Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash admitted that he believes departed center Dwight Howard will thrive in the Houston Rockets' system better in 2013-14 than he did with the Lakers' scheme last season.
The reason? The systems are the same.
Nash indirectly took a couple of shots at his teammate in a Los Angeles Times article Tuesday night. The biggest shot came when Nash was asked about Howard's comfort level with Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni's system in 2012-13.
"If he's not happy, if he's not excited to be there, I think that's going to play in everything that happens on the court," Nash said of Howard to the newspaper. "Ironically, Houston plays D'Antoni's system. He'll probably thrive in that system next year because he'll be more comfortable."
Nash also addressed reports that Howard didn't feel supported by the Lakers organization by talking about his own transition from being the star with the Phoenix Suns to being a complementary player to Kobe Bryant with the Lakers.
"I've always just wanted an opportunity to play and compete. I've never really had that mindset of not being supported," Nash told the Times. "I feel like it's my job to support the club, to play well, to train hard, to be a positive influence and try to win as many games as you can for the fans and the club -- for putting faith in you."
In an interview with Grantland.com, Nash said he told Howard that he was disappointed over last season and wanted another shot with the same roster. Nash said he also tried to appeal to Howard through the Lakers' tradition.
"And my second point to him was that, when you look back on the career, and you can say you played for the Lakers for eight or 10 years, that's an incredible opportunity," Nash told the website. "If I were 27, in the prime of my career, there wouldn't even be another consideration. It would be the no. 1 place you could play."
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