Spurs are now "the bad guys"

[Supergirl]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuDkjcfFzkmAr8k6yUHrrAi8vLYF?slug=aw-spurs051507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

This article pisses me off.

It totally ignores the fact that the Suns have been getting away with shit all series. Their only method of playing defense is to push off and hang off of the Spurs' jerseys (I'm looking at YOU, Kurt Thomas, Steve Nash).

The only way to combat that sort of cheating defense is to clear some space with a few elbows and knees.

Horry certainly crossed a line, but I believe he's a smart enough player to know exactly what he was doing. He wanted to send a message to the Suns to back to fuck off and play some real defense, and he was willing to sacrifice himself being suspended to do it.

Anyone heard a statement from Horry since the incident?

The Spurs need to just show up and play hard. Win the next two games, with and without the Suns roster, and shut the haters up.

[Kori Ellis]

Horry certainly crossed a line, but I believe he's a smart enough player to know exactly what he was doing. He wanted to send a message to the Suns to back to fuck off and play some real defense, and he was willing to sacrifice himself being suspended to do it.

I know a lot of people think it was pre-meditated, that Horry was "making a statement" and didn't care if he got suspended. I think the opposite - I think he just lost his head and I don't think Pop and company were probably very happy about it at all.

[Supergirl]

I know a lot of people think it was pre-meditated, that Horry was "making a statement" and didn't care if he got suspended. I think the opposite - I think he just lost his head and I don't think Pop and company were probably very happy about it at all.

Isn't it possible it was somewhere in between - like, he meant to be somewhat menacing about getting Bell and Nash to back off, but in the heat of the moment, with all the adrenaline, he went too far, without intending to?

I think he knew he was likely to ejected. But I don't think he meant to be suspended. Horry would want to play. And we will miss his hustle, his energy, his defense.

And, though Suns fans and Steve Kerr don't want to admit this, that capacity for situations like that to get out of control because of all the adrenaline flying is exactly why it's a good rule to not allow players to leave the bench.

What pisses me off is that the tone of the article makes it sound like all the roughness has been the Spurs doing. That gash on Nash's face back in game 1? Caused by Nash being out of control and veering into Parker? That gash on Manu's face? Caused by the Suns out of control attempts at defense. Seems to me, the Suns are the ones who should be viewed as the violent ones. The Spurs are just playing hard, and the Suns are only able to keep up by cheating on defense and playing recklessly.

[Amare_32]

I am still shocked that the League rewarded the Spurs for a dirty play. They have practically gift wraped the series for the Spurs.

[picnroll]

Screw it let the public perceive the Spurs as the new NBA bad boys.

[Kori Ellis]

Isn't it possible it was somewhere in between - like, he meant to be somewhat menacing about getting Bell and Nash to back off, but in the heat of the moment, with all the adrenaline, he went too far, without intending to? .

I don't know - to me (in re-watching it) it just looks like Horry gets pissed off that he just got pushed down by Bell, so he loses it and takes it out on Nash :shrug

[Amare_32]

Kevin Hench / FOXSports.com
Posted: 4 hours ago



Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs on their fourth NBA championship in the Tim Duncan era.

And congrats, too, to the NBA and its idiotic, backward, zero-tolerance sentencing guidelines for making it possible.
I suspect the Spurs would have found a way to win two of the next three games against Phoenix even if Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw had played in Game 5, but now it's a foregone conclusion.





















It was a great trade for the Spurs: Robert Horry straight up for Stoudemire and Diaw.

Horry is a terrific role player and perhaps the most clutch playoff performer in league history, but at this point in his career he's just one small element of Gregg Popovich's deep rotation, and he finished 12th on the Spurs in scoring at 3.9 points a game. Stoudemire is an All-NBA first-teamer and Diaw is one of the league's most versatile players.

Even with all their weapons locked and loaded, the Suns still had precious little margin for error and needed a spectacular finish in Game 4 to level the series at two games apiece. Without their best low-post scorer (Stoudemire) and low-post passer (Diaw), the Suns are sunk.

In other words, it was a great play by Horry to body slam Steve Nash into the scorer's table and the league rewarded it accordingly. In fact, all NBA teams should employ a Bob Probert-type player for exactly these situations. Send in the goon at the end of the game to clothesline the other team's superstar in front of his bench and see how many of his teammates manage to stay in their seats with their arms folded.

Like those obscene sentencing guidelines that bind the hands of judges and make them sentence people to life in prison for writing a bad check (Texas, you can look it up), the NBA has painted itself into a corner with its asinine stance on leaving the bench.

As David Stern's lieutenant Stu Jackson said, "No one here at the league office wants to suspend players any game, much less a pivotal game in the second round of a playoff series. But the rule, however, is the rule, and we intend to apply it consistently."


Robert Horry's shove of Steve Nash may just give the Spurs the title. (Bahram Mark Sobhani / Associated Press)

As if the league had nothing to do with the stupid rule in the first place. No, Stu, the league does want to suspend players. That's why it creates Draconian, letter-of-the-law rules in the first place. Any fair assessment of the activity following Horry's cheap shot — and the conduct leading up to it — would lead one to conclude that a suspension for Stoudemire and Diaw was disproportionately harsh. But why leave room for fair assessments when you can tie your own hands with truly moronic rules that leave no room for interpretation or mitigation?

The rule was created to deter those out-of-control melees that have marred postseasons past. But clearly, in this instance, it failed as a deterrent. Two of Nash's teammates sprang to his defense after seeing their most valuable player get viciously poleaxed with 18 seconds left as he tried to dribble out the clock.

Did they punch anyone?

No.

Did they shove anyone?

No.

Did they escalate the situation?

No.

They were merely turned around by the Phoenix coaching staff and led back to the "vicinity of their bench."

But the de facto penalty — the end of the Suns' remarkable 61-win season — was as severe as if they had just come out swinging. Which sends an inane message: If you've already left the bench, you might as well get your money's worth and land a few haymakers on the guy who just cheap-shotted your teammate.

The irony here is that the Spurs — as always — have been the antagonist in this chippy series. Horry's body check was just the latest in San Antonio's fusillade of, shall we say, extra-legal conduct.

Bruce Bowen has mastered the art of fouling his man fairly constantly in a manner where the home viewers see it, the announcers see it, his opponents feel it and only the officials are blithely unaware of the stealth beating he's administering.



The perfect example of this technique occurred in Game 3 when he raked Nash's off-hand as Nash crossed over, forcing a turnover. Replays revealed a clear foul. They also revealed that referee Eddie F. Rush could not have been in better position to make the call, but — as has so often been the case in this series — he swallowed his whistle. Sometimes Bowen's mayhem is less subtle, like when he kneed Nash in the groin.

So the less-physical Suns had been knocked around pretty good in San Antonio and yet were mere moments away from slipping back to Phoenix all even with Mr. Momentum on their side.

Then Horry did his best Zdeno Chara impression, driving Nash into the boards.

The unflappable David Stern — the guy with absolutely no understanding of what it means to be a teammate or to be physically pushed to your very limits — believes that NBA players should have no reaction whatsoever when they see a beloved team member get cut down in front of them.

Or perhaps he thinks they should join hands in a prayer circle at their bench. This is all in keeping with his players-as-automatons goal for the sport. His strange, obsessive desire to wring all emotion out of the players gave us his zero-tolerance edict this season that resulted in countless technical fouls for mild protestations and, yes, sarcastic laughing.

Though he was quick to throw Joey Crawford under the bus, it was Stern and his misguided policy that produced the unfortunate Crawford v. Duncan episode.

Which brings us to the bigger picture: The sad state of the NBA. That pop you just heard is the bubble bursting on the long, uninterrupted NBA boom.)

