Howard Suspended For Elbow

[thisoneguy360]

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."

LOL @ Howard also injuring his own teammate.

[OchoCinco]

they got lucky he wasnt thrown out of the last game

[OG Hack Wilson]

[Chamillitary Click]

[Kool Beenz]

[Tay]

they got lucky he wasnt thrown out of the last game

Ehh, I figure if he was ejected they wouldn't have suspended him for Game 6, unless maybe Orlando still won Game 5. It's a man's game, people throw elbows all the time, but you can't throw them to the head. I think it does add excitement to the series, so that's good. Anybody think Rondo should have got anything for his slap of Brad Miller? That had way more impact than Dwight's elbow.

[Fuck Your Existence]

LOL fuckin idiot...Tay what it do homie...nice Crabtree avy dog 

[OchoCinco]

they got lucky he wasnt thrown out of the last game

Ehh, I figure if he was ejected they wouldn't have suspended him for Game 6, unless maybe Orlando still won Game 5. It's a man's game, people throw elbows all the time, but you can't throw them to the head. I think it does add excitement to the series, so that's good. Anybody think Rondo should have got anything for his slap of Brad Miller? That had way more impact than Dwight's elbow.

ya a flagrant but then so what brad mller missed 3 consecutive clutch free throws hah like fuck

[Don Jacob]

you would too if you got knocked in the fucking head, plus he had to miss the last one for a chance to get the rebound.

[Tay]

It would have been better if Miller made 2 FT's, that way there wouldn't be as big of a problem. They should have just had an injury replacement for him, that's a lot of pressure for a guy with a bloody lip. I expect a tough performance in Game 6 for Chicago, a lot more physical.

LOL fuckin idiot...Tay what it do homie...nice Crabtree avy dog 

Chilling big dawg, I am still shocked that we got Crabtree, I hope he is the real deal like he was in college.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

What a dumbass...his personality reminds me of Shaq's.