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saw this thread on the magic forum and was wondering what you guys thought about this:
Dwight Howard, the current Defensive Player of the Year (DPY), has fouled out of 3 of the last 5 games (60%). In 80 regular season games, he fouled out 5 times total (6%). I'd say that's a statistically relevant increase. Historically, earning the DPY award gets you a little respect from the officials. Go back and watch any playoff game on ESPN Classic featuring a reigning DPY and you'll see them get away with all but the most egregious fouls. At the very least, they are certainly not called for minimal contact. I wanted to see how the DPY were treated during the playoffs dating back to the 2000-2001 season. The DPY during that time frame were: Kevin Garnett, Ben Wallace, Ron Artest, Marcus Camby, and Dikembe Mutombo. During the previous 8 seasons those players played in a combined 139 playoff games. How many times did one of them get 6 fouls in a game? 3! Only 3! So the combined disqualifications of the DPY from 2000-2008 in playoff games is 3 times, which is how many times Dwight has been disqualified in the last 5 games!
Why this sudden avalanche of fouls by Dwight? In the regular season series with Cleveland, Dwight averaged only 2.6 fouls per game, but suddenly he cannot stay on the court because of foul trouble. His free throw attempts per game are extremely close to his regular season averages. He shot 10.8 per game during the regular season and 10.2 per game against the Cavs. However, LeBron's free throw attempts have shown no such consistency. He shot only 9.4 free throws per game in the regular season (8.6 per game against the Magic), but suddenly in this series he is averaging an astounding 16.6 free throw attempts per game. Why has LeBron's free throw attempts nearly doubled per game against the Magic?
For some reason, the officials seem determined to call every foul possible on Dwight. Perhaps they are sick of his constant complaining during the regular season and are teaching him a lesson, maybe they are just inadequate at their profession, or maybe they drank a little too much of the King James Kool-Aid. Whatever the reason, it's clear he is getting less respect than any other recent DPY.
from Greg Kite for Three!
heres a like to the thread: http://orlandomagiczone.c...f/8891029871/m/291101062
also, heres an article about stans thoughts on this situation:
Magic Practice Notes & Quotes
May 30, 2009
Posted by Rob Peterson
ORLANDO -- For much of the postseason, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has noted that there has been lobbying going on in regard to technicals, flagrants and suspensions.
"I'd like to see the focus stay on the unbelievable plays made by the players in this league," Van Gundy said before Game 5 in Cleveland.
LeBron James provided Van Gundy with enough unbelievable plays that night for a lifetime. But Van Gundy slipped into a lobbyist role for a bit after Magic practice on Saturday. He'd like to see his superstar, Dwight Howard, get the same chance as LeBron has to make great plays.
"I don't think there's a player at his level in the history of the league who has been called for as many fouls," Van Gundy said. "He's fouled out four times in 31, 32 or whatever it is playoff games (editor's note: it's 31) and Tim Duncan has fouled out six times in a 190 playoffs games."
Actually, Duncan has only fouled out of four of his 160 postseason games, which is amazing in itself. Shaquille O'Neal has fouled out of 11 of his 201 postseason games.
By comparison, Howard has already fouled out of three of the five games this series.
"He doesn't get the benefit of any call," Van Gundy said. "Anything close is a foul. For them it's good strategy because right now, any contact, straight up-and-down or not, it's a foul."
Van Gundy thinks the fouls have made the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year tentative, and because of that, Howard is late on his rotations and often he ends up fouling because of it.
"I think Dwight has to go out and play his game and not worry about it," Van Gundy said. "Control the thing you can control, and [the fouls] are not one of them."
http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700037939
i might be biased because im a magic fan but these numbers are ridiculous...lebron james is great by himself but bailing him out with calls justmakes me turn my head in disgust....discuss