Spurs trying to get barbosa suspended....

Game 2 we saw the refs taking it easy on the Suns because of Shaq's moaning about "floppers." I think the Spurs want to even things back up in game 3 by pointing out that there were things the refs didn't see that they need to keep an eye on.

As everyone knows, it's when the refs feel games are getting out of hand that they start calling those little "touch" fouls that otherwise they'd ignore. It's a fine line between letting teams "play on" and teams ending up swinging at each other.

So I think it's good strategy to send that film to the front office, even if there was little chance that they'd do anything about it. You can bet that the refs are holding their pre-game meeting and addressing the issue head-on. In which case, the strategy is likely to work after all. Wouldn't be surprised to see Shaq and Amare sitting out more minutes tonight because of this...

i could actually seeing that being a natural motion if youre falling. he might have been using his hands to break his fall instinctually but it just so happened manu's face was in the way.

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Originally Posted by oboymeetsogirl

Game 2 