Orlando, Fla. - Anthony Johnson never thought it was a flagrant foul. It was just a physical drive to the basket, and his elbows happen to be rather pointy. Tuesday, the NBA officially agreed with him.
Mo Williams and the rest of the Cavaliers - and undoubtedly Cleveland fans who will greet Johnson at Thursday's Game 5 - still aren't so sure. The league rescinded the flagrant-1 assessed to Johnson in Game 3 during a drive to the basket that resulted in gashes above and below Williams' left eye that needed four stitches to close.
Johnson, a one-time Cavalier who has assumed the role of wily veteran for the Magic this season, tried to say "I told you so" as kindly as possible.
"Flagrant fouls are plays that are malicious and have a certain intent behind it," Johnson said. "My play was definitely nothing such as that. It was just a weird play where my elbow got up high, and it hit him in the face. There was definitely nothing behind it."
Johnson has played for seven teams in his 12-year career, building a reputation as a consistent guard who can contribute off the bench or in a more vital position if necessary. He isn't known as the elbowing type.
This season, Johnson, who scored seven points in 15 minutes in Game 4, often has been the voice of reason for 23-year- old Dwight Howard. The fiery Howard has been known to let his emotions get the best of him, as evidenced by his six technical fouls in these playoffs. When Orlando lost a close Game 5 to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he criticized Magic coach Stan Van Gundy for not calling for the ball to go to the Magic center enough.
Johnson was the one who pulled Howard aside, spoke to him and calmed him down.
"Any time I see him wavering or off track, I just try to whisper in his ear," said the 34-year-old Johnson. "I'm not really one of those guys who's rah-rah, all in your face. With Dwight, I pull him aside if I don't agree with something he's done, and for the most part, he listens and takes it to heart. I'm just trying to help him become a better player, a better leader."
So it's nothing personal against Cleveland. Johnson played 28 games for the Cavaliers in 2000-01, averaging 2.4 points in the pre-LeBron Era. One of his closest friends in the league is former Cavaliers point guard Eric Snow.
Regardless, Cavaliers fans probably will have something to say to Johnson about the incident when he returns to Cleveland, even though Johnson isn't too worried about their wrath.
"I only play 12 minutes [per game]," Johnson said. "There's bigger fish to fry."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654
