Since being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 21, 2009, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has had his game scrutinized by fans and media members alike.

Dwight Howard (Photo by Scott McCall)

He has also recently been named the starting center on the East squad in the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas set for Sunday, Feb. 14.

Howard is currently averaging 17.4 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game even as the hometown team has had its share of ups and downs as of late.

The second conference player-of-the-week award for Howard this season (the ninth of his career) came after the six-year pro averaged 17 points, 17.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots during home wins against Indiana, Toronto and Portland and a loss at Miami last month.

The effort improved the Magic’s overall record to 20-7 through the end of that star-studded week.

Since then though, he’s either scored 17 points or grabbed 13 rebounds in a game just nine times over his past 18 tries while blocking three or more shots 10 times during that stretch.

Fans have experienced both sides of the 2009-10 version of Dwight Howard since then as the Magic (29-16 overall, 19-9 Eastern Conference) have compiled a 9-9 mark over its past 18 games and currently sit a game behind Atlanta (29-14) in the Southeast Division.

Dwight Howard (Photo by Scott McCall)

There have been trivial single-digit scoring efforts turned in by Howard during that recent .500 span against the likes of Boston (5 points), Minnesota (9), Chicago (9) and Denver (8) which resulted in just one win for Orlando. Then there have been such huge scoring nights as were had against Washington (23), Sacramento (30), Los Angeles Lakers (24), Indiana (32) and Memphis (27) to little avail as the Magic could only muster a 2-3 record in those last five 23-point games from its marquee player.

It’s a long season, though. There will be plenty of finger pointing and praise to come. Stay tuned as the postseason is right around the corner, where the stage lights up and any reason for concern will be warranted – if even needed – as a weak Eastern Conference deserves barely a yawn of our collective sighs just yet.

Upcoming for Orlando are home games against Boston (29-13) on Thursday and Atlanta on Saturday, before flying out to Detroit (15-28) for a meeting with the Pistons on Sunday.

The Magic return to town to host Milwaukee (18-24) on Tuesday, Feb. 2 and Washington (14-30) on Friday, Feb. 5, then will be off to Boston for another meeting with the Celtics on Sunday, Feb. 7.

As the NBA heads into all-star weekend, the Magic will host New Orleans (Feb. 8), and be on the road at Chicago (Feb. 10) and Cleveland (Feb. 11) before the festivities begin.

– More Orlando Magic Coverage –

Team page at SB Nation

Team page at Front Office

Team page at FanHouse

Team page at HoopsWorld

Team page at YardBarker

Andrew Melnick at Howard the Dunk

Philip Rossman-Reich at Orlando Magic Daily