Finally, a sportswriter takes Howard to task

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Ron Borges from the Herald wrote up one heck of a column today, calling out Howard as a cheap-shot artist and imploring the Celtics to Rambis him. Couple of great parts:

It’s quite another thing indeed to “accidentally” flatten Pierce in consecutive games, to “accidentally” leave Davis staggering around Amway Arena like a guy who just was drilled by a Mike Tyson combination, and to “accidentally” level Rajon Rondo when he drives with everything but an ax handle.

Frankly, the time for taking hits is over. It’s time to deliver a few. In the last two games Howard has taken the idea of physical play a bridge too far, and there is only one way to respond: Rearrange his bridge work.
The NBA has three officials on hand to police such things, but they haven’t. They seem more preoccupied with blowing whistles for jaw boning than jaw rearrangement.
Since the officials have decided to leave it up to the players then it is time for the Rambis-ing of Howard.

There is only one way to respond to this kind of play, and it’s not by dribbling the basketball and shooting 3’s.
Shelden Williams, your time has come. Instead of taking one for the team Rivers needs to tell his backup big man to deliver one for the team. Enough is enough. Tonight, at some point, Dwight Howard needs to be given a reason to be glad he has full dental insurance because, hey, basketball is a very physical sport.
Just ask Kurt Rambis.

Actually, Bulpett and Murphy throw some dirt on Howard as well.
 

Perhaps the most blatant result of Dwight Howard’s physical play is how Rondo often hits the floor when driving on the Orlando center. The Celtics coaching staff was especially upset Wednesday night when Howard, after catching Rondo from behind with a dramatic block on the end of a fast break, was not called for knocking the point guard to the floor.

It’s hard for anyone, with the possible exception of NRA lobbyists, to defend Howard’s elbows - the most innocent of which cost Glen Davis some dental material and temporary use of his faculties. (And, Baby’s flights of foolishness aside, anyone who questions this kid’s heart after seeing him try to get back up and into the play shows poorer judgment than Davis on the night he punched out his friend.)
It makes no sense to get into foul trouble with dime-store slaps when the other guy is getting a howitzer through arena security.

Now, I don't want the Celtics to intentionally try to hurt him...I'd rather the refs just do their jobs and call the game evenly. However, if he gets away with any more cheap shots, we do need to hand out some really hard fouls his way.

[Bahku]

Ron Borges from the Herald wrote up one heck of a column today, calling out Howard as a cheap-shot artist and imploring the Celtics to Rambis him. Couple of great parts:

It’s quite another thing indeed to “accidentally” flatten Pierce in consecutive games, to “accidentally” leave Davis staggering around Amway Arena like a guy who just was drilled by a Mike Tyson combination, and to “accidentally” level Rajon Rondo when he drives with everything but an ax handle.

Frankly, the time for taking hits is over. It’s time to deliver a few. In the last two games Howard has taken the idea of physical play a bridge too far, and there is only one way to respond: Rearrange his bridge work.
The NBA has three officials on hand to police such things, but they haven’t. They seem more preoccupied with blowing whistles for jaw boning than jaw rearrangement.
Since the officials have decided to leave it up to the players then it is time for the Rambis-ing of Howard.

There is only one way to respond to this kind of play, and it’s not by dribbling the basketball and shooting 3’s.
Shelden Williams, your time has come. Instead of taking one for the team Rivers needs to tell his backup big man to deliver one for the team. Enough is enough. Tonight, at some point, Dwight Howard needs to be given a reason to be glad he has full dental insurance because, hey, basketball is a very physical sport.
Just ask Kurt Rambis.

Now, I don't want the Celtics to intentionally try to hurt him...I'd rather the refs just do their jobs and call the game evenly. However, if he gets away with any more cheap shots, we do need to hand out some really hard fouls his way.

Awesome article (TP) ... I wish there were more people, (in the press, especially), who recognized the amazing amount of cheap shots and just plain nasty crap that the NBA lets this guy get away with.

The more they allow it, the more he's going to be encouraged to repeat it, and push the envelope with similar actions. Unfortunately, despite the fact that some people see the officials as "above" such one-sided condoning of bad behavior, it continues unchecked.