Ask the dwindling number of hardcore NBA fans about this season and they'll tell you it sucked. Spurs-Suns was the last great hope to salvage something from this year-long walkabout in the hoop wilderness. And now Stern, via his button man Stu Jackson, has taken that away from us, too.

So now we can ready ourselves for the inevitable showdown between San Antonio and some Eastern Conference pretender — probably Detroit — and yawn our way through a series of 85-80 games in which both teams shoot 38 percent. Woo-hoo. Yee-haw.

The biggest basketball fan I know just sent me a one-line e-mail: "I hate the NBA."

Mission accomplished, David Stern.

Kevin Hench is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.

[travis2]

1-800-waa-waaa

[ambchang]

Since when has the league gone this soft? It is embarrassing to watch how the squeaky wheel is getting the grease. Did nobody watch the Rockets Jazz series? Or the Jazz Warriors series, or the Spurs Nuggets series? Those are all 10x more physical than this series, but because Amare and D'antoni is complaining non-stop about it, it makes it all more physical.
Horry's foul was nothing more than a hard foul at the end of the game. It was not necessary, and yes, quite dirty, but assessing it a flagrant 2 is more than enough. The Spurs in fact has already been hit with the lamest flagrant 1 in playoff history, and people are crying for more? Crying for suspension of Bowen on that knee was beyond idiotic. What does the public want? Suspend the whole starting 5 of the Spurs for giving an occassional elbow and knee in the thighs?
If the Suns cannot win playing run-of-the-mill playoff basketball, perhaps it's time for the organization to retool themselves for a tougher, more physical team.

[DarrinS]

A lot of people are treating this game as an easy win for the Spurs. Don't forget, the Suns can still shoot lights out and we'll see a lot of fast players on the floor tonight. Also, the Suns do have two very good perimeter defenders (Bell, Marion) and one "serviceable" big man in Thomas.

If there's anything positive that comes out of this whole fiasco, I think the NBA will either do away with the bench rule or amend it next season.

[G-Nob]

Has everyone forgotten the fact that two suns players broke the rules?!? Why is there now a rallying cry for the Suns by the national media because of it? Kenny Smith said had this been Jalen Rose and Paitkowski, nobody would be griping about this.

Also, the Spurs are getting favorable treatment from the league now? I promise you, had this been duncan and bowen instead, the only people bitchin about this would be spurs fans.

[Amare_32]

Has everyone forgotten the fact that two suns players broke the rules?!? Why is there now a rallying cry for the Suns by the national media because of it? Kenny Smith said had this been Jalen Rose and Paitkowski, nobody would be griping about this.

Also, the Spurs are getting favorable treatment from the league now? I promise you, had this been duncan and bowen instead, the only people bitchin about this would be spurs fans.

Is a big deal because the League in essence has rewarded the Spurs for bushleague tactics. The League should have used common sense and just fined them and move on. But again common sense and Stu Jackson is an oxymoron.

[DarrinS]

Has everyone forgotten the fact that two suns players broke the rules?!? Why is there now a rallying cry for the Suns by the national media because of it? Kenny Smith said had this been Jalen Rose and Paitkowski, nobody would be griping about this.

Also, the Spurs are getting favorable treatment from the league now? I promise you, had this been duncan and bowen instead, the only people bitchin about this would be spurs fans.


Try to look at this from the perspective of your average NBA fan. Horry body checks Nash into the scorer's table -- Amare and Diaw step on the court, but don't get involved in the alterecation, and Horry is out 2 games and Amare/Diaw are out 1. That probably doesn't seem "fair and balanced" AND it probably makes people LESS interested in tonights game.

[DarrinS]

Is a big deal because the League in essence has rewarded the Spurs for bushleague tactics. The League should have used common sense and just fined them and move on. But again common sense and Stu Jackson is an oxymoron.


I don't think it's right, but the league has been enforcing this rule TO THE LETTER since its inception. I don't think they were going to change their ways just because it is the Phoenix Sun and they are dealing with an NBA first-team member. I think they will change the rule next year. You guys just got the shitty end of the deal this time. Your asst. coaches should have been quicker to keep those guys on the bench.

[G-Nob]

Is a big deal because the League in essence has rewarded the Spurs for bushleague tactics. The League should have used common sense and just fined them and move on. But again common sense and Stu Jackson is an oxymoron.


Are you going to go back the last 15 years or so and retract every other suspension for players being on the court? Had this been Sean Marks & Pat Burke would you care?

[DarrinS]

Are you going to go back the last 15 years or so and retract every other suspension for players being on the court? Had this been Sean Marks & Pat Burke would you care?


Speaking of Sean Marks, do you think he'll see playing time tonight? :fro

[G-Nob]

Speaking of Sean Marks, do you think he'll see playing time tonight? :fro


Kiwi's in for big minutes tonight. :)

[G-Nob]

I just don't understand the "bushleague" BS everyone is throwing down. Had Bowen's crap been warrented for suspension, he would gotten it. And Horry's was a frustration foul, that I don't agree with, but it was what it was and he's paying his price.

Has anyone mentioned, Bell's elbow to Horry or Jones' undercut on Elson or Bell pushing Oberto down on a screen in game4 and 100 other things that have happened in this series no one is bitching about?

[Supergirl]

Right - not only are Suns fans being pathetic crybabies about this, but they're also acting as if the Spurs only need one win to win the series.

If the Suns lose - and I still think they will - it will be because they aren't as good as the Spurs. Even if the Spurs win Game 5, which they should, but isn't a gimme - the Suns still have two more chances with their full roster. Spurs have only 1 more chance with their full roster, and that's if it goes to a Game 7. Which, I have a feeling now it will.

[Amare_32]

I don't think it's right, but the league has been enforcing this rule TO THE LETTER since its inception. I don't think they were going to change their ways just because it is the Phoenix Sun and they are dealing with an NBA first-team member. I think they will change the rule next year. You guys just got the shitty end of the deal this time. Your asst. coaches should have been quicker to keep those guys on the bench.

Do you get the feeling that maybe the League will find a way to push this series to 7 games?

[bulletedge]

The NBA has been on the cusp of becoming a complete joke for a few years and has now finally completed the journey. No matter how you slice it- the suspensions of Diaw and Stoudamire are ridiculous. I know that this is a Spurs board and a lot of folks just want a trophy no matter what. But a championship this year would come with a huge asterisk...to everyone but Spurs fans.

[mrsmaalox]

Just like Nash said It's not easy always taking the high road; the Spurs have always taken that road and it is common knowledge. I can't think of a time that a Spurs player or coach has sat in the press room and complained about the refs (selective memory, maybe :p:) but how often do you see it from other teams? How often have Spurs players/coaches been fined for shooting off their big mouths? Not many. The Duncan/Crawford thing just proved that the officiating is not always objective and impersonal: how many other teams have complained about that? EVERY ONE. But because it was Tim of the Spurs it is now perceived as whining and NBA favoritism---wise up people, EVERYONE will benefit from it. Robert Horry is not a bad guy, just frustrated and fed up with watching his team taking hits without the benefit of a call. Right now if we could speak with the guys involved, I will bet money that Horry is remorseful and regretful, while Amare and Diaw are whining and blaming. Sad situation all the way around.

[L.I.T]

The Spurs aren't even playing particularly different from previous years. I think the league has just gotten softer around them. Do you think the Spurs would be in this situation if the other team was the Bulls or the Pistons? Fuck that, they'd have control and they'd be back in the next game. But no, instead teams in the West have developed the intestinal fortitude of soft tissue.

[G-Nob]

The NBA has been on the cusp of becoming a complete joke for a few years and has now finally completed the journey. No matter how you slice it- the suspensions of Diaw and Stoudamire are ridiculous. I know that this is a Spurs board and a lot of folks just want a trophy no matter what. But a championship this year would come with a huge asterisk...to everyone but Spurs fans.


