Dwight Howard insists he's not a "hothead" despite his league-leading technical foul total.
He won't play in Orlando's game against Portland on Monday night because of an automatic suspension following his 16th technical foul of the season.
"There's nothing I can do about it," Howard said.
"I'll try not to let the officiating affect the way I play. It's very tough, but I've just got to do it. I think it's like they want to make an example out of me, but I'll just stay positive and continue to do all the things that I do to bring fun to the game. That's all I can do. I'm not a bad guy. I'm not a hothead because I get techs, and I think that's the message that people want to put across. I guess last year it was I smile too much. Now I don't smile. And now I'm a hothead."