Lakers file complaint to NBA about hard fouls on Dwight Howard

Lakers center Dwight Howard has missed the past two games after re-injuring his shoulder. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said the team filed a complaint to the NBA regarding hard fouls on center Dwight Howard, reports USAToday Sports.

Howard has not played since re-injuring his right shoulder in a Jan. 30 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

"There's a protocol to airing opinions or complaints with the NBA. And we've done that," Kupchak said to the Los Angeles Times. "The game has evolved and like a lot of other sports where attention is now being given to protect players, the NBA is interested in doing so as well. I don't know if they will review our concerns, but (hard fouls) have resulted in injury to one of our players."

Howard returned to Los Angeles after being injured to get more treatment on his ailing shoulder. Howard has played in 43 of the Lakers 48 games and is averaging 16.5 points and 11.9 rebounds a game.

"I don't want to sit out — period," Howard said. "I know how important I can be to our team's success, but at the same time I don't want what happened last year to happen again. "I played with a sore back as long as I could. I did everything, cracked it, popped it, had acupuncture,whatever to keep playing and I ended up hurting it really bad.