Six years have passed since Dwight Howard has played in the NBA Finals. Since he led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 Eastern Conference title, he's moved on to two different teams and suffered through numerous injuries that have in part sapped his otherworldly athleticism.
Nevertheless, the Howard we saw in the Houston Rockets' five-game win over the Dallas Mavericks still is an awfully special player. His game is leaner than ever and not only is he a great fit for what the Rockets do on both ends of the floor, Howard has found himself well positioned for that long-awaited second trip to the Finals.