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[CT for Three]

So after watching a season and a half of Dwight Howard getting hacked by double teams on a nightly basis, I wondered are there any big men (C's and PF's) who draw a lot of fouls anymore? It feels like no post player, (Howard and D-Mo aside) ever gets into foul trouble. Everyone knows that the most difficult area to officiate is the paint, because there is so much pushing and jostling that is inherent to the position. Everyone expects that you are gonna get banged (sorry) when you go down low. But that said, once upon a time, I remember Hakeem and other big men fouling the opposing post defenders out, or at least getting 4-5 fouls on them per night. I realize that Hakeem's heyday was 20 years ago, but what changed? Was it the officiating, was it the players, or was it the NBA game itself?

[thejohnnygold]

It's a good question.  I find myself wondering how Dwight is not getting more respect from the referees.  I just can't believe that he is getting stripped cleanly that many times in one game without a single whistle....and it happens again and again.  He gets pushed when going for rebounds.  How can the refs think he intentionally jumped away from the ball?  He jumped up while being pushed!!!

 

Meanwhile, he consistently gets called for offensive fouls that are either ticky-tack things that shouldn't get called or are blatant flops.  It has seriously damaged his ability to impact games and I'm not sure he is adjusting very well.  Combine that with the knee, the lack of respect from players (allegedly), and his overall bad reputation in the public eye (which has to seep over to the refs, right?) and it's tough for him.  I want Dwight to go darkside so bad.  I mean full on Bill Laimbeer dark side.  I know it's not his nature, but you can only kick a dog so many times before it bites you.