http://www.nba.com/2009/playoffs2009/04/29/magic.howard.ap/index.html ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Dwight Howard's elbow has given the Orlando Magic's playoff hopes a major hit. Howard has been suspended for Game 6 of the Magic's playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers for his elbow on Sixers center Samuel Dalembert, the NBA announced Wednesday. The two got tangled up going for a rebound in the first quarter in Game 5 on Tuesday night. Replays showed Howard threw an elbow that hit Dalembert above the shoulders. Howard drew a technical foul for the hit. Orlando will also be without starting guard Courtney Lee, who suffered a fractured sinus after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Howard later in the quarter. Lee's status for the remainder of the playoffs is uncertain. The Magic lead the Sixers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is Thursday. Orlando will likely start Marcin Gortat in place of Howard, and J.J. Redick for Lee. The Magic were traveling to Philadelphia and were not immediately available to comment. "Very physical in the paint," Howard said after the Magic's 91-78 win Tuesday night. "It's been very physical in the series. All we can do is hope for the best. It's been a dogfight all series. It wasn't like I was out there trying to hurt anybody." Howard was having the best playoff series of his career and has been the only consistent Magic player in the postseason. He had 24 points and a career playoff-high 24 rebounds in Tuesday's win, and he's averaged 24 points and 15.8 rebounds in the series. Howard's elbow on Dalembert in Game 5 set off a wild coaching exchange afterward. Philadelphia coach Tony DiLeo said Howard should have been called for 3 seconds in the lane several times and asked the league to look into an elbow immediately. "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." Magic coach Stan Van Gundy heard DiLeo's remarks, took the podium and defended his star center by mocking DiLeo. "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. "I guess that's the only reason Dwight's having success in this series. It has nothing to do with the fact that he's good."
Well I am kind of shocked they suspended him. Philly should win, but it would be funny if they overlooked them and lost.
Well howard made it pretty obviously intentional... also, I dont know what this will do, seeing as when DH hasnt had great games, orlando has won (excluding yesterday)
There's nothing wrong with throwing elbows once in a while to command your space, Mutombo does it alll the time.
Exactly, easy suspension... the NBA doesn't ever let anything slide when it comes to going by the book and suspensions.
Well deserved, He's just lucky he didn't get ejected from that in the 1st place. It was an intentional dirty play, He deserved to get suspended. I'm not saying he's a dirty player, but that play clearly was dirty. The 2nd best center in the NBA will sit out for Game 6.
He should've been thrown out of the game at that point. Like I just said in the Bulls/Celts thread, the refs chickened out because it was Dwight. The NBA would rather fine coaches complaining about consistency rather than actually be consistent. And while I don't mind if coaches are aggravated about calls, SVG's response on the podium made him look like a whiny b****. I see where his reputation comes from now.
i also think it was well deserved.. Even tho im a howard fan...that was pretty obvious that howard swung AT the victim and obviously connected...They need to send him as well as everyone else a message by suspending him. That kind of stuff shouldnt be tolerated.
shouldve been two games based on how stu jackson has been handing out suspensions in the past. 1 game isnt enough.
If he had been ejected I wonder if the NBA still would of suspended him? Especially if Philly would of won.
I also wonder, I don't think he would have honestly. They don't want to taint any series and one DNP for Howard can hurt their team a lot. Anyways, we are not the officials but I am still rooting for the 76ers to win the series. I knew there was going to be a possible upset because Hedo and Shard came off of injuries at the end of the season.
