Spurs are now "the bad guys"

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...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.

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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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

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.

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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.

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

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

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Originally Posted by Supergirl

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? .

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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

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.

1-800-waa-waaa

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.

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Amare_32

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Amare_32

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.

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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?

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Originally Posted by G-Nob

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?

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

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Originally Posted by DarrinS

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

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Kiwi's in for big minutes tonight. :)

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?

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.

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Originally Posted by DarrinS

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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?

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.

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by G-Nob

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?

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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.

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Originally Posted by bulletedge

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.

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

The point is: Get lost, Troll.

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Originally Posted by G-Nob

The point is: Get lost, Troll.

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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

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.

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Originally Posted by bulletedge

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.

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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

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Originally Posted by G-Nob

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

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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.

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Originally Posted by Kevin Hench

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.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by Amare_32

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.

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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.

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

UNBELIEVABLE!

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Originally Posted by Extra Stout

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.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown

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.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown

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

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Well, he is Black Jesus.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

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.

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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? :)

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Originally Posted by Russ

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? :)

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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.

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

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/im...MPH/263059.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Russ

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? :)

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Russ

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? :)

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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...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Supergirl

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...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).

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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.

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darkwaters

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.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Amare_32

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

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them's the rules.

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.

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?

Don't forget the tarnex.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clambake

Do you really want something you didn't earn?

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Yes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by travis2

1-800-waa-waaa

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clambake

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

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

Win? That's funny.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clambake

Win? That's funny.

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We mock what we don't understand Mavs fan.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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/im...MPH/263059.jpg

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: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.

Don't leave the bench area.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by judaspriestess

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

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:toast


tainted, asterick...my ass.


just win baby

just steal, baby!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by picnroll

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

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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.

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.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phoenixnative

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.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clambake

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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?

---

You sound bitter.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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?

---

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.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kevin Blackistone

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.

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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.

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

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

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.

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".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clambake

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

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and i hope you enjoy your tainted non-victory.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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".

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

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.

*

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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".

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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.

Going after my mom. Must be a spur.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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".

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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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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".

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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".

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spurs_fan_in_exile

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.

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:lol :lol :lol :lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clambake

Going after my mom. Must be a spur.

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