No penalites for Hawks/Celtics

[xtremesteven33]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/specials/playoffs/2008/04/29/hawks.celtics.discipline.ap/index.html


WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks escaped discipline for a Game 4 skirmish in which Kevin Garnett pushed off a referee while players on both benches stepped onto the court.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Tuesday there would be no fines or suspensions. Four technical fouls resulted in a game Atlanta won 97-92 to tie the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

The confrontation started when Kevin Garnett cleared out Zaza Pachulia with an elbow, and the Hawks forward went forehead-to-forehead with the Celtics star. A referee grabbed Garnett, but he, too, got a push as Garnett struggled to break free.

Celtics center Kedrick Perkins and Atlanta forward Marvin Williams acknowledged they stepped onto the court as they strained to see what was going on. Such actions are barred in the NBA, especially with commissioner David Stern looking on.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[JamStone]

Let's hear it, Suns fans.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Complete cop out, but it was expected.

[Kriz-Maxima]

Told ya'll.

[Thunder Dan]

they want to keep KG in the playoffs

[xtremesteven33]

wow amazing...no penalties....the league REALLY wants the Celtics to go all the way....

[Pero]

Lame.

[Kriz-Maxima]

NBA where throwing out the rule book for the Celtics happens.

[jcrod]

If I'm the PHX org I'll raise hell. No way there should be no suspensions. Obviously trying to keep Boston in the playoffs.

TD got suspended for bumping into a ref by accident and KG shoved one. BS!

[freemeat]

KG shoved a ref and should have been suspended.

[ChumpDumper]

Open season on refs!

Start shoving!

[Kriz-Maxima]

Open season on refs!

Start shoving!

Even Sheed?


He will love this!!!

[Findog]

Where having absolutely no credibility whatsoever happens.

Way to go Fuehrer Stern.

[FromWayDowntown]

Congratulations, Suns fans.

You now officially have the sympathies of this Spurs fan.

[Spurminator]

It is going to be difficult for ESPN to decide what stance to take on this... Either way they risk pissing off the entire fanbase of one of their two favorite teams.

[DazedAndConfused]

This is some fucking bullshit. If I'm a Suns fan I'm coming after Stu Jackson with a blunt knife.

[Borosai]

Congratulations, Suns fans.

You now officially have the sympathies of this Spurs fan.

I agree. Stern and Jackson are spineless and inconsistent.

[RonMexico]

The Hawks and especially the Suns should be contacting the League and demanding an explanation!

Joey Crawford officiating the Suns-Spurs tonight: I expect Manu and Duncan to be ejected within the first 3 minutes as reparations.

[Stump]

Disgusting:td

[td4mvp21]

This is ridiculous. There was a definite altercation right? The one that should be suspended is Perkins. I think Williams was already on the court just watching. But yeah, this is dumb.

[rAm]

Whack

[RonMexico]

This still doesn't anger me as much as D'Antoni's lack of adjustments in Games 2 & 3.

And I wish I had the energy to find all my old posts where I called Stu Jackson an idiot, a terrible former coach, a liar, inconsistent, etc.

He may have proved me "right" today, but even that's hollow with a 3-1 hole to overcome. And he's such a pussy that he had Tim Frank deliver the news this afternoon instead of manning up himself.

I'm pretty sure Kendrick Perkins was 20-25 feet away from the bench.

[remingtonbo2001]

Congratulations, Suns fans.

You now officially have the sympathies of this Spurs fan.

+1

[jcrod]

It sad the league office can be so inconsistent like this and nothing can be done about it. Teams/fans are left having to just live with it.

[JoeTait75]

It is going to be difficult for ESPN to decide what stance to take on this... Either way they risk pissing off the entire fanbase of one of their two favorite teams.

ESPN is nothing more than an auxiliary of the Boston/New England sports media. Nuff said.

[Lakers_55]

Controversial decisions hurt every team that suffer from them. Consistency is the key. I hope there are no more this postseason, or this case will come back to haunt the NBA. However, Boston has shown they are quite beatable. Win the west and on to win the finals, against whoever makes it from the "least".

[Deuces88]

Heh, at least TRY to make it look discreet, Stern.

[mavsfan1000]

Fuck you David Stern. You fucking ruined us. I guess you like KG more so you won't do the same Boston. :flipoff

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Notice it wasn't even a high-ranking NBA official to make the announcement.

Suns fans have a legitimate gripe now. Don't disappoint me.

[Armando]

I think maybe the league does not want to get the criticism they got last year. But yeah on its surface it seems unfair.

[Xylus]

:lmao :lmao :lmao

[Armando]

What this really means is that the refs are going to muck up Game 5 by calling it tight. That should favor the Celtics since the game will likely be low scoring halfcourt basketball. The way Horford has been playing is only a matter of time before he does something stupid.

[Capt Bringdown]

The Hawks are on to something, and if they're smart they'll try to exploit KG's lack of mental toughness. I used to love when KG did his lame "up in your grill" routine with Duncan. Duncan just chuckled.

I fully anticipate the Celtics to prevail unfortunately, but if the Hawks can grab game 5 then anything can happen.

[kingsfan]

That's bullshit. Somebody should have busted a cap in Stern's ass last night in Atlanta.

[Hank the Tank]

i cant believe this.....what a bunch of shit. stern is a fuckin joke and makes me sick.

i want to see the suns org. question him about this load of shit.

[greyforest]

pretty ridiculous

all these fucks are richer than god and instead of just letting teams play they interfere so they can make more money

if they fuck with the league enough it will end up like the wwf and people will stop watching because they want to see real sports, not fake fucking bullshit

[JackArse]

so, 2 players make their way onto the court, maybe it was only one or two steps.. but thye were ON THE COURT. duncan last year made his way ONTO THE COURT by about 3 steps, garnett shoves a referee out of the way, cassell starts an altercation with one person, doesn't get anywhere, then starts another with someone else after that. NO ONE SUSPENDED. amare and diaw (a french pacifist - redundant.. i know) take 3 steps ON THE SIDELINE and are suspended by THE LETTER OF THE LAW.

fucking stern.

the entire nba is rigged.

and, i know a couple of people mentioned it, but just in case.. STERN WAS AT THE FUCKIN GAME.

carry on.

[BonnerDynasty]

Fuck you Stern.

You spineless crooked mothafocka.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

This is some fucking bullshit. If I'm a Suns fan I'm coming after Stu Jackson with a blunt knife.

I concur.

[Red Hawk #21]

Nothing new with that moron stern he does this kind of shit annually, fuck him

[TampaDude]

Congratulations, Suns fans.

You now officially have the sympathies of this Spurs fan.

+1 What bullshit.