the NBA has imposed a new technical foul policy this season after decades of $500 wrist slaps. Now it costs $1,000 for the first five techs, $1,500 for Nos. 6 to 10, and $2,000 for 11 through 15. Then the real fun starts: After the 15th, each "T" costs $2,500, and offenders are tagged with a suspension for every other infraction (Nos. 16, 18, 20, etc.)