look at the first four games of the series where Atlanta built their insurmountable 3-1 lead.

Howard committed a total of 19 personal fouls and 2 technicals during this time period.  Twelve of those infractions came against trio of Pachulia, Collins and Armstrong with both technical fouls the result of being frustrated with Pachulia.

The technical in game three, after a hard foul in the post by Pachulia, escalated to the point where teammate Jason Richardson got involved in a mini scrap and wound up being ejected and suspended for the pivotal game four (which the Magic lost).

Under no circumstances should Howard be investing that number of fouls or being whistled for technicals against that assortment of talent. Nothing against Pachulia, but under no circumstance should he ever be considered a series changer in a lineup which features Al Horford and Joe Johnson.

Unfortunately for Magic fans, Howard empowered the Hawks’ frontcourt and boosted their confidence even though they were being dominated in every other facet of the game. Yet, postgame those same players were receiving widespread praise for their play. 

Howard, going forward, must be tasked with overcoming the same mental obstacles placed in front of all this generations greats.

Los Angeles Lakers guard and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant has had to endure a wide array of players who attempted to get into his psyche and disrupt his game by being overly physical. From retired Spur Bruce Bowen, current Jazz guard Raja Bell to Pacer reserve Dahntay Jones, the veteran has persevered and excelled.

Four-time champion and future Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal had to overcome the "Hack-A-Shaq" strategy and stay focused on the task at hand. He was also the recipient of the same nightly pounding, if not more, than Howard.

Retired legend Michael Jordan had to overcome the psychological and physical warfare the late eighties Detroit Pistons unleashed before going on his title runs with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan also had to overcome the physicality of the early nineties New York Knicks (Gerald Wilkins, John Starks, etc.) and maintain his composure.

The Orlando Magic as an organization has come to a crossroad.

Howard can become a free agent in the near future and most of the media attention has taken the slant of the organization having to do everything to keep the star "happy" in the process.

That’s understandable. A talent like Howard doesn’t come around often.

But Howard is going to have to hold up his end of the deal as well. Losing the mental edge against Collins, Pachulia, Armstrong and Powell will keep the Magic on the bench looking in at greatness.

Reading columns by journalists while his team is facing a series deficit must cease (or at least the public acknowledgement / emotional reaction to it).

Multiple frustration fouls and constant chatting with the guys in stripes has to become a thing of the past in order to maximize the likelihood of future playoff success.

The Magic suffered an unexpected defeat and just because Howard’s star shined the brightest it shouldn’t make him immune from criticism. Howard possesses all the tools to be a leader, a MVP and NBA champion. However, as a leader goes, so does his team – mentally and physically.

Hopefully, this surprising setback is enough to jumpstart Howard in the right direction in regaining his mental edge.

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