There are only two things that are rediculous:

1. The Mavs' favorable calls last year &
2. You got beat by an 8th seed.

Catch anything yet?

[Kevin Blackistone]

This just shows the degredation of our society where no one holds anyone accountable for their actions anymore. It's pathetic, and just another reason why our society is nearing the end of it's run before succumbing to the fates of the Romans, Greeks, etc...

People are actually blaming the rule for the suspensions. How fucked up is that? The rule is there to keep people from the bench off the court during altercations, and is very effective in doing so. If Stoudemire and Diaw had any discipline at all they would not have broken the rule.

[G-Nob]

Looking at this on a go forward basis. Manu just has to play better. If he can't wake up and start taking these games over, we'll be lucky to get out of this series.

[Kevin Blackistone]

BTW - the League giving Horry a 2 game suspension when a 1 game was barely warranted (Bell charged him after all) is their way of setting up a game 7 showdown. The Spurs take 5, and the Suns take 6 without the only other mobile big man the Spurs have being able to play. So relax Suns fans - the league is still taking care of you.

[G-Nob]

This just shows the degredation of our society where no one holds anyone accountable for their actions anymore. It's pathetic, and just another reason why our society is nearing the end of it's run before succumbing to the fates of the Romans, Greeks, etc...

People are actually blaming the rule for the suspensions. How fucked up is that? The rule is there to keep people from the bench off the court during altercations, and is very effective in doing so. If Stoudemire and Diaw had any discipline at all they would not have broken the rule.


I think Amare has shown his immaturity all series. The foul trouble, the dirty comments. You can hear the frustration in Nash's comments after game 3.

[bulletedge]

There are only two things that are rediculous:

1. The Mavs' favorable calls last year &
2. You got beat by an 8th seed.

Catch anything yet?

1) You guys LOST to the Mavs last year...I thought that Spurs fans didn't gripe about officiating?

2) The Mavs pulled probably the biggest choke job EVER in the NBA by losing to GS...somehow managing to eclipse their monumental choke job in the Finals last year.

And your point is? Neither of those things pertaining to the Mavs changes the ridiculous nature of the suspensions of Stoudamire and Diaw. Spurs cahmpionship this year = giant * to everybody but diehard SA fans. This whole thing taints the credibility of the league as a whole.

[L.I.T]

1) You guys LOST to the Mavs last year...I thought that Spurs fans didn't gripe about officiating?

2) The Mavs pulled probably the biggest choke job EVER in the NBA by losing to GS...somehow managing to eclipse their monumental choke job in the Finals last year.

And your point is? Neither of those things pertaining to the Mavs changes the ridiculous nature of the suspensions of Stoudamire and Diaw. Spurs cahmpionship this year = giant * to everybody but diehard SA fans. This whole thing taints the credibility of the league as a whole.

Hey look a completely new take! Oh fuck nevermind, it's just regurgitated bullshit.

[G-Nob]

The point is: Get lost, Troll.

[bulletedge]

The point is: Get lost, Troll.

The even more obvious point is that you are nothing more than a whiny homer.

[G-Nob]

BTW - the League giving Horry a 2 game suspension when a 1 game was barely warranted (Bell charged him after all) is their way of setting up a game 7 showdown. The Spurs take 5, and the Suns take 6 without the only other mobile big man the Spurs have being able to play. So relax Suns fans - the league is still taking care of you.



I really don't believe in conspiracy theories(getting to a game 7).

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

If it were the last two guys on the end of the Suns bench, no one would care. But it's Amare, so it's a travesty. Lame.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I'm a bitter Mavs fan living vicariously through the Phoenix Suns, but I'm going to talk some weak smack about Spurs living vicariously through GS smoking my team because I'm a dork.

[41times]

The Spurs are now considered the Bad Guys now and i hate that but it's true.

Here is something funny a friend sent me today. I don't know where she got it but it's pretty funny.

A Week Ago
Stern: Hey, Pop, want to get to the WFC?
Pop: Yes, please
Stern: okay, here's what you do...have a reserve player do something to their best player... you know the one I'm talking about, and in all the melay I'm sure SOMEONE will be all upset and do something I can suspend them for
Pop: Okay, who's okay but not a big player for me who could do such a thing?
Stern: How about that Horry guy? He can shoot 3's but has only been averaging about 4 points... so worth 4 points!
Pop: excellent (in his best Mr. Burns, from the Simpsons)

Yesterday
Pop: DSter! S'up b!tch? how WELL did that work out?
Stern: I KNOW! (channelling Monica from Friends)
Pop: Seriously, who would've thunk it that that Amare guy and his backup would come to defend poor little Nashie? It was frakkin awesome!
Stern: AND how! Plus I got Stu Jackson to make the "recommendation" to suspend them... all the heat's off me!!!!!!
Pop: Thanks, man... couldn't of done this with out you... now how about working something against that AK 47 guy?
Stern: I'll work on it
P&S: HIGH FIVE

[Kevin Blackistone]

I really don't believe in conspiracy theories(getting to a game 7).

It's not a conspiracy, it's the league knowing they have to suspend Diaw and Stoudemire when they didn't want to in order to save face, and they cleverly used that to their advantage by suspending Horry 2 games when 1 was barely warranted. They knew no one would cry about Horry getting another game since he laid the shot down, and that keeping Horry out of 6 would increase the chances of the league getting the 7th game that they want. Very clever, but it's up to Bonner, Oberto, and Elson to step up in that position and dominate to make up for Horry's absense. The Spurs need to take the next two games to fuck the league at their own game.

[Extra Stout]

So now we can ready ourselves for the inevitable showdown between San Antonio and some Eastern Conference pretender — probably Detroit — and yawn our way through a series of 85-80 games in which both teams shoot 38 percent. Woo-hoo. Yee-haw.
I have a problem with the rigidity of the rule taking discretionary judgment away from Stu Jackson, and that I'd rather the Spurs beat the Suns at full strength but...

That quoted paragraph sure makes it sound like Hench's biggest problem with all this is that he won't get to watch the Suns in the Finals.

[L.I.T]

Oh great now we're getting conspiracy theorists. Right, when a week ago they were all crowing about how Stern will make sure we'd never see a Spurs vs. Pistons final cuz it's bad for business. Consistent people ain't.

[CoachD.]

Is a big deal because the League in essence has rewarded the Spurs for bushleague tactics. The League should have used common sense and just fined them and move on. But again common sense and Stu Jackson is an oxymoron.


League hasn't awarded anybody. THEY BROKE THE RULES AND CAME OFF THE BENCH!!! It’s not like the players have not been WARNED over and over again of the consequences for coming off the bench. Think about the Pistons, Indiana game....the NBA won't tolerate it.

Stop crying that the world is out to get the SUNS.....crap happened....actions were taken. The END


Spurs fans....YOU ALL BETTER PICK IT UP....I’m sick of reading posts that the suns might actually win this thing. I have been a Spurs fan my whole life and my only complaint is it always seem that our fan bases go running for the door when things look bad. IF WE WIN TONIGHT...WE WILL WIN IT ALL!!! PROMISE...

Were gonna win tonight....I refuse to believe Duncan is going to let his team choke again like they did on monday.

[LilMissSPURfect]

David Blaine: "the NBA is UNBELIEVABLE" Its unbelievable how THE DIRTY SPURS mysteriously pulled Amare and Boris outta their seats!!!

UNBELIEVABLE!

[FromWayDowntown]

That quoted paragraph sure makes it sound like Hench's biggest problem with all this is that he won't get to watch the Suns in the Finals.

Frankly, I think that's the common theme for those in the national media who are screaming about this.

They're turning Amare into some sort of persecuted icon.

