It’s time to say it for him: Dwight Howard needs to be a bigger part of the Lakers’ offense.

Demand the ball long before your teammates commit a flurry of fourth-quarter turnovers forcing passes into the post.

Step up and shoot, shoot, shoot with Pau Gasol possibly sidelined for the rest of the regular season.

As Howard’s production has dwindled, so have the postgame remarks of a once-chatty player.

Reporter: “Are you getting as many shots as you would like right now?”

Howard: “I don’t want to talk about that.”

Reporter: “Are you happy with your place in the offense?”

Howard: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

via Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times