For the second time this season, Dwight Howard has been fined by the NBA for criticizing referees for their officiating.

The Defensive Player of the Year’s pockets will be $35,000 lighter due to comments that he posted on his blog:

“Ya’ll know that that series against Charlotte drove me crazy. I mean it was almost comical at times how I was getting fouls called on me. There was nothing I could do our there and I felt like I couldn’t even move without getting that whistle blown on me.”

“I’m not looking to say anything to get myself in trouble with the league, but I just don’t see other star players getting called for fouls the way I get them. No star player in the league is outta games the way I am. I even talked to Pat Ewing about his career and he said he never had foul trouble like what I’m going through.”

Playing like a true center, Howard is always in the heart of the action.

“I gotta say this is the most frustrating stretch of my career. I’ve never been through four games in a row like that. But hey, we won the series and we’re moving on. I’m so so so hoping that things will be different next series against ATL or Milwaukee.”

Howard only averaged 26 minutes a game in the first round due to the foul trouble that he was in – and from what I saw, I’d have to agree with DH.  It’s definitely seemed like all of the ticky tack calls went against him, and there are two reasons that he should have a major beef. 

-  First, he’s the DPOY – for the second straight season.  Normally, that comes with some additional respect – the same sort of respect that Kobe Bryant or LeBron James would receive on the offensive end of the court. 

- Second, it’s the playoffs.  Defensive intensity ratchets up a notch in the postseason, making points come at a premium.  That premium involves the fact that the offensive player has to absorb a little more contact than they did in the regular season.  It’s always been that way – it’s part of what makes this time of year so special.

But even with Howard’s struggles in the opening round against Charlotte, no one got the feeling that Orlando would be threatened.  And the Magic quickly disposed of the Bobcats – without their big man getting his normal amount of burn.  But as the playoffs continue, I expect this to be a non-issue.  In the interset of making the contests as excited as possible, I think the league will take heed to his comments and try its best to treat him in a manner more deserving of one of the top stars in the league.