Dwight Howard's Physical Play Irks Mavs' Carlisle
DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) -- Dwight Howard had little problem dominating Dallas on Friday night in Game 3. Mavericks' head coach Rick Carlisle has a problem with how he did it.
The physical center collected a game-high 26 rebounds and added 13 points and two blocks in the Rockets' 130-128 win in Dallas.
Carlisle was particularly upset about a sequence in the fourth quarter, when Dwight Howard appeared to shove point guard Devin Harris to secure the ball in the corner.
"We're scrambling like hell defensively, and Devin Harris is going to get the ball, and Dwight Howard throws him into our bench, he takes the ball, skips it over the top, and Ariza gets a wide-open three," said Carlisle. "So, instead of us getting the ball, and a foul on Howard, it turns into essentially a 5 to 6 point swing. That stuff's got to stop."
Carlisle says he asked for an explanation on the play, but wasn't granted one by the referees. He believes the sequence is representative of the 6-foot-11, 275 pound center's play throughout the series.
"But there's just a lot of physical stuff going on out there that just doesn't look kosher to me. They're a more physical team, but this series has got to be played within the rules."
When asked after the game about the particular incident, Harris declined to complain about the non-call, saying he "spent a lot of time on the floor."
"Just two guys going hard," said Harris. "He may have extended a little but, but what can you do?"
Dirk Nowitzki was asked about the physical nature of the series, but said it's typical of "playoff basketball."
Carlisle is more direct in trying to get his message across to officials.
"The officials [have] got to get that stuff under control, because there's too much physical stuff going on. Howard is throwing people all over the place. And that can't happen in Game 4."
Carlisle knows the criticism could elicit a fine from the league. He's hoping the league will have a response to Howard's physical play as well.
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