Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has been fined $35,000 for public criticism of the officiating that appeared on his personal blog, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Howard?s comments appeared on his blog on April 27.

Magic center Dwight Howard used his personal web site to vent about his foul trouble in the first round against the Bobcats.

Orlando swept Charlotte in four games.

"Well, back in O-town after a long, frustrating stay in Charlotte, but I'm not hear to gripe and complain because we won the series and that was the goal all along," Howard wrote.

"Like I have said dozens of times already, this is about so much more than just me and me being frustrated. We're trying to win that gold ball and bring that 'chip back to Orlando for all the Magic fans out there.

"...Ya'll know that that series against Charlotte drove me crazy. I mean it was almost comical at times how I was getting fouls called on me. There was nothing I could do our there and I felt like I couldn't even move without getting that whistle blown on me.

"I'm not looking to say anything to get myself in trouble with the league, but I just don't see other star players getting called for fouls the way I get them. No star player in the league is outta games the way I am. I even talked to Pat Ewing about his career and he said he never had foul trouble like what I'm going through.

"I gotta say this is the most frustrating stretch of my career. I've never been through four games in a row like that. But hey, we won the series and we're moving on. I'm so so so hoping that things will be different next series against ATL or Milwaukee."

Howard was called for 22 fouls in the four games against Charlotte.

After firing longtime agent Aaron Goodwin, there have been indications that Magic center Dwight Howard might skip the World Championships in Turkey this summer.

Howard might skip the event to rest and work on his acting career.

He has said publicly he would play for Team USA in the World Championships, but those close to Howard say he's looking for a way out of the tournament without ruffling any feathers.

After Monday's shootaround, the center refused to discuss the World Championship or reports that he's leaving Goodwin.

"I'll talk about it after the playoffs," Howard said. "My main job is the Bobcats right now."

Orlando went on to sweep Charlotte with a Game 4 win.

Dwight Howard's Orlando teammates have given him a new nickname: "Foul On You."

"That's my new nickname. They've been killing me all day calling me 'Foul on You,' " Howard said of his teammates on Monday. "So I've accepted my new role."

Howard has been called for 16 fouls through Orlando's first three postseason games. Charlotte has used three different centers to frustrate him.

"My teammates say when we wrestle I shouldn't use 100 percent of my strength. They said I should use 50 or 40 percent," said Howard with a smile. "So that's been the main focus today, using 40 percent of my strength to hold guys off."

In the thick of a playoff run, Magic center Dwight Howard has made a surprising decision to leave long-time agent Aaron Goodwin, according to multiple sources.

Howard is believed to be leaning towards letting some friends and family handle his personal business, the sources told Yahoo! Sports.

LeBron James left Goodwin back in 2005 with a similar idea in mind.

Goodwin had represented Howard since 2004, when Orlando took him with the No. 1 pick out of high school.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has vowed to stop talking about the referees.

The give-and-take between Van Gundy and NBA commissioner David Stern continued before Game 3 of the Magic's first-round playoff series at Charlotte on Saturday.

Stern was in attendance two days after the league fined Van Gundy $35,000 for criticizing the referees.

"I've been fined for saying how good they were this year, and I've been fined for criticizing them," Van Gundy said. "So nobody understands more that we're just not to talk about them at all."

Magic forward Rashard Lewis will start on Saturday in Game 3 against the Bobcats despite his sprained left ankle.

Lewis had a wrap around the ankle after practice on Friday.

He said he came down sideways on the ankle during Orlando's Game 2 win over Charlotte.

Orlando Magic forward Matt Barnes and head coach Stan Van Gundy have each been fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Barnes and Van Gundy have been fined for comments made to the media following Orlando?s 92-77 win over Charlotte on April 21 at Amway Arena.

One of the themes after Orlando's Game 2 win over the Bobcats was how referees treat Dwight Howard.

?I mean, it?s just so frustrating because you know, his first four fouls, and I?m not saying they?re not fouls, I haven?t looked at the tape, but there?s certainly nothing blatant,? Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. ?There?s nothing where it?s obvious to everybody that it was a foul. I just don?t see other great players in this league on the bench all the time with foul trouble, especially on marginal call. I just don?t. But, you?re sitting there on all of those and you?re going ?wow, really that?s a foul??And he?s sitting down; he?s played 28 minutes in each game.?

?No respect,? said Matt Barnes. ?Dwight gets no respect, from the refs or from the league as far as not being mentioned as the MVP. It?s crazy to see what they do to him every single play and then he puts his arm up and they call a foul. So it?s tough, but I think we did a good job playing through that.?

Howard was asked if he feels disrespected by the referees.

?I do,? Howard said. ?I just want to try not to get frustrated. It?s very tough when you?re out there playing and you try to block shots, rebound and be physical and sometimes the whistle doesn?t go your way. I try not to get frustrated, my teammates do the best they can to keep me from losing my head; I haven?t done it in six years, hopefully I can continue.?

Howard expressed concern with how he will be treated by the referees throughout the playoffs.

?Yeah, that?s all I?m going to say,? He said. ?It?s a big concern.?

Rashard Lewis was asked if he was surprised by the treatment a player of Howard's caliber receives.

?Yeah,? Lewis said. ?I don?t want to say lack of respect, but some of the cheap fouls he?s gotten, especially with receiving this award tonight, being defensive player of the year. That?s what?s he?s been doing all year long. You have to let him block shots. If he goes straight up with his hands in the air and he?s not swinging forward you have to give him the benefit of the doubt, I think.?

Bobcats coach Larry Brown doesn't believe that the Magic are taking his team seriously enough.

Charlotte and Orlando are facing off in the first round of the playoffs. The Magic lead the series 1-0 heading into Wednesday night's Game 2.

The Bobcats practiced on Monday, but the Magic chose not to.

"Yesterday, Orlando took the day off," Brown said Tuesday. "That's how ... seriously they're taking us."

Orlando didn't have a formal practice on Monday, but a number of players did workout.