[bulletedge]

Pretty funny how you can quote a post I never made. Actually, I am a basketball fan which far transcends simple minded hatred of any other team. In fact, I have been pulling for the Spurs because I think they are the best team in the league this year.

But the suspensions are ridiculous. They diminish the credibility of the playoffs. This isn't a Saturday morning YMCA league we are talking about- its the freaking NBA.

And if it was Duncan and Ginobli being suspended I can just imagine the vitriolic posts on SpursTalk.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Frankly, I think that's the common theme for those in the national media who are screaming about this.

They're turning Amare into some sort of persecuted icon.

It's sickening. The media is treating this idiot like some sort of victim.



On another note, Stu Jackson is on the radio saying that it was a no-brainer to suspend Stoudemire and Diaw and that the rule is what keeps things like what Kermit Washington did to Rudy T. from happening. It basically keeps possible peacemakers on the bench from being mistaken for combatants. The most intelligent thing I've heard yet. At least Jackson has his wits about him in this situation.

[MadDog73]

The Spurs have not won shit yet...

We still have to win two more games, including facing a very hostile crowd in PHX tonight, and one reved up Steve Nash.

If anyone thinks this is gonna be some kind of cakewalk for the Spurs, they haven't been watching the series. The Suns can beat the Spurs w/o Amare.

And even if the Suns do lose tonight, does anyone believe the Spurs are going to get anymore calls for the rest of the series?

This thing is going to Seven, and the Suns will have a great chance to win game 7.

Nothing is over, nothing has been decided yet, the Spurs have not won.

[MadDog73]

They're turning Amare into some sort of persecuted icon.

Well, he is Black Jesus.

[Soul_Patch]

This just shows the degredation of our society where no one holds anyone accountable for their actions anymore. It's pathetic, and just another reason why our society is nearing the end of it's run before succumbing to the fates of the Romans, Greeks, etc...

People are actually blaming the rule for the suspensions. How fucked up is that? The rule is there to keep people from the bench off the court during altercations, and is very effective in doing so. If Stoudemire and Diaw had any discipline at all they would not have broken the rule.



This is the end of the discussion right here. Well said, and i wish people would understand this for what it is.


This argument is honestly the crux of most of what is wrong with today's world.


Makes me sick sometimes.

[Soul_Patch]

Simple question id love to see suns players answer honestly.


If the suspensions were of Marks and Rose, would you still view them as ridiculous and wrong and decietful...etc..


just curious.


I dont like the fact that it happened. Hate it actually, but i also understand, and would understand if the roles were reversed, that the rule is a rule that has to be applied, regardless of who or what the situation is. If you change this ideal, the rule is no longer valid, and you cannot govern.

[Russ]

I know a lot of people think it was pre-meditated, that Horry was "making a statement" and didn't care if he got suspended. I think the opposite - I think he just lost his head and I don't think Pop and company were probably very happy about it at all.

What was Horry supposed to do? He had to foul Nash to stop the clock. How can you foul someone flying by you, next to the sideline (so he won't veer away to avoid you)?

If you stick out an arm, it's a clothsline. If you try to bearhug, his momentum will make it look like a full takedown/tackle. If you try to touch him with your hand, it either doesn't get called (and the clock ticks on) or it looks like slap or even a punch.

What was Horry supposed to do? What is the "accepted" play? Can anybody tell me? :)

[violentkitten]

What was Horry supposed to do? He had to foul Nash to stop the clock. How can you foul someone flying by you, next to the sideline (so he won't veer away to avoid you)?

If you stick out an arm, it's a clothsline. If you try to bearhug, his momentum will make it look like a full takedown/tackle. If you try to touch him with your hand, it either doesn't get called (and the clock ticks on) or it looks like slap or even a punch.

What was Horry supposed to do? What is the "accepted" play? Can anybody tell me? :)


exactly. nash saw horry there on the sideline with no room to squeeze through. he opted to drive straight ahead anyways. pretty sneaky. the hubbub about the foul is rather amusing if you are old enough to have hair on your nuts.

[209Goodfella]

I heard the SPURS hatred all day yesterday and this morning. I have XM Radio in my car and I listen to Fox Sports radio, it seems they are on the Phoenix Suns payroll. The whole lineup is sniveling bout the whole suspension fiasco this morning. They had on GEOFFREY C. ARNOLD on there yesterday and he wasn't holding back his hatred for the Spurs. Saying that TD is a whiner, Bruce is a dirty etc etc. He brought up if the Spurs should win the Championship this year, that there should be an asterisk. I almost wrecked when I heard that! The b*tch pulled a "Phyllis" Jackson with that bullsh*t!! :ihit

[Mr. Peabody]

So say goodnight to the bad guys! Come on. The last time you gonna see bad guys like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make way for the bad guys. There's some bad guys comin' through! Betta get outta their way!

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/MMPH/263059.jpg

[Kevin Blackistone]

What was Horry supposed to do? He had to foul Nash to stop the clock. How can you foul someone flying by you, next to the sideline (so he won't veer away to avoid you)?

If you stick out an arm, it's a clothsline. If you try to bearhug, his momentum will make it look like a full takedown/tackle. If you try to touch him with your hand, it either doesn't get called (and the clock ticks on) or it looks like slap or even a punch.

What was Horry supposed to do? What is the "accepted" play? Can anybody tell me? :)

He should have whipped it out and slapped Nash across the face. That would have only been a flagrant 1.

[Flea]

The Spurs have not won shit yet...

We still have to win two more games, including facing a very hostile crowd in PHX tonight, and one reved up Steve Nash.

If anyone thinks this is gonna be some kind of cakewalk for the Spurs, they haven't been watching the series. The Suns can beat the Spurs w/o Amare.

And even if the Suns do lose tonight, does anyone believe the Spurs are going to get anymore calls for the rest of the series?

This thing is going to Seven, and the Suns will have a great chance to win game 7.

Nothing is over, nothing has been decided yet, the Spurs have not won.



I agree. I see Phoenix having the edge now more than the Spurs. They are going to turn this into some type of David vs Goliath. Phoenix will be the heroes fighting the mean, dirty, evil Spurs. HAHA, It's kind of funny actually, I would never, ever have thought the Spurs would be the bad boys of the NBA. :lol

[spursfan09]

I am still shocked that the League rewarded the Spurs for a dirty play. They have practically gift wraped the series for the Spurs.

Seriously get over it. The Spurs are not dirty. If anything Robert Horry didn't do a very smart play on Nash. But Suns fans must be real pansys if they think the Spurs are really that physical. Anyway Suns fans welcome to the playoffs.

[MadDog73]

What was Horry supposed to do? He had to foul Nash to stop the clock. How can you foul someone flying by you, next to the sideline (so he won't veer away to avoid you)?

If you stick out an arm, it's a clothsline. If you try to bearhug, his momentum will make it look like a full takedown/tackle. If you try to touch him with your hand, it either doesn't get called (and the clock ticks on) or it looks like slap or even a punch.

What was Horry supposed to do? What is the "accepted" play? Can anybody tell me? :)


I think Horry could have just grabbed his jersey...

remember, the refs knew the Spurs needed a foul.

But, then again, didn't they miss the intential Finley foul earlier? You could argue that Horry wanted to make sure...

[word]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuDkjcfFzkmAr8k6yUHrrAi8vLYF?slug=aw-spurs051507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

This article pisses me off.

It totally ignores the fact that the Suns have been getting away with shit all series. Their only method of playing defense is to push off and hang off of the Spurs' jerseys (I'm looking at YOU, Kurt Thomas, Steve Nash).


It clouds the fact that yes, even though the Spurs missed shots in the final minutes of the 4th quarter in game 4, that the reffing in game 4 heavily favored the Suns. Were it not for the suspensions THAT is what the conversation would be about and the advantage/momentum would be Spurs.

