If Howard is playing he doesn’t need to be complaining.

Never let your opponent know you are still hurting, but with Dwight it could be a grand exaggeration so who knows. I would not be shocked if these comments were being made to make him look like a hero if he plays well and an excuse if he doesn’t.

“My back’s strong enough, but it’s not about strength at this point,” said Howard, who had spinal surgery for a herniated disk on April 20. “It’s about endurance.”

“There are still days where it’s real achy,” Howard said, “and hard to move. And I just try to fight through it.”