Dwight Howard Suspended for Game 6

We showed you the play from Game 5 where Dwight Howard threw a clearly intentional elbow to the head of Samuel Dalembert, after which it was assumed that the act would warrant a suspension.

And in fact, it has. The league wasted little time in reviewing the play, and announced that Howard will be suspended one game without pay for the incident.

This should satisfy Sixers' coach Tony DiLeo, who used part of his post-game comments to lobby the referees for calls, while also stating that he wanted the league to review Howard's elbow. As you might imagine, Stan Van Gundy was annoyed by this, and immediately responded when it was his turn at the podium.

DiLeo's comments went like this:

"Dwight Howard had a great game, and he's a great player, but he just lives in the 3-second lane on offense and defense," DiLeo said. "I'm just saying he's standing in the 3-second lane on offense and defense. He's a great player, and he doesn't need any advantages."

Van Gundy's response was a little more biting:

"Am I supposed to come up here and talk about the game. Or am I supposed to come up here and lobby for the calls I want the next game?" Van Gundy said. "Is that what it's about now? We're supposed to lobby for the calls we want the next game? Let's just play the games."

The games will be played, coach, but you'll be doing so in Game 6 without two of your starters.

The Magic will not only be without Howard, but they'll be without Courtney Lee as well, who was also taken out by an elbow from Howard in Game 5 -- although that one, unlike the one landed on Dalembert, was (probably) inadvertent.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-29-2009 @ 5:09PM

mobosox43 said...

Here goes David "Spurn" once again...He will go to whatever low levels he can to help out his Spurs....I hope the Spurs never make it into the playoffs ever again while "Spurn" is in power..

4-29-2009 @ 6:38PM

dee said...

HEY IDIOT YOU HAD BETTER CHECK YOUR TV GUIDE-THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SPURS, DALLAS TOOK CARE OF THAT FISH. I'M SURE WITH A NAME LIKE MOBOSOX43 YOU LIVE IN A SHELTERED WORLD OR MAYBE THAT'S JUST A SHELTER. STICK TO WHAT LITTLE YOU KNOW BOSOX AND YANKS-THEY DESIRE EACH OTHER

4-29-2009 @ 5:14PM

Skrying said...

Step away from the man-child.

4-29-2009 @ 5:25PM

rjw6683 said...

Stupid act by a terrific player. As good as Howard is someone needs to tell him that the playoffs is not the time to be getting a suspension for being a dumbass. Orlando is going to get smoked without him next game, and how much pressure is that going to put on Howard to play well in game 7?

4-29-2009 @ 9:25PM

wat101718 said...

Anybody out there old enough to have watched the NBA's "golden age" with Bird, magic, isiah, dr j, moses (and Jordan later on)? You had to get your money's worth to get kicked out of a game, much less suspended (see Robert Parrish's KO of Lambier--who else?--in the '87 playoffs). The game wasn't as rough as it was when Russell and Wilt were playing, but the players were still allowed to play the game right and decide the outcome for themselves. Now, we have this smirking moron of a commissioner doing it for us, shifting the outcome of entire playoff series with his over-management. Remember Miami-NY, when he suspended six or seven Knicks, Ewing iincluded, for taking a few steps onto the court during a fight? Or Phoenix-SA, when he suspended the Suns' front court for going to check on Nash after he was knocked aside by Big Shot Bob? He's playing far too big of a role in the outcome of these games, and in the process he's created a whole generation of overly-sensitive fans who wring their hands when a game gets a little rough for their team's liking. They blame the refs if things don't go their way, they treat athletes who take a physical approach to the game like they're serial killers, and then they spend the next two years trying to discredit anyone who beat their team or dared to lay a hand on their fav player, regardless of the fact that players and coaches are employing the same strategies and/or style of play used by players/coaches of the glorified past. (This applies to all sports, by the way. Nobody can whine and moan like the fan of a finesse football team.) Hopefully the next commish will be a basketball guy, not a lawyer who insists on removing emotion from the game.

4-29-2009 @ 9:45PM

Rick said...

Throw and elbow...get suspended,
Draw blood...no problem...Boston..what a joke.

