<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The onslaught of technical fouls has not been as dramatic as the first few weeks of the season, when the NBA-mandated crackdown shocked players and fans with its severity. But nights such as Tuesday -- the Pistons' three-technical game against the Wizards -- still are not uncommon, at least not for the league leaders in irking officials. The Pistons have seven more player technical fouls than the next-closest team, the New Orleans Hornets. The Pistons have 37 player technicals, as well as three on coach Flip Saunders and one on the bench. That's 41 potential points for opponents. "As a team, we've got to zip it up a little bit," Saunders said, "and just go out and play." Two starters account for 59% of the player calls. Power forward Rasheed Wallace has 13 (the league rescinded one). Players earn a one-game suspension for each even-numbered technical starting with No. 16. "It's a catch-22," Saunders said. "When 'Sheed was trying not to be emotional, he wasn't playing very good. We have to try and find where that fine line is." Richard Hamilton is the other big offender -- his nine technicals rank second in the league. He received one Tuesday night, along with Chauncey Billups, who picked up his fifth, and Saunders, who said perhaps he should speak up more often. "I told some of the guys, 'Let me get the T's and you be quiet,' " Saunders said. Saunders said he thinks the Pistons have had trouble with officials since the defensive rule changes two seasons ago. The free rein to be physical is gone, and the Pistons still are adjusting to what that means on each end of the floor. That might be especially true for Hamilton. "Rip moves so well without the ball, guys have hands on him a lot," Saunders said. "It's like a hand-wrestling match. And he's gotten called one or two times a game for using his hands. He gets a little bit frustrated with that. ... But he's got to make an adjustment."</div> Source
