In order to prove its integrity, the NBA must suspend Dwight Howard

[Drucci]

So, let's resume the facts quickly here.

This play is worthy of a suspension :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eycPuFmGCdU

According to the rules, it seems legitimate :

The League Office will consider the following factors (as well as any other relevant facts and circumstances) in determining whether to classify a foul as Flagrant "1" or Flagrant "2", to reclassify a flagrant foul, or to impose a fine and/or suspension on the player involved:

1. The severity of the contact; 2. Whether or not the player was making a legitimate basketball play (e.g., whether a player is making a legitimate effort to block a shot; note, however, that a foul committed during a block attempt can still be considered flagrant if other criteria are present such as recklessness and hard contact to the head) 3. Whether, on a foul committed with a player’s arm or hand, the fouling player wound up and/or followed through after making contact; 4. The potential for injury resulting from contact (e.g., a blow to the head and a foul committed while a player is in a vulnerable position); 5. The severity of any injury suffered by the offended player; and 6. The outcome of the contact (e.g., whether it led to an altercation).

This play from KG is an illustration of the second criteria and the third one.

Fine, then, all the dirty plays from Howard should be reviewed and he should have been ejected and suspended two games ago already.

I mean... Look at that :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF583VAogjA

(3:20 for the play on the following video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6gu-9WAMgU&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddQrJbx0f-0&feature=player_embedded#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL0TA-49g1g&feature=player_embedded#at=141 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIEVnjq7DBI&feature=player_embedded

All these plays are defined in the criterias of a flagrant foul! Especially the "follow through" part. Howard always make physical and unnecessary contact after the fouls, while he is still getting down after his jump or his arm shot. But it's clearly dirty and intentional, how can you doubt that after seeing him make these kind of plays time and time again in this series?

It's so obvious that the NBA HAS to review these plays and take the necessary measures to sanction Howard. Even on his elbow to Baby it's really suspicious with the way he "follows through" once again.

So far, Howard got a flagrant 1 for his foul on Pierce in game 2. And his foul in game 4 with the elbow in KG's head has been upgraded to a flagrant 1 after the game (which didn't change the final score by the way and could have impacted it in a big way).

After the ridiculous T's on Perk and its repercussion in the 2nd half (+ potentially in game 6), the NBA must review all these Howard plays and suspend him... if it wants to show its integrity, which is, clearly legitimately, questioned after such plays are witnessed and not punished.

[twinbree]

TP Drucci for the time you took to put this post together. Unfortunately nothing the NBA has done lately decade makes me think they care about integrity. But who knows maybe today is the day they start to care.

[Birdbrain]

Nope I want him out there as way to stick it to the NBA and him when they get blown out on Friday.

[vinnie]

Nothing will happen to Dwight Howard. He is one of the league's Golden Children. Until last night's game, I have tried to give the NBA and the refs the benefit of the doubt (I know, how naieve of me), but no more. Too many refs are incompetent and too many refs think the fans want to see them and not the game. Sick of it.

[fairweatherfan]

Some of the plays individually I understand there being a no-call or a regular foul.  But collectively, I can't see how the league doesn't see a pattern of Howard swinging his elbows around constantly.  Remember, Dwight broke his own teammate's (Courtney Lee) face last year doing the same stuff. 

The league needs to crack down on this like they did Mutumbo a few years back.

[kw10]

I didn't watch the last 2 games nor did I want to, but I couldn't resist. The last 1 on Pierce is most definitely intentional!!! He had enough time after the whistle blew before he even brings his elbow down and connected. Ridiculous! I am fuming! If Howard can seriously play like that, I would seriously just have Shelden deck him or something.

[GreenFaith1819]

Unfortunately, because we are the Celtics, it doesn't matter.

Now if Dwight had taken out Lebron, Wade or Kobe during the regular season, it would've given the officials something to focus on.

[twinbree]

And here's the elbow to poor Baby's face

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOAtHHv47mk

[ssspence]

I admire your fact based argument, but sadly it's for not. The NBA front office continues to act like a spoiled child when it comes to the now-laughable treatment of star players and revenue generation.

The more thoughtful or insightful the complaint from a team, coach or player, the larger to fine from the league and the more petulant the retribution from the officials. And since money talks, the team will just play on and shake their heads while guys are thrown out or carried off the floor while dwight howard makes dirty play after dirty play while getting away with offensive fouls and getting the benefit of the call on every ticky tack point of contact under the celtics basket.

It's gotten to the point where Stern's nose grows every time he's interviewed -- whether on the state of the CBA, officiating, that he 'doesn't care' where LeBron goes this summer, or -- his latest -- that the new Nets owner knows he 'can't talk about certain things' publicly. Wipe that grin off your face while you lie to us, Mr. Stern.

This is where I find it disappointing that Donoghy is not a better spoken individual. While I don't believe much of what he has to say, in many cases it's hard to argue with his assertions -- teams and players getting the benefit of the doubt in specific situations. It happens over and over again. If he could articulate it in a more reasonable manner, it might lead us closer to a successful audit of the NBA's policies.

Perhaps the right person would be a player or coach who is a free agent, and therefore not an employee of the NBA. Or a recently retired player or coach. Either way, take Drucci's approach, but to a much larger level -- there should be plenty of evidence. Make the league address it through a PR campaign they can't withstand.

In the meantime, I feel compelled to turn off game after game part way through out of frustration not over the Celtics play, but over the see-saw playing field the NBA creates. When the Cs are allowed by the NBA to play physical -- they win. When they're not -- they lose.

This series will go 7, and when it does, the Cs will be given that physicality back in the NBA's hopes they represent the EC in the finals. I'm left with little other conclusion but to ACTUALLY believe this, and if it indeed comes true -- i think it's pathetic and a disgrace.

 

[Tai]

This series will go 7, and when it does, the Cs will be given that physicality back in the NBA's hopes they represent the EC in the finals. I'm left with little other conclusion but to ACTUALLY believe this, and if it indeed comes true -- i think it's pathetic and a disgrace.

 

You wanna at least wait until Game 6 happens before making statements like that? I mean, really?

[twinbree]

And the block where he pushes Rajon out of the way as he's falling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_803lThcscg

[ssspence]

This series will go 7, and when it does, the Cs will be given that physicality back in the NBA's hopes they represent the EC in the finals. I'm left with little other conclusion but to ACTUALLY believe this, and if it indeed comes true -- i think it's pathetic and a disgrace.

 

You wanna at least wait until Game 6 happens before making statements like that? I mean, really?

Would sort of defeat the purpose in a prediction, now wouldn't it....

[ssspence]

And the block where he pushes Rajon out of the way as he's falling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_803lThcscg

Good find, I was looking for this as well. He's done this to Rondo now twice in the series. Dirty....

[guava_wrench]

And the block where he pushes Rajon out of the way as he's falling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_803lThcscg

Where was the push? Howard just landed on him.

 

So many victims.

[twinbree]

And the block where he pushes Rajon out of the way as he's falling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_803lThcscg

Where was the push? Howard just landed on him.

 

So many victims.

He clearly pushes him in the replay. If you think he just landed on him fine. Your perspective isn't more valid than mine.