4-30-2009 @ 12:32AM

Glenn20 said...

We have very thin skin inside our lips and it is being touched by these sharp things called teeth. A minor slap can draw blood. In fact, my 3-year-old recently gave me a bloody lip.

But it's kind of hard to draw blood from the side of someone's head. An elbow to the head thrown by a 6-11, 270 pound guy only has the potential for minor injuries -- like BRAIN DAMAGE. (maybe that's what happened to you).

This isn't about drawing blood. It's about INTENT.

The Rondo play happened while playing defense and the primary intent was to stop a lay up.

The Howard hit occurred after the play was over -- which makes the intent indisputable -- he was attacking someone.

4-29-2009 @ 10:24PM

Giles said...

I agree with the commissioner trying to clean up the nba, no shirt tails out, no women`s jewelry, etc. at work, no hard fouls, taking the violence but NOT the emotion out of the games. But I do agree that whether the next commissioner is also a Knicks fan, and/or attorney, he should be a first string Hall of Fame nba athlete, not just a guy whose knows Wall Street guys. Kareem, Michael(if he separates from the BobCats), or someone close to that, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Earvin Johnson (if he separates from the LaKers), etc. And yes, most who have excelled at the sport have been accused of being dirty players, cheaters, by losers. Kareem may have punched out more guys than anyone else in his 20 years, second longest career to Robert Parish, 22 years. Stockton was only 6`1, but set back picks on centers that stood them up, shook them, and were called dirty. And if the center didn`t like it, they would have had to punch out Malone to get to Stockton, which wasn`t too likely they could do. Howard hurt his team by injuring maybe the second best rookie in the league, though far from the second most hyped, Lee. Since it was clearly not intentional, maybe missing Dalembert was unintentional, too. But it may cost the team further. Veterans routinely tell big rookies, save those `Boes until the end of the game, when you might need them. Ewing better remind Howard of that, a bit belatedly, in case the Magic do get past the 76ers. They can`t as easily afford such childish mistakes in the next round.

4-29-2009 @ 11:14PM

shepardtrent said...

Howard is a THUG. Always has been always will be.

4-30-2009 @ 12:25AM

osceola24 said...

anybody else see dalembert pushing howard?

4-30-2009 @ 12:36AM

So that gives you the right to elbow someone in the head after the play? He's lucky he only got one game.

4-30-2009 @ 12:42AM

yamobthere07 said...

Magic will win game 6. Then move on to beat Boston. Watch and remember.

If Turk snaps out of his funk , they wont need Howard in game 6 . Philly's little run is over , it was cute but its done.

4-30-2009 @ 12:44AM

curt said...

High paid gangstas

4-30-2009 @ 6:43AM

It really doesn't matter who wins this series. The Cavs will put down any wanna be teams on their way to the championship. I mean come on, the Cavs almost beat the 76ers with their reserves and the Magic is having trouble with them?

5-01-2009 @ 9:41AM

InkedUpDB said...

Yeah and the Magic beat the Cavs by at least 30, so they shouldnt be a problem.

4-30-2009 @ 10:13AM

bjdetroit17 said...

Howard a thug? Your a moron their are a hundred athletes I would call thugs before Dwight Howard. He is on of the most respected guys in the league who has a good upbringing. Do your research your moron, it's a physical game and sometimes you have to let the other team know it won't be easy for them. And for the guy who said it being about the SPURS don't ever talk sports again, go in the mirrow and slap yourself in the face!

5-01-2009 @ 1:42AM

SHEPARDTRENT?? The Cavs will do hat they always do in the playoffs.......... CHOKE!!!!!!

5-01-2009 @ 9:43AM

But last night Dalembert threw an elbow and hit Turkoglu in the face then elbowed him in the stomach and then kissed Hedo, but Hedo was the one that got tossed. Come on Stern be fair across the board.

5-01-2009 @ 10:35AM

The Magic cannot hang with the Cavs in a series. Anyone can win one game...An yes that was definitely a cheap shot from Howard. I was joking about him being a THUG. I actually like Dwight Howard.