Last night's ejection of Giannis is just another example of many, of how that single incident completely changed how NBA referees control the game. I feel that players having harmless competitive banter and taunting during games gives it some flavour, but the NBA sees it completely differently and ever since that night, what often times seem like harmless things are now almost immediately called technical fouls.
I understand the NBA has sponsor deals, investors of all kinds that don't want another major incident, so they try to eliminate anything that has even the smallest chance of turning into something serious, but the league is going too far. They are preventing players from actually being competitive in a competitive sport. I see mean mugging, or doing a stare down at another player just a normal part of the game. It actually makes the game more entertaining. But now the game feels... sterile.
Malice at the Palace would not even have had as big of a deal if Ron Artest didn’t jump into the stands. The NBA has done a great job since then of increasing security between players and fans.
I do think the NBA is going to far when a stare down is a technical foul. Just let the players play out on the court it will make it more entertaining for us all.