I've said it more than once during this series, that Sheldon should be the tool of retribution in this case, and in fact, I grew up in an era where such things were the norm ... where "cheap shots" were much more rare an activity.

Back then, (and it wasn't so long ago), teams were allowed to play more physically, and "pay-back" was performed without discussion, (usually during the same game), and not encouraged to continue by the one-sided calls of biased officiating.

Yes, I agree ... Sheldon, your time has come.

[Michael Anthony]

Good find, but I doubt Shelden is up to the task.

I would rather see it come from Nate Robinson, seriously. You do not need to be 6'9" to undercut somebody going for a dunk.

[Frezz]

I wake up in the middle of the night to deliver papers, but I woke up super late today. I'm zooming on the highway to get my papers and I get there and see the back page of the Herald and I just had to stop and read th article and it got me pumped. We do need that McHale moment. And it has to come early.

[kozlodoev]

Borges' article is phenomenally spot-on. Great find.

[Birdbrain]

Let's just hope Perkins realizes (i'm sure he's been told a million times) that he can't be excessive (judgment call) with his fouls tonight.  We are going to need him for game 1 of Championship.  Maybe Perkins could do a pregame interview where he says ' God ' a million times and smiles incessantly...  I mean if you do those types of things you couldn't possibly be a dirty player...

[Bankshot]

Good find, but I doubt Shelden is up to the task.

I would rather see it come from Nate Robinson, seriously. You do not need to be 6'9" to undercut somebody going for a dunk.

I'd rather see Shelden do it.  He's insignificant.  I think we're going to need Nate.

[Drucci]

Nice article, cool to see some writers telling it like it is.

[connerhenry43]

Good find, but I doubt Shelden is up to the task.

I would rather see it come from Nate Robinson, seriously. You do not need to be 6'9" to undercut somebody going for a dunk.

duke players are usually pretty worthless but if there is one thing they learned in college is how to be cheap, dirty players and get away with it. i am sure sheldon could gram some of his notebooks from college and figure out how to do it.

[CoachBo]

I don't think there's any question that Howard has gotten away with murder.

But I'm here to remind all of you that if our ballclub is obsessing over him, and not focusing on upgrading its level of execution at both ends of the floor, we are not through losing in this series.

[PAOBoston]

as much as i like the article, the c's cant afford losing to lose players tonight to retribution hits. especially considering the questionable health of baby and sheed. tonight is their game 7. they need to play with an edge but smart at the same time.

now, if they end up gaining a huge lead, i wouldnt mind a hit like kg on zaza in game 7 of the atlanta series a couple of years ago lol

[kozlodoev]

Good find, but I doubt Shelden is up to the task.

I would rather see it come from Nate Robinson, seriously. You do not need to be 6'9" to undercut somebody going for a dunk.

duke players are usually pretty worthless but if there is one thing they learned in college is how to be cheap, dirty players and get away with it. i am sure sheldon could gram some of his notebooks from college and figure out how to do it.

If the "worthless" J.J. Reddick wasn't on the Orlando squad, this series would probably be over by now.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I don't think there's any question that Howard has gotten away with murder.

But I'm here to remind all of you that if our ballclub is obsessing over him, and not focusing on upgrading its level of execution at both ends of the floor, we are not through losing in this series.

I agree, our execution has been one of the biggest reasons for our losses the past two games.  However, Howard is killing us, and it is not coincidental that he has had far more successful games when he is allowed to get away with murder out there.  If you take him out of the game (mentally or physically) the Magic suddenly become a much easier team to beat.  Considering what Howard has gotten away with, I am ALL FOR giving him an exceedingly hard four and sending him to the floor.

Don't worry about suspensions, etc.  The foul should be committed by a bench player, and I'm really hoping Tom T. is the one who plants the seed. 

[Birdbrain]

I don't think there's any question that Howard has gotten away with murder.

But I'm here to remind all of you that if our ballclub is obsessing over him, and not focusing on upgrading its level of execution at both ends of the floor, we are not through losing in this series.

That's cool because I'm here to tell you none of us will be playing tonight and none of our complaining about Howard will an effect on the game either way.

" not through losing in this series "

[footey]

The Borges solution worked in 1984, but won't in 2010. Rules have changed.  Send Shelden in to hit Howard? Doc would not do that.