{"id":340489,"date":"2011-03-26T15:24:23","date_gmt":"2011-03-26T15:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/03\/26\/stars-risk-suspensions-from-technicals-ap\/"},"modified":"2011-03-26T15:24:23","modified_gmt":"2011-03-26T15:24:23","slug":"stars-risk-suspensions-from-technicals-ap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/03\/26\/stars-risk-suspensions-from-technicals-ap\/","title":{"rendered":"Stars risk suspensions from technicals (AP)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)\u2014Dwight Howard<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> isn\u2019t worried about getting another
\nsuspension for drawing too many technical fouls.<\/p>\n

The Orlando center already has missed a game for accumulating too many and
\ntwo more will cost him a game during the regular-season stretch run. Howard
\ninsists he\u2019ll be the \u201csame guy\u201d as the playoffs approach\u2014meaning he\u2019ll
\ncontinue to hold animated conversations with officials when he feels he\u2019s been
\nwronged.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody fouls, and after the foul they continue to foul me,\u201d Howard said
\nbefore a game in New York. \u201cI get upset at the refs because they allow it to
\nhappen, so my teammates are trying to do a better job of coming to console me so
\nI won\u2019t say anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Playoff seeding, and even playoff berths, could be dramatically affected by
\na wrong word, a shove or an errant elbow in the heat of the moment. The NBA\u2019s
\nrule regarding technical fouls has come into play as teams jockey for postseason
\nposition.<\/p>\n

If a player reaches 16, it\u2019s a one-game suspension, with additional
\nsuspensions for every two technicals thereafter for the rest of the regular
\nseason.<\/p>\n

Howard, New York\u2019s Amare Stoudemire<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> and Charlotte\u2019s Stephen Jackson<\/a>(notes)<\/a>,<\/span> all
\nleading scorers for their teams, are dangerously close to missing a game during
\nthe crucial final games of the regular season. Orlando is in fourth place in the
\nEast and within reach of Miami for the Atlantic Division title. New York and
\nPhiladelphia are battling for the No. 6 position in the East, and Charlotte is
\nchasing Indiana for the No. 8 spot in the conference.<\/p>\n

Homecourt advantage in the playoffs is determined by a team\u2019s regular-season
\nrecord. Even if a game doesn\u2019t affect conference seeding, it could determine
\nwhether a team gets homecourt advantage in the NBA finals.<\/p>\n

The possibility of missing a key game with so much at stake would seem to be
\nenough to make even surly players try to mind their manners. Their pocketbooks,
\ntheir reputations, their roles as team leaders are all theoretically at stake.<\/p>\n

Howard leads the league with 16 technicals as of Friday. New York has a trio
\nof players with double-digit technicals\u2014Stoudemire has 15, Carmelo Anthony<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> 13
\nand Chauncey Billups<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> 10. Anthony, in fact, averages a technical foul every 6.5
\ngames over his career. Jackson has 14.<\/p>\n

New York coach Mike D\u2019Antoni knows Stoudemire must walk a tightrope, trying
\nto avoid technicals while still playing with emotion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019ll handle himself, and if he can\u2019t, then we\u2019ll deal with
\nwhatever happens,\u201d D\u2019Antoni said after Stoudemire drew his 15th back in
\nFebruary. \u201cSo I\u2019m going to leave it at that. He\u2019s a guy that took us where we
\nare, and I\u2019m not going to go and scrutinize too much because he\u2019s a little bit
\ntoo emotional and plays too hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stoudemire received his 16th technical on March 10 against Dallas, but it
\nwas later rescinded.<\/p>\n

Jackson missed a game for Golden State in 2009 for drawing too many
\ntechnicals. He feels his role in the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl in 2004 is a
\nsignificant factor in how he\u2019s treated by the referees. He has always spoken his
\nmind and has for the most part, been unapologetic for his behavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get techs because I want to,\u201d Jackson said recently. \u201cI don\u2019t care.
\nI\u2019m not getting techs for no reason. It happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jackson has been on his best behavior recently, staying at 14 technicals
\nsince Feb. 25.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, he does have to change and I think he recognizes that now,\u201d
\nCharlotte coach Paul Silas said after Jackson\u2019s 13th. \u201cHe just can\u2019t go after
\nthose guys. I know early on this year, they said the whole system changed as far
\nas the referee and what they were going to take. Even though you may not swear
\nat them or whatever, if you continue to talk to them in a disrespectful manner,
\nthen they\u2019re going to have to do something about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boston\u2019s Kevin Garnett<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> has 11 technicals this season, though he trails only
\nteammate Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> among active players with 138 and draws one every 8.6
\ngames. The Western Conference leader, Los Angeles\u2019 Kobe Bryant<\/a>(notes)<\/a>,<\/span> has 12.<\/p>\n

Howard tends to get rough treatment in the lane and he\u2019s not shy about
\nreacting. He was whistled for his 16th technical with 1:41 left in the first
\nhalf on March 4 against Chicago, and the Magic lost the game he missed.<\/p>\n

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has criticized commissioner David Stern while
\ndefending his superstar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the system David Stern and his minions like,\u201d Van Gundy said
\nafter the suspension. \u201cSo that\u2019s the system you have. \u2026 I certainly can\u2019t
\nhave an opinion because David Stern, like a lot of leaders we\u2019ve seen in this
\nworld lately, don\u2019t really tolerate other people\u2019s opinion or free speech or
\nanything. So I\u2019m not really allowed to have an opinion. So it\u2019s up to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe decides and he likes the system he has.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stern responded strongly to Van Gundy, but didn\u2019t fine him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t bother me personally,\u201d Stern said on ESPN Radio. \u201cI see
\nsomebody whose team isn\u2019t performing, whose star player was suspended, who seems
\nto be fraying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stoudemire is the closest to a suspension.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows, he\u2019s at the limit now, so there\u2019s no turning back now,\u201d
\nD\u2019Antoni said. \u201cBut if I\u2019m not mistaken, that\u2019s a man out there. He knows.
\nHe\u2019ll do what he\u2019s got to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney contributed to this report from New York.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read More:
\nStars risk suspensions from technicals (AP)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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