Dwight suspension?

[afflatus]

The Foul was a futile yet juvenile attempt by Howard to show the Celtics that he can be a bully as well.

I bet you he saw the Lakers-Celtics highlight of McHale taking down Rambis and saw how that changed the series.

What he did not realize is that suddenly playing out of character will attract the referees' attention.

They gave him a break just giving him a Flagrant 1, but he did get his 3rd foul on a play that could have been a no call soon after.

Don't be surprised if the refs keep an extra eye on him the rest of his series simply because they know he has intentions.

[LooseCannon]

The best things to do would be for the Celtics to get up 30 in game three, insert Scal at center, and let the man level some pale justice on Howard.

[mgent]

What was with Pierce laying on the ground for 30 seconds and then getting up quickly as if to do something?

[BudweiserCeltic]

What was with Pierce laying on the ground for 30 seconds and then getting up quickly as if to do something?

A normal reaction of a player who got hit in the face and then thrown to the ground by the head.

[LB3533]

1. Going for the head/face is unnecessary & excessive which deems a Flagrant 1.

2. Following through & proceeding to pull or push the player downward toward the ground is even more egregious = Flagrant 2.

 

[wdleehi]

I don't think he will be suspended.



Good.



I rather the Celtics beat them at full strength.

[hwangjini_1]

I don't think he will be suspended.



Good.



I rather the Celtics beat them at full strength.

i agree howard should not be suspended for the foul. it was very different than the elbow by KG that got him suspeneded. that was a fight situation, not in the game.

i dont mind howard fouling hard. it is part of playoff basketball...see mchale's leveling of rambus... and it plays in favor of the celtics since now howard will be noticed by the refs for rough play.

as for him not being suspended, i am glad he is not, but i wont cry over it either. i prefer the celtics to win by 20+ points in each of the upcoming games.

then they can rest, cruise and prepare for the finals.

[Chris]

If Rondo was not suspended for his foul on the Brad Miller last year, then Howard does not deserve a suspension this year.  Both were cases of someone going a little overboard, trying to make sure someone does not have any chance for an "AND 1".  There was no clear intent to injure, just an intent to make sure the shot did not get up.  They both were clearly flagrants, but certainly not flagrant 2's.

[dark_lord]

the foul shouldnt warrant a suspension.  even though it happened to our player, i like hard, physical, and even a little dirty play in the playoffs.  this new breed of flopping and hypersensitive officiating sucks for the league.

[ScoobyDoo]

He made no play on the ball, WHATSOEVER...AT ALL. I knwo it says somewhere that you have to make a play "on the ball" you can't just swing at someone's head.

He hammered Paul's head with his right elbow, then raked his hand across his face and threw him to the ground. His left hand made no attempt at the ball.

In fact, if you're watching Howard's eyes he isn't even looking at Pierce or the ball.

It was highly intentional and most importantly, very, very highly dangerous. Far more dangerous than Alston's slap to Eddie or KG's elbow to Richardson.

Maybe had Howard's elbow gone a few inches ina  diffrent direction and cracked Paul's eye socket, then we could call it a flagrant 2? Based on the elvel of injury the play casued?

I think flagrant 2's should be based on the level of intent, and the level of danger the receiving player is put in.

That was a highly intententional and highly dangerous play.

Flagrant 2, no question.

Also, does anyone actually think that Perk wouldn't have gotten tossed for that? Or KG? Give me a break...they are gone, gone gone...no question.

Doesn't anyone remember a play I think in early '08, when KG got really hannered by someone under the bakset and he kind of flailed hisarms in the direction of the opponent who still had him tied up somewhat...one of KG "open" hands grazed down the forehead of the player....KG gets tossed. He barely even touched the guy.

Look, had Howard been looking at Pierce, came down ultra hard with his right on Pierce's shoulder to wrap him up and then swung hard and raked pierce's arms with his left hand while trying to go after the ball...I don't even know if I'd assign a flagrant one on that. it would be border line

But what Howard did was something entirely different. 

[Prof. Clutch]

The severity of the foul was a flagrant 2 in my opinion.  That being said, I'm glad he wasn't tossed from the game and I'm glad he isn't getting suspended.  I want these games to be entertaining and I want Howard on the floor so we can beat the strongest Magic team possible.

The only thing I care about is that plays like this are called evenly for both sides.

[mmbaby]

I am so with you, Scooby. Howard is a dirty bully and he's shown that clearly this series. I am disgusted with him.
If he thinks he can't win playing real basketball, maybe he tries to hurt one of our guys and eliminate him from playing the rest of the series.

And Dark Lord, you say you like dirty bb in the finals?
I don't. Do you want your players permanently damaged for your watching enjoyment?

[Cman]

The only thing I care about is that plays like this are called evenly for both sides.

Ditto.
That's really the best that one can hope for, is that it is called evenly.  The fact that we have to cross our fingers and *hope* for this says something bad about the NBA, IMHO.

[Overrated]

[ScoobyDoo]

TP overrated, thats' a great shot with Howasrd shoveling...



I absolutely want Howard on the court for every game. My thinking or wanting his foul to have beena  flagrant 2 has nothign to do with wanting him out of the games to make our path easier.

It's more form a stanpoint of safeguarding the players.

There was "no play on the ball", it was with clear intent to hammer someone and that is all.

I love rough, physical basketball but there are very clear lines you should never cross and they are incredibly easy to identify, based on the lvel of potantial harm a given play could have inflicted on the receiving player.

It was a flagrant 2.

But I also think that while, Ok I get KG getting suspended for the elbow to Richardson in that brawl; I think that Q should have received for 2-3 games and fined $200k to $300k for being the eprson responsible for inciting a brawl and putting alot of other players unecessarily in harm's way. He had the entire rest of the court to walk around another player who was hurt and on the floor and who's immediate area was clearly being cordoned off by a teammate, which is exactly what should be done to protect the guy on the floor.

These things are crystal celar to me, but that's what makes the world go round, all the differtn view points; all valid.