I will admit that, under the NBA rules, the punishment fits the crime. I understand why Dwight Howard was suspended for game five in Philly.
Am I comfortable, or happy, with the ruling? No. Frustrated. You bet.
Why did Dwight react the way he did? Because Dalembert was trying to shove him out of the lane with two hands. Was there a foul called on Sammy? Nope. Such is life in Dwight Howard's world. Everyone is allowed to beat him up, yet when he reacts, he is the one who has to pay. Welcome to Dwight's world.
The Sixers have beaten Dwight silly in this series. Any other mere mortal would have succumbed long ago. Not Superman. I don't blame Dwight for reacting the way he did. Put yourself in his shoes. The guy is being mugged for over 40 minutes a night.
I don't want to excuse the elbow in any way, but I can certainly understand his reaction.
As the Sixers and the Magic were playing game five in Orlando Tuesday, the Celtics and Bulls were playing another instant classic in Boston. Late in the game, as Chicago's Brad Miller was going up for a potential game-tying layup, he was absolutely flattened by Celtic guard Rajon Rondo.
No one can tell me that Rondo went for the ball. He aimed squarely for Miller's noggin. Not only did he go for his head, Rondo wound up and swung a haymaker right at Miller's mouth.
The refs whistled Rondo for a foul. It was just a regular personal foul. No flagrant? Surely, the NBA would suspend Rondo for game six after going to the videotape, right?
Nope. No fine. No suspension. Not even an after-the-fact flagrant!
Where's the fairness? Where's the equity? If the NBA was gonna suspend Dwight, didn't the league have to do the same with Rondo?
Whatever...
After game five, Philly Head Coach Tony DiLeo moaned and groaned about Dwight allegedly camping out in the lane all series long.
Has Dwight, Stan or anyone on our team cried about the Sixers' going UFC on Dwight in this series? You have not heard word one from our side.
You know what I would love? I'd love to see our team rally around our fallen heroes, Dwight and Courtney Lee, and come out with a vengence tonight. I'd love to see Marcin Gortat and Tony Battie dominate the Sixer frontline. I'd love to see JJ Redick hit three after three. I'd love to see Rashard and Hedo bury Philly in the fourth quarter.
And I'd love to see Tony DiLeo cry his way right into the offseason.