This is the best thing that could have happened to Phoenix and might be what saves them. Like you, I just hope the Spurs go out and bury their sorry asses and ignore the idiot media.

Further it pisses me off that Spurs fans and media aren't standing up for themselves. Stop the guilt trip. We didn't suspend Amare.

[Supergirl]

It would be incredibly ironic if the Suns beat the Spurs tonight, and the Spurs come back and beat the Suns in Games 6 and 7. But my anxiety level would be a lot more managable if the Spurs come out, win this game, and then win the series with Amare back on the court in Game 6. I want this series OVER.

I agree that Horry's foul has gotten way overblown. The more I think about it, the more I think it's even ridiculous he got suspended, much less for two games. It was a hard foul, made to look worse by Nash's ridiculous flop and Amare and Diaw choosing to leave the bench like they're in the Old West. And OK, kick him out for the rest of the game, but then downgrade it, don't leave the bench (you are, after all WINNING THE GAME, at that point, dumb asses), and play on. If the Suns hadn't overreacted to the whole thing, none of this would have happened.

[Darkwaters]

I am still shocked that the League rewarded the Spurs for a dirty play. They have practically gift wraped the series for the Spurs.

They didn't. The Spurs were punished for Horry's poor judgement. Phoenix was punished for their stupid play. Amare knew the rule and broke it. End of story.

[Amare_32]

They didn't. The Spurs were punished for Horry's poor judgement. Phoenix was punished for their stupid play. Amare knew the rule and broke it. End of story.

Yeah beacuse the Spurs will miss Horry's incredible 7 points a game.

[leemajors]

Yeah beacuse the Spurs will miss Horry's incredible 7 points a game.

them's the rules.

[word]

Suns fans act like the 5th game of the conference semi's is the 7th game of the NBA finals and these suspensions have 'robbed them of their destiny'.

Funny actually.

[clambake]

Funny how spurs fans are blaming refs for not making calls. Must be some kind of defense mechanism. Sigmund would have an answer.

The rest of the country see's the spurs as scumbags. Spurs need to take a dive in this game. Try to restore some integrity.

I know you people are frustrated, so you circle the wagons to protect your one horse town, but that horse is a jackass. Throw this game.

Do you really want something you didn't earn?

[clambake]

Don't forget the tarnex.

[Mr. Peabody]

Do you really want something you didn't earn?

Yes.

[judaspriestess]

1-800-waa-waaa

its 222-Fuck you, to all the assholes out there.

[clambake]

Ok then. We'll celebrate your championship with Bond's home runs.

[Mr. Peabody]

Ok then. We'll celebrate your championship with Bond's home runs.

I let you know if I feel any regret as I am high-fiving the people around me when we win the championship.

[clambake]

Win? That's funny.

[Mr. Peabody]

Win? That's funny.

We mock what we don't understand Mavs fan.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

So say goodnight to the bad guys! Come on. The last time you gonna see bad guys like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make way for the bad guys. There's some bad guys comin' through! Betta get outta their way!

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/MMPH/263059.jpg
:lol That's the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title.

The league needs the Spurs so they point their fingers and say, "That's the bad guy." So what's that make the Suns? Good? They're not good. They just know how to hide, how to lie.

The only person I feel bad for in all of this is Steve Nash. He's conducted himself with more class than the rest of his team put together in this series, and he has to get saddled with extra responsibility because his teammates can't keep their heads on straight.

[ChumpDumper]

Don't leave the bench area.

[degenerate_gambler]

its 222-Fuck you, to all the assholes out there.


:toast


tainted, asterick...my ass.


just win baby

[clambake]

just steal, baby!!

[phoenixnative]

Screw it let the public perceive the Spurs as the new NBA bad boys.

Oh, I don't think they're bad boys, maybe that's what you think is bad in Texas, but here, that's just cowardly. Knees to the groin and flopping around, that's for pussies. Nash busted his nose wide open, was bleeding all over the place and he was concerned about your flop-artist. They're not bad boys, they're yellow cowards, pussies.

[Capt Bringdown]

Spurs just need to play well and win. Winning is the be-all and end-all in sports. This could be the be the biggest series and year in terms of the Duncan era Spurs in terms of legacy.

[clambake]

Maybe that should be engraved on the trophy, phoenixnative. Nice observation.

[Mr. Peabody]

Oh, I don't think they're bad boys, maybe that's what you think is bad in Texas, but here, that's just cowardly.

Where is "here"? Your parents' basement? The World of Warcraft?

[Mr. Peabody]

Maybe that should be engraved on the trophy, phoenixnative. Nice observation.

Feel free to come to the AT&T Center to visit the trophy.

[word]

Funny how spurs fans are blaming refs for not making calls. Must be some kind of defense mechanism. Sigmund would have an answer.

The rest of the country see's the spurs as scumbags. Spurs need to take a dive in this game. Try to restore some integrity.

I know you people are frustrated, so you circle the wagons to protect your one horse town, but that horse is a jackass. Throw this game.

Do you really want something you didn't earn?

You sound bitter.

[clambake]

I'm not bitter. I know how you feel. dirk for MVP is a joke. Just like the spurs integrity.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Funny how spurs fans are blaming refs for not making calls. Must be some kind of defense mechanism. Sigmund would have an answer.

The rest of the country see's the spurs as scumbags. Spurs need to take a dive in this game. Try to restore some integrity.

I know you people are frustrated, so you circle the wagons to protect your one horse town, but that horse is a jackass. Throw this game.

Do you really want something you didn't earn?

Gain integrity by taking a dive... let me say :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol



the funny thing is these idiots know they're wrong. Deep down they know Amare fucked up and they can't handle it. It's great.

[clambake]

enjoy your tainted victory****************

[degenerate_gambler]

the funny thing is these idiots know they're wrong. Deep down they know Amare fucked up and they can't handle it. It's great.


why do you think there is no outcry and anger from the phx organization itself??

they know the rules...they know their players violated the rules.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

If Spurs fans blame refs it's a whining defense mechanism, but when Suns coaches do it it's a good point because...
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/153/920485.jpg

[longrod]

It is good to be a bad guy these days. Why do you think rap is popular? Because of some intrinsic musical value?

[BlackFlagg]

If Nash had dispensed with the theatrics and just hopped back up, Bell might not have gotten up in Horry's face, and Stoudemire could have kept his ass on the bench. Ever consider that?

The League made its ruling, and stupid thought they might be, the rules are the rules. If this situation were reversed, Suns fans would be demanding some Spurs heads on a stick. It's a tough break for the Suns (maybe), but them's the breaks.

[clambake]

I hope the spurs win. It will make the off season so much more fun. I'm can't wait to look down on them spurs. Maybe they could tape an episode of "Cheaters".

[violentkitten]

enjoy your tainted victory****************


and i hope you enjoy your tainted non-victory.

[Mr. Peabody]

I hope the spurs win. It will make the off season so much more fun. I'm can't wait to look down on them spurs. Maybe they could tape an episode of "Cheaters".

It will certainly be more fun for Spurs fans if they win.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Maybe if the Spurs become the true bad boys with the image and all the league will start allowing the refs to call games in their favor, at least in the ATT Center. Would be nice for a change.

[clambake]

*

[Kevin Blackistone]

I hope the spurs win. It will make the off season so much more fun. I'm can't wait to look down on them spurs. Maybe they could tape an episode of "Cheaters".

I don't think Robert Horry is going to be banging your fat mom in her trailer park any time soon so I'm guessing Spurs on "Cheaters" is out of the question.

