The Celtics’ Kendrick Perkins had better watch out — after his next technical foul, he will be forced to sit out a game. Having accumulated six technicals over the course of 16 games — with as many as nine left to play — he had better make sure his suit is pressed, as he’ll need something to wear while sitting on the sideline. It isn’t hyperbole to say that a technical foul at a critical juncture can alter the course of this year’s playoffs.
Technical fouls result in a free throw for the opponent, along with a fine for the player. In the regular season the fine is $1,000 for each of the player’s first five technicals, $1,500 for each of the sixth through 10th, and $2,000 for each of the 11th through 15th.
Starting with the 16th technical in the regular season, the stakes get a lot higher. The fine increases to $2,500, and the player is suspended one game for every even-numbered technical (16th, 18 th, etc.).
This season, no players were suspended, although Perkins and Dwight Howard came the closest with 15 each. In all, 20 players were at least halfway there with eight or more technical fouls.
Among coaches, Alvin Gentry and Scott Skiles led the way with 11 each, and an additional four coaches had at least eight.
There is a review process at the league office, where technicals assessed during the game might later be rescinded. Howard, Rasheed Wallace and 10 other players all had technicals rescinded in this manner. Among coaches, only Rick Carlisle and Doc Rivers had a technical foul rescinded.
The counts all reset at the start of the playoffs, and the stakes get higher. The fines increase with the third and fifth technicals, and suspensions start with the seventh — and repeat with every subsequent odd-numbered technical (9th, 11th, etc.)
Among players still active in the playoffs, Perkins leads the way with six, while Matt Barnes, Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace each have four. Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo have three each, and another 13 players have at least one.
Among active playoff coaches, Stan Van Gundy leads the way with three, while Phil Jackson and Alvin Gentry have one each.
There is an inherent inequity in applying a threshold of seven technical fouls for every player. A player on a seventh or eighth seed likely won’t get past the first round, and therefore doesn’t need to conserve. But players on contending teams may play as many as 28 games in the playoffs. The first guy can rack up a technical per game, but the second guy will be suspended in the Finals if he accumulates only one technical every four games.
One solution to this problem would be to raise the threshold in each round of the playoffs. For example, in the first round, a suspension would be assessed after the fifth technical. The threshold would increase to six in the second round, to seven in the Conference Finals, and finally to eight in the Finals.
If such a change is made, it can’t come too soon for Perkins.
