One Too Many Technical Fouls: Team Leader Dwight Howard Places the Orlando Magic at Playoff Risk

Being a big man on the court should give a player like Dwight Howard a lot of cushion when it comes to dominating his defenders.  In most offensive scenarios, this would be the case but being a 6'11, 265 pound center sometimes works against him as well.

Could you imagine the mental and physical stamina that it may take to uphold the title of being an official NBA referee?  The NBA is a game if unstructured, could get really violent.  Three officials are in charge of running the calls that pertain to the actions that take place on the basketball court.  At the start of the 2010-2011 NBA season, many rules of the game were changed.  Each year, the referees get together to discuss the issues of their world on the court, the more complaints leads to voting, which then allows the NBA to consider a rules and regulation change pertaining to the issue.  One rule change that gave the referees a bit of a break against the coaches and players' outbursts, which was that of the technical foul.  As a result, excessive argument from a player or coach to the referee results in a technical foul, along with aggressive reaction to a foul and intentionally fouling a player with excessive force. 

 Everyone knows the presence of  Dwight a.k.a. Superman is a force to be reckoned with in the post position on the basketball court.  He leads his team in statistics by averaging 27 points and 10 rebounds per game, so without this force, many would see no purpose for the Orlando Magic franchise to be a threat leading into the playoffs.  This is exactly the way things would play out for the NBA All-Star.  For the second season in a row, Dwight Howard has led the NBA in technical fouls.  Last season, he was one foul away from being suspended for one game, as the season was nearing the playoffs.  This season, not so different.  Most recently, he received his 16th technical foul against the Chicago Bulls, which would cost him a hefty fine of $5,000, a one game suspension and and a loss for his team in their following game against the Portland Trailblazers.  It's been stated by Howard that the referees specifically have it out for him on the court but by assuming this, as a leader, shouldn't one be more careful about their actions?  If it places the franchise in jeopardy of losing a game or missing out on the playoffs, I would think so.  With knowing this information, what could have been an alternative result to the 16th technical foul made by star player Dwight Howard? 

 

References:

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