[clambake]

Going after my mom. Must be a spur.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

I hope the spurs win. It will make the off season so much more fun. I'm can't wait to look down on them spurs. Maybe they could tape an episode of "Cheaters".
Don't act like the Mavs are so squeaky clean. Rumor has it they're the real bad boys doing shit like catching more than their limit and refusing to wear life vests.

[violentkitten]

I hope the spurs win. It will make the off season so much more fun. I'm can't wait to look down on them spurs. Maybe they could tape an episode of "Cheaters".

i guess mav fan needs to find a silver lining in another ringless season while the spurs pick up another trophy.

[BlackFlagg]

I hope the spurs win. It will make the off season so much more fun. I'm can't wait to look down on them spurs. Maybe they could tape an episode of "Cheaters".

Mavs fans will have lots of time to watch. :lol

[Mr. Peabody]

Don't act like the Mavs are so squeaky clean. Rumor has it they're the real bad boys doing shit like catching more than their limit and refusing to wear life vests.

:lol :lol :lol :lol

[Kevin Blackistone]

Going after my mom. Must be a spur.

I did it just to see if you would come back with the standard, boring, unimaginitive, generic response.

[Kevin Blackistone]

i guess mav fan needs to find a silver lining in another ringless season while the spurs pick up another trophy.

From Dallas Mav fan can get a smell of the trophy. From Phoenix they can't.

[clambake]

It must be a spur. Cheap shots, mugging, attacking from behind. Not a generic response. Just indicative of a spur move. I doubt my mom is safe.

[ploto]

I don't know - to me (in re-watching it) it just looks like Horry gets pissed off that he just got pushed down by Bell, so he loses it and takes it out on Nash :shrug
Fans don't want to admit the truth to themselves-- that Horry got pissed and responded terribly. It would ruin their image of him so they would rather hold onto the notion that it was a calculated move. Otherwise- he acted like a thug and they don't want to believe that.

[Kevin Blackistone]

It must be a spur. Cheap shots, mugging, attacking from behind. Not a generic response. Just indicative of a spur move. I doubt my mom is safe.

unless there's a tornado headed for her trailer, I'm sure she's fine.

[Mr. Peabody]

I doubt my mom is safe.

:wtf

[jmard5]

Can we make this clear?

It was Stoudamire and Diaw that put the NBA into the position of suspending them. Horry's suspension is warranted and if not for the mistakes of the Suns players should be the only one suspended.

Do not place the blame on the Spurs for the mistake that the Suns have made.

Ridiculous.

[clambake]

I agree. And can we please leave out all that sportmanship, integrity and ethics.

We dumped that 2 nights ago.

[bulletedge]

Wow- looks like you guys think the Spurs already have the trophy in the case.

We thought the Mavs 67 wins meant something, too. We were obviously wrong.

Lotta' stuff can happen in the playoffs. Don't count your chickens, blah, blah, blah...

[NBA Junkie]

BTW - the League giving Horry a 2 game suspension when a 1 game was barely warranted (Bell charged him after all) is their way of setting up a game 7 showdown. The Spurs take 5, and the Suns take 6 without the only other mobile big man the Spurs have being able to play. So relax Suns fans - the league is still taking care of you.

The league taking care of the Suns would have been to suspend Diaw and Stoudemire for their 2007-08 opener...not in the playoffs where the Spurs benefit greatly as a result.

Horry would have still been suspended for game 5, but Diaw and Stoudemire would have still been available. Fair trade off if you ask me.

[nashty]

Has everyone forgotten the fact that two suns players broke the rules?!? Why is there now a rallying cry for the Suns by the national media because of it? Kenny Smith said had this been Jalen Rose and Paitkowski, nobody would be griping about this.

Also, the Spurs are getting favorable treatment from the league now? I promise you, had this been duncan and bowen instead, the only people bitchin about this would be spurs fans.

Let me ask you this. In the play where Elson went to the ground and Duncan stepped into the court, what happens if Elson or someone in the starting lineup from the spurs charges James Jones?? Duncan was inside the court before the altercation and reacting to the foul not to the fight. Does this warrant a suspension?? This is where I believe the rule has it's deficits. The difference between Duncan stepping in the court and Amare stepping in the court is that an "altercation" began after Amare stepped in. For the record, I don't think Duncan deserved a suspension.

[clambake]

Nice alternative, NBA junkie!

[jmard5]

The difference between Duncan stepping in the court and Amare stepping in the court is that an "altercation" began after Amare stepped in. For the record, I don't think Duncan deserved a suspension.

Period.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Let me ask you this. In the play where Elson went to the ground and Duncan stepped into the court, what happens if Elson or someone in the starting lineup from the spurs charges James Jones?? Duncan was inside the court before the altercation and reacting to the foul not to the fight. Does this warrant a suspension?? This is where I believe the rule has it's deficits. The difference between Duncan stepping in the court and Amare stepping in the court is that an "altercation" began after Amare stepped in. For the record, I don't think Duncan deserved a suspension.

This morning Stu Jackson stated that you have to leave the vicinity of the bench to be in violation of the rule. Duncan took two steps on the court but was still very close to his bench where as Stoudemire was charging the altercation far away from his bench with assistant coaches draped on him. That's the difference in the two, I don't think Duncan would have been suspended even if there was an incident because he was very close to the bench and would probably have been ruled in the vicinity.

[danger]

they're are obviously not bad people, but in terms of BBALL i'd rather them be called "bad guys" instead of soft. in my view, the aggressor usually wins.

Lets beat them by 40, and play our starters even in garbage time.

Oh yea, F Raja Bell...he is trying to be like Bowen.

[Mr. Peabody]

The league taking care of the Suns would have been to suspend Diaw and Stoudemire for their 2007-08 opener...not in the playoffs where the Spurs benefit greatly as a result.



The rules says the suspension will be for the next game. If you are going to enforce the rule, then enforce it. If you are only going to partially enforce the rule, then why bother? Just say that the players were still in the vicinity of the bench and let them play.

[clambake]

Yeah, stay as far away from fairness as possible. WE ARE THE SPURS

[nashty]

This morning Stu Jackson stated that you have to leave the vicinity of the bench to be in violation of the rule. Duncan took two steps on the court but was still very close to his bench where as Stoudemire was charging the altercation far away from his bench with assistant coaches draped on him. That's the difference in the two, I don't think Duncan would have been suspended even if there was an incident because he was very close to the bench and would probably have been ruled in the vicinity.


I remember players being suspended for just having one foot inside the court during an altercation. I agree that both Amare and Diaw were very far from their seat on the bench.....but 20 ft from the bench?? How do we know what the "vecinity of the bench" means??

I really believe this rule need a lot more than just what it is now.

[NBA Junkie]

The rules says the suspension will be for the next game. If you are going to enforce the rule, then enforce it. If you are only going to partially enforce the rule, then why bother? Just say that the players were still in the vicinity of the bench and let them play.

If you want to go strictly by the rules, why aren't Duncan and Bowen suspended after they left the bench earlier in the game during the Elson incident?

I'm a Spurs fan, but I don't want to see a possible title marred with controversy.

[clambake]

Watch your back Junkie.

[ChumpDumper]

If you want to go strictly by the rules, why aren't Duncan and Bowen suspended after they left the bench earlier in the game during the Elson incident?No altercation.

[Mr. Peabody]

No altercation.

But...but...but....it's not fair...... :dramaquee

[Kevin Blackistone]

No altercation.

Also they were in the vicinity of the bench.

[danger]

I believe this will be ("you shouldnt need") extra motivation for the spurs to dismantle every team in their way. The spurs are def. mad at this happenings and criticism(tainted) so you must believe they are ready to make a CHAMPIONS statement. Expect desperate spurs mode. :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun

[nashty]

Also they were in the vicinity of the bench.


define "vicintity of the bench"??

what exactly is the "bench area"??

