Dwyane Wade: NBA Preserves Intense Play by Not Suspending Heat Star

The NBA doesn’t officially instruct their referees to judge fouls in the regular season any differently than ones in the playoff, but it is seemingly implied. That is why it makes sense that Brian Windhorst of ESPN is reporting that the league office will not upgrade or further punish Dwyane Wade for his flagrant foul on Darren Collison during Tuesday night's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Things always get a lot rougher in May and June, when the only teams left standing are the ones with something to prove and something to gain. With so much on the line, things are bound to get chippy.

Another reason is familiarity. These players are seeing one another on a more consistent basis than they would on the regular season, and having to guard the same person every other night eventually leads to altercations. 

If Wade had checked Collison to the floor like that back in January, it’s likely he would have immediately gotten a suspension—just as Jason Smith of the Hornets received a two-game ban when he collided with Blake Griffin back in March.

It’s good that the league is allowing certain things to remain on the court and not bring suspensions and other infractions into play, as that could seriously impact the title chances of a franchise.

The foul was punished on the floor, resulting in free throws and the ball for Indiana. Since the Pacers ended up winning 78-75, that easily could have been the difference in the contest. There is no reason to force Wade to the bench for an all-important Game 3.

Such an action would cheapen the NBA’s great playoff product and make fans from both teams feel that a win or loss isn’t legitimate.

As long as the game doesn’t revert back to a Jordan Rules-type melee in which players are destroying stars up and down the court without punishment, the league should be fine.

The refs need to let the players just go out and play and only call the most necessary of fouls. The league office needs to only further discipline only the most egregious of offenders. If they can stick to these simple guidelines, the 2012 NBA playoffs will be incredible.