I understand toughness and physical play...
This is simply a case of cheap shots. If that is what the NBA wants their image to be, then they are handling it the right way. When I see this kind of crap, I just think the NBA is rigged. The league allowing it makes it more like professional wrestling than Basketball.
I think the league ought to look at the film of a game like this and hand out fines and suspensions... even if the player is experienced enough to not get caught. Garnett is a bully, and the refs rewarded him for being a bully.
It reminds me of the way Chris Webber was rewarded (even congratulated) for the cheap shot on Stockton. By looking the other way the NBA is rewarding thugs like Garnett. If you reward it, it will escalate. The NBA game is immensely more physical than it was 20 years ago, and I am less of a fan that I was then. If I want to watch WCF, I would watch it. I don't, and the past few years I find myself watching less NBA as well.