[Kevin Blackistone]

I remember players being suspended for just having one foot inside the court during an altercation. I agree that both Amare and Diaw were very far from their seat on the bench.....but 20 ft from the bench?? How do we know what the "vecinity of the bench" means??

I really believe this rule need a lot more than just what it is now.

They amended the rule after the fiasco in which Ewing was suspended for toeing the sideline. It has for several years now stated that a player must remain in the vicinity of the bench. I, like you, have a big problem with the term "vicinity" of the bench because it doesn't state anything clearly. It leaves it up to Stern's discretion as to what that means, and that opens the door for corruption if Stern decides he doesn't like a player. I am convinced that if Ron Artest went out half way as far as Stoudemire he might have been suspended just because he's Ron Artest, and that would be an injustice.

In this case I think they might have used the coaches box as the limit to the vicinity of the bench. Jackson never said that so I don't know for sure, but that would be my best guess as to a definite lateral boundary for the "vicinity" of the bench. My question is, what is the boundary if you are walking away from the bench perpendicular to the sideline instead of parallel?

[ChumpDumper]

define "vicintity of the bench"??

what exactly is the "bench area"??It's whatever the league says it is.

When a player is stupid enough to leave the bench during an altercation, he turns his fate over to the league.

Don't leave the bench.

[GrandeDavid]

All I know is I've had it with the unwarranted Spurs bashing. Phoenix plays cheap shot, rough ball as well. Just they choose to sell out their manhood by crying like baby girls to the press after losses. I have no respect for the Phoenix Suns, top to bottom. And that article was garbage and I let that asshole who wrote it know it.

[phoenixnative]

Where is "here"? Your parents' basement? The World of Warcraft?

Yeah, Peabrain. What a comeback. PhoenixNative would imply to anyone with a brain, which excludes most of you morons in Texas, that "here" could possibly be...Phoenix. Think so? Fucking stooge.

[nashty]

It's whatever the league says it is.

When a player is stupid enough to leave the bench during an altercation, he turns his fate over to the league.

Don't leave the bench.


you are getting close to the point I am trying to make. In this case the altercation began after they left the "vecinity of the bench". When the coaches noticed the fight breaking out, they reacted and shoved Amare and Diaw back to the "bench".

Again, for the record, both Amare and Diaw made a mistake. But I am trying to discuss the point, that this is a rule that needs big modifications.

[bulletedge]

Hmmm...maybe they need to surround both benches with a penalty box like in hockey.

After all, basketball was originally played with a cage surrounding the entire court...thus the old slang term for basketball players-"cagers".

Or the NBA can continue on its present course and merge with the "And 1" tour in a few more years.

[DePastino]

What was Horry supposed to do? He had to foul Nash to stop the clock. How can you foul someone flying by you, next to the sideline (so he won't veer away to avoid you)?

If you stick out an arm, it's a clothsline. If you try to bearhug, his momentum will make it look like a full takedown/tackle. If you try to touch him with your hand, it either doesn't get called (and the clock ticks on) or it looks like slap or even a punch.

What was Horry supposed to do? What is the "accepted" play? Can anybody tell me? :)

These kinds of posts never cease to amaze me.

Yeah, he was supposed to reach in, or wrap him up. And it could've been done with minimal risk of injury.

Employing a +50 pound weight advantage to knock Nash into the scorer's table was very avoidable.

Look, the argument that the foul was not excessive holds no water, the same goes for the argument that Stoudemire and Diaw should not have been suspended.

Suns fans need to stop crying about the "unfairness", and Spurs fans need to stop defending this foul.

The rule sucks, but it's the rule. I do not agree with it and I think it needs to be reworded to allow for some discretionary enforcement.

But anyone who believes that Stoudemire and Diaw did nothing wrong need to stop kidding themselves.

That said, I think all these people calling them "idiots" and such for getting off the bench need to back off. Nash is a crucial member of the team and they instinctively reacted.

Stoudemire and Diaw act on impulse and they're "stupid".

Yet Horry acts on impulse and he's a genius?

Enough already.

The suspensions have been meted out and they are what they are.

[clambake]

Focus on the rules, not that dead elephant laying on the court. Love the*.

[CoachD.]

Ok then. We'll celebrate your championship with Bond's home runs.

Its funny how a maverick comes out of nowhere to voice his opinion..haha.

Dude...you and your boys have more trouble on your hands trying to get your FIRST championship....Let us worry about getting our fourth.

By the way...were all celebrating your pointless MVP up there who obviously got the trophy to avoid handing it one more time to Steve Nash who is ten times the player Dirk is.

[clambake]

I know exactly what you mean. That MVP trophy is just as phony as your possible title run. Both trophys will be covered with dirt. I'm glad we can agree.

[RonMexico]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuDkjcfFzkmAr8k6yUHrrAi8vLYF?slug=aw-spurs051507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

This article pisses me off.

It totally ignores the fact that the Suns have been getting away with shit all series. Their only method of playing defense is to push off and hang off of the Spurs' jerseys (I'm looking at YOU, Kurt Thomas, Steve Nash).

The only way to combat that sort of cheating defense is to clear some space with a few elbows and knees.

Horry certainly crossed a line, but I believe he's a smart enough player to know exactly what he was doing. He wanted to send a message to the Suns to back to fuck off and play some real defense, and he was willing to sacrifice himself being suspended to do it.

Anyone heard a statement from Horry since the incident?

The Spurs need to just show up and play hard. Win the next two games, with and without the Suns roster, and shut the haters up.

Your homerism is unbearable. It's lasted throughout the whole series. I don't know how a team can be "soft" and "play no defense" and then be labeled by all of you as a cheating/holding bunch.

Incredible that Spurs and their fans are convinced they do no wrong. Guess it comes from the top... Gregg "Just an End-Of-Game Foul" Popovich sets the tone for all of you to bitch and moan.

If you see the Suns holding out there at all, it is only an emulation of the Spur defense they have endured for years. Please, watch Bruce Bowen for just a second without your Silver and Black eye paint.

[T Park]

Don't like it?

Get the fuck out.

[ChumpDumper]

If you see the Suns holding out there at all
http://www.thesunblog.com/sports/archives/rajakobe.jpg

[DarrinS]

http://www.thesunblog.com/sports/archives/rajakobe.jpg


Hey, Raja got all ball on that play.

-SunFan

[T Park]

"Kobe gave Raja a knee so he clearly deserved it"

[nkdlunch]

Gregg "Just an End-Of-Game Foul" Popovich sets the tone for all of you to bitch and moan.

what did D'antoni call Bell's clothesline on Kobe???

hypocrite

[violentkitten]

ron mexico is one stupid motherfucker.

[nashty]

http://www.thesunblog.com/sports/archives/rajakobe.jpg

hawk's fan is just mad 'cause the suns raped his beloved hawks in the JJ trade. By the way, thanks for the pick!!!

[ChumpDumper]

Post Count: 12

[SA210]

http://www.thesunblog.com/sports/archives/rajakobe.jpg
:lmao

Can someone change this pic so that the ball is Kobe's head that popped off?

[ATXSPUR]

I am still shocked that the League rewarded the Spurs for a dirty play. They have practically gift wraped the series for the Spurs.

cry me a fucking river.....

[violentkitten]

my how kobe viciously assaulted bell's forearm, hands, and armpit with his neck.

[T Park]

ron mexico is one stupid motherfucker.

He idolizes Michael Vick, should we be any less suprised?

[RonMexico]

http://www.thesunblog.com/sports/archives/rajakobe.jpg

Hilarious... nuggets of sarcasm from ChumpDumper never cease to amaze me with their limited scope.

