Report: Will Dwight Howard Miss Considerable Time?

The Houston Rockets cruised their way into an impressive win over the Dallas Mavericks, a familiar foe that is making the rivalry between both teams worthwhile once again.

The Rockets played tenacious defense, swished bucks, swatted shots away and looked like the team that was poised to start its cruise down Championship Ave.

They had swagger, they had precision, they knew what they were doing.

All without Dwight Howard.

Wait…what?!?

Yep, I said it, no D12.

It seemed as if he was on the mend after injuring his right ankle against the Phoenix Suns this past Friday.

He even reported that he was feeling better day-by-day.

The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen thought things were looking grim for Howard as he hobbled around in his walking boot.

But he then changed the course of his thoughts after Howard took it off and started to sing.

This was shortly after that game Friday in the locker room.

But as we all thought he was turning a corner, there are reports indicating another setback with his right knee.

Feigen reports:

An MRI on Dwight Howard's right knee today showed edema (fluid buildup). The team said he will be reevaluated in the coming days.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 29, 2015

Last week, I talked about how his right knee had been affecting his play as of late and now it’s understandable that it’s more severe than what we thought. As I proposed, the “pumping the brakes” mentality is not going work as an edema can be quite serious.

Here’s what I propose — sit Dwight out for as long as needed until this issue is resolved. There’s no need in aggravating this issue any further, that way he is 100 percent — or at least close — when it’s playoff time.

The Rockets have 36 more games to go and I honestly think the guys we have can man the middle until he is ready. The only team I worried about was how we matched up with the Golden State Warriors and that series is done.

The team didn’t perform as I hoped — they got swept — but luckily it’s over and they can handle other competition as they go.

But anyway, this injury may heal itself over time or it may be one he can return quickly from after Dr. Walter Lowe, the team physician, drains that knee.

Feigen also reported that he will not be on the trip two-game East Coast swing:

Dwight Howard will not be with the Rockets on the back-to-back to Boston and Detroit.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 29, 2015

But fluid buildup is not a good sign at all.