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Ball Don't Lie

Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:20 am EDT

Video: Dwight Howard elbows Dalembert, avoids ejection

By J.E. Skeets

Dwight Howard had a monster Game 5 against the 76ers — 24 points and a career playoff-high 24 rebounds, his best game of the first-round series by far — but if he's in uniform for Game 6 in Philadelphia ... well, he won't be. You might as well start stretching now, Air Gortat.

According to the NBA rulebook — Rule 12A, Section V l(5) — Dwight should have been ejected for throwing an "elbow foul which makes contact above shoulder level." Instead, he was assessed a measly technical foul (what, did the referees have a bad angle on it, did they think the shot was accidental?) and the Magic avoided a bullet — for a day.

Because as Doug Smith and many others are pointing out this morning, "If Stu Jackson doesn't get a whiff of that video and hit Howard with a one-game suspension, it will just feed into the theory that stars get preferential treatment, especially come playoff time."

So true. Dwight will receive a one-game suspension, and rightfully so.

Related: YouTube of the day

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169 Comments

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  1. Cloud S
    1. Posted by Cloud S Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:40 am EDT

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    I love how KG pushed off an official last year in the first round or the second round of playoffs and doesn't get anything. I don't see these dumb analysts pointing it out last year? Stars DO get preferential treatment, considering the amount of traveling and fouls they get away with.
  2. Ross J
    2. Posted by Ross J Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:41 am EDT

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    Can't argue it in my opinion. Definetley should be gone from game 6.
  3. marko
    3. Posted by marko Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:42 am EDT

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    Man, that was a dumb move. I just can't understand the refereeing. Come on!!! Dwight deserved to be kicked out of the arena for that. and all that stuff, it's play-off basketball, that's just stupid. a rule is a rule and a foul is a foul. i'm turning back to european basketball after this. or after the bulls-celtics series, at least.
  4. andrewt
    4. Posted by andrewt Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:47 am EDT

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    Wow that was a nasty elbow. How can the refs just call a Tech? If Dalembert fell to the ground after that elbow...ejection.
  5. SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen!
    5. Posted by SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen! Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:49 am EDT

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    hate to say it but 1 gm is warranted.
  6. Jason
    6. Posted by Jason Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:54 am EDT

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    I kind of want him to be suspended for two games to make up for the fact he wasn't thrown out of this one.
  7. Jareth Cutestory
    7. Posted by Jareth Cutestory Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:13 am EDT

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    So Dwight should be suspended due to the refs goofing a call? Eh, I don't buy that. If the rules say this sort of action warrants an ejection, then the ejection should have happened. Now, the Magic and Dwight will have to pay for the refs mistakes if he does end up getting suspended.
    Furthermore, the NBA should pay attention to how the refs call a game for their "superstar big man", and how they call a game for their "superstar guards/forwards". They'll be in for a huge surprise. Dwight has to damn near beg for a call after getting hacked by 2 defenders, yet Wade, LeBron, or Kobe could simply dribble the call next to a defender and get an easy call. It's really mind boggling if you ask me.
  8. Redskins21
    8. Posted by Redskins21 Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:17 am EDT

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    Could you imagine if Rasheed elbowed Lebron like that.. and I'm a cavs fan. Sheed would have been ejected for the rest of the series , fined, put on probation, and have to take AA classes, ok I know I went overboard but you get my point, Defintily they have favorites in the NBA. It's cool though.. no one wants to see us I hope Orlando makes it to the east Finals so Lebron can give them a few bows in the face from his dunks. D12 a pu$$y with that elbow crap..
  9. xt04
    9. Posted by xt04 Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:21 am EDT

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    He should be suspended because he tried to throw an elbow to someones head. Period. The refs not tossing him out has nothing to do with whether this warrants a suspension. This isn't a D. Howard witch hunt. Dude was wrong, and should have to pay for it. Its not a conspiracy.
  10. Colorado Kobe aka The All-Mighty Ball Hogg Messiah
    10. Posted by Colorado Kobe aka The All-Mighty Ball Hogg Messiah Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:33 am EDT

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    LAKER/KOBE APLOGISTS:
    Maybe for once they are right. Maybe Kobe's USA Olypmic experoience has rubbed off on hs fellow teammates. I see that Kobe must of worked with Dwight on his Elbow throwing skills. Kobe needs to work with him a little more on how to be inconspicuous when you properly throw a "bolo"... Nice move Dwight... Just lost a gang of respect for that BS
  11. Mark E
    11. Posted by Mark E Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:35 am EDT

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    How many elbows and punches are thrown at Dwight that the refs either don't see or ignore?? The only problem I have with this one is that it was a blatant shot at his head, but D12 gets beat up night in and night out and maybe gets 25% of the calls he should. I don't know of very many players that get considerable playing time that haven't, out of frustration, thrown a punch or an elbow at someone. Watch that entire sequence and see how Dalembert is digging his elbows into Dwight's ribs and just plain shoving him under the basket. Maybe if the refs called some of that $hit, Dwight wouldn't need to throw elbows to get people off of him. Rarely do the refs whistle that, but that is a pretty blatant foul.
  12. Simmsinns
    12. Posted by Simmsinns Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:40 am EDT

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    NBA: Where special treatment happens.
    Unless of course they use this to set an example of Dwight Howard.
  13. porifrealvizhun
    13. Posted by porifrealvizhun Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:41 am EDT

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    Howard will probably do time for this (a game) ... but Delambert puts his arms out and shoves him completely across the lane ... which, I guess, is playoff basketball. As the ball goes through the net, it could be said that Dwight shrugged off the push. It was a dumb move on Howard's part, but not nearly as severe as Rondo's head swipe on Brad Miller
  14. Steven S
    14. Posted by Steven S Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:51 am EDT

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    Can't excuse Dwight Howard for that one. He'll get a one, maybe two game suspension for that elbow to the face. Actually, it was two elbows, a left leaning on his face, then a right before he took off running down court. I like the guy- a great player- but I think they'll nail him on this one. Also, it looked liked Dalembert was in a blocking drill in football, also illegal in the way he shoves Dwight in the back. The refs missed that one too. So I guess we just have to wait and see what happens. The media is blowing this up big already, adding fuel to the fire.
  15. Jaymie
    15. Posted by Jaymie Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:05 am EDT

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    All Mighty Ball Hog really has a hard-on for Kobe.
  16. raygun
    16. Posted by raygun Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:07 am EDT

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    man if someone was pushing me with forearms and elbows down the block the way sam was doin over there and the refs were acting as blind as they did, id do something about it too.
    but hey, if d12 gets hit with a suspension, i wouldnt be surprised. that was a little over the top for today's nba standards.
    its kinda cool how sam just let dwight walk away though.. i bet if it was someone else, something interesting would have happened.
    superman!!
  17. Redskins21
    17. Posted by Redskins21 Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:10 am EDT

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    Yeah D12 isn't a dirty player , it was more out of frustration. But the hit that Rondo gave miller was a flagrant foul indeed. he wasn't even going for the ball. He just busted him right in the mouth and had to get stitched up so he can shot his FT's which he was obviously wozzy at the line and missed the 1st one that cost them the game. Dam Celtics always doing something that doesn't seem right. Liek doc said " No Easy LAYUPS "
  18. Colorado Kobe aka The All-Mighty Ball Hogg Messiah
    18. Posted by Colorado Kobe aka The All-Mighty Ball Hogg Messiah Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:12 am EDT

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    Zach Randolph got susended 2 games this year for deckin Admunson... That elbow was no different. Bolo Howard should get 2 games but since he's a star player & its the playoffs, he'll only get 1. He couldve gave Dalembert a concussion & that couldve affected his play last game & for the rest of the playoffs... Dwight needs to be dropped 2...
  19. raygun
    19. Posted by raygun Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:27 am EDT

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    marcin gortat can pull of a dwight howard given the minutes anyway so it really doesnt matter if he gets suspended.
    6pts 5rebs in 10mins times 4 equals 24pts 20rebs in 40mins.. and thats roughly how long he figures to play if dwight really gets suspended. air gortat for the win.
  20. Colorado Kobe aka The All-Mighty Ball Hogg Messiah
    20. Posted by Colorado Kobe aka The All-Mighty Ball Hogg Messiah Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:28 am EDT

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    i think Dwight would be a great professional wrestler. Last game should be a highlight reel for Vince McMahon. I bet he's trying to sign him now...
  21. susan I
    21. Posted by susan I Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:31 am EDT

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    without a doubt a suspension is necessary for that. he didn't really hurt him but a guy that size hitting someone in that area easily could have split his eye open. and it was 100% intentional. i don't care who the players are, they need to enforce the rules. stan van gundy's stupid comments defending him are ludicrous as well.
  22. Incredibly_Disrespected
    22. Posted by Incredibly_Disrespected Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:34 am EDT

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    hey doooshbags, if suns amare stodewiener and boris diaw got suspended for "leaving the bench" 2 years ago and deeewight gets to play the next game after that obvious elbow, then david stern needs to have his a$$ kicked
  23. James P
    23. Posted by James P Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:35 am EDT

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    WA WA WA Kobe lol
    What about the 2 calls on Philly that were both clearly flagrant that werent called as such? Yea ok if you want to suspend Howard, then those calls need to be made too.
  24. James P
    24. Posted by James P Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:38 am EDT

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    Another point is that if the Refs had done their job and possibly ejected howard from the game, then a suspension likely doesnt happen. So why should the Magic suffer cuz the refs screwed up and didnt toss him?
    Again doesnt make sense

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Ball Don't Lie is an NBA blog edited by J.E. Skeets. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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Kelly Dwyer, Rod Benson, Trey Kerby, Nick Friedell, Garbage Time All-Stars, Blair Johnson,

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