Oh, wait - I came right on this message board after that play and said I was pissed that Raja's anger and stupidity might have cost the Suns the series. I definitely didn't say it was clean and I expected at least 2 games, but the Suns/Bell lucked out by only getting 1.

[violentkitten]

He idolizes Michael Vick, should we be any less suprised?

vick and suns. there are some similarities, to the say the least.

[RonMexico]

what did D'antoni call Bell's clothesline on Kobe???

hypocrite


I don't know, buddy, what did he say? You tell me...


I do remember Phil Jackson wishing there wouldn't be a suspension.... he was the opposing coach in that game, if you need me to refresh your memory.

[violentkitten]

I do remember Phil Jackson wishing there wouldn't be a suspension.... he was the opposing coach in that game, if you need me to refresh your memory.

right, because he's notorious for saying what he means...

[T Park]

vick and suns. there are some similarities, to the say the least

wouldn't be suprised to learn Piatkowski and Barbosa have a dog fighting ring.

Barbosa would do the little hands up thing saying "I know not this illegal, Im sorry"

[RonMexico]

He idolizes Michael Vick, should we be any less suprised?

I actually am mocking Michael Vick and have said that since the beginning. If I wanted to idolize him would I choose the fake name he gave while getting herpes treatment?

You guys are idiots. Do you think Doug Collins (the poster) is idolizing the worst color man in the business?

Grow a brain.

[T Park]

:lol

Yeah Big chief Triangle never lies to the media.

[RonMexico]

wouldn't be suprised to learn Piatkowski and Barbosa have a dog fighting ring.

Barbosa would do the little hands up thing saying "I know not this illegal, Im sorry"

Ginobili would blame his dog fighting ring on Shawn Marion.

[violentkitten]

I actually am mocking Michael Vick and have said that since the beginning. If I wanted to idolize him would I choose the fake name he gave while getting herpes treatment?

You guys are idiots. Do you think Doug Collins (the poster) is idolizing the worst color man in the business?

Grow a brain.

brain? you have one? that's news.

[T Park]

Grow a brain.

my my....

[RonMexico]

right, because he's notorious for saying what he means...

No way!! Phil uses sarcasm??? He didn't really mean that??

Jesus Christ... you guys have gotten worse in one day than I ever expected. Guilty consciences make you volatile.

[T Park]

Ginobili would blame his dog fighting ring on Shawn Marion

?

this doesnt even make sense...

[RonMexico]

my my....

It's an Ali G quote... I figured you'd have watched in the Swiss Alps by now.

[T Park]

Jesus Christ... you guys have gotten worse in one day than I ever expected. Guilty consciences make you volatile.


Do the world a favor then and leave.

[RonMexico]

?

this doesnt even make sense...

(a) Ginobili blames everyone
(b) Marion poked him in the eye, which he bitched about incessantly during the game.

[violentkitten]

No way!! Phil uses sarcasm??? He didn't really mean that??

Jesus Christ... you guys have gotten worse in one day than I ever expected. Guilty consciences make you volatile.

nice attempt to recover. try again.

[T Park]

It's an Ali G quote... I figured you'd have watched in the Swiss Alps by now.

Ali G?

Wow thats high brow entertainment.

Swiss Alps? Wtf?

[T Park]

(a) Ginobili blames everyone

Link to the press conferences and interviews he does this?

Thanks.

[violentkitten]

It's an Ali G quote... I figured you'd have watched in the Swiss Alps by now.


look out now, he's throwing out ali g quotes. rofl

[AnkleBreaker21]

fuck it we can be the new bad boys of the league, damn last year we were soft wtf is this shit. 1 lil white guy gets beat up and all hell breaks loose:lmao:lmao

[T Park]

b) Marion poked him in the eye, which he bitched about incessantly during the game.

Thats ok.

Little commie Nash gets a bump into padding and its a world crisis.

Nice hypocrisy.

[T Park]

look out now, he's throwing out ali g quotes. rofl

Yeah Im gonna have to bow out, i can't quite handle such intelligence.

[clambake]

I feel bad for you guys. You're like the same people that still defend OJ Simpson.

Well, he got off and you know how everybody feels about that.

[AnkleBreaker21]

oj was innocent, its was bowen he's one dirty motherfucka:lmao:lmao

[clambake]

I agree.

[AnkleBreaker21]

hey clam u know if dallas could get bowen, you would love bowen just like we do

[clambake]

Yeah, if you're into injuring players as a way to get the title. Congrats.

[T Park]

now dallas fan has gotten high and mighty.

Fuck off and go away.

[AnkleBreaker21]

yah whatever all i know is im watching the old celtics and lakers on espn 2 and those games were physical and tough no pussies crying about a team being to tough on them, suns are a bunch of gay fags

[violentkitten]

hmmm, i seem to recall a playoff series in which a mavs player took out a spur. that was also the same series in which bell threw a 'bow that would've broken tp's jaw. i recall another time when a mav punched a spurs' player in the nuts.

same old stupid fucking mavs fans.

[clambake]

So you agree?

[AnkleBreaker21]

damn kurt rambis just got hammered by a celtic while he was in the air, no flagrant 2 no 2 game suspension, the league is so sissy now

[Soul_Patch]

Hey Ron. I think you are one of the more respectable suns fans on this board.



Where exactly does ginobili whine and moan?


When exactly did he bitch about being hit in the eye, other than to the team members trying to guide his blind ass back to the bench.


do you think, if in fact he did bitch about it, he didnt have a right to, seeing as there was no foul called, and his eye was practically knocked out. I mean seriously that looked pretty gross at first.

[CosmicCowboy]

Yeah, if you're into injuring players as a way to get the title. Congrats.

Spurs haven't injuered any players.

I distinctly remember Juwan Howard undercutting Derek Anderson while he was in the air and knocking him out of the playoffs while Mavs fans adamantly claimed it was just a "good hard playoff foul"

Where were you then? Kindergarten?

[violentkitten]

Spurs haven't injuered any players.

I distinctly remember Juwan Howard undercutting Derek Anderson and knocking him out of the playoffs while Mavs fans adamantly claimed it was just a "good hard playoff foul"

Where were you then? Kindergarten?

remember those bows bell threw in that series?

[AnkleBreaker21]

suns should be glad that we dont have jerome kersey anymore:lol:lol:lol

[CosmicCowboy]

remember those bows bell threw in that series?

yep

[violentkitten]

yep

horry made him do that.

[RonMexico]

Thats ok.

Little commie Nash gets a bump into padding and its a world crisis.

Nice hypocrisy.

Those aren't padded, by the way.

Sascha Baron Cohen graduated from Cambridge, so he's more intelligent than you most likely.

[RonMexico]

Link to the press conferences and interviews he does this?

Thanks.

You don't need press conferences when he does it on the court. You guys can claim to know about D'Antoni based on his on-the-court outbursts, but Ginobili gets a free pass?

[cherylsteele]

suns should be glad that we dont have jerome kersey anymore:lol:lol:lol
Or Kevin Willis for that matter.
Maybe even Tony Massenburg

[SenorSpur]

Maybe it's me, but I find it incredibly amusing that the Spurs are now being painted by the national media and opponents as "dirty" and "physical". Hell, it was just last year that the Mavs "outphysicaled" and "outrebounded" the Spurs in practically every game played during the WCSF.

What a difference a year makes! Now the Spurs are the big, bad, bullies and the Mavs and PHX are considered "soft" again.

I don't buy into the Spurs being an overly physical team. Their championship pedigree and commitment to defense certainly makes them a tough opponent - which is good. However as I look up and down the roster, I don't see guys that are considered physical or intimidating - other than perhaps Bowen. I mean, there is no Maurice Lucas, Charles Oakey or Jerome Williams on this team.

The Spurs were the team that no one (including the national media) cared about. Now they're being portrayed as public enemy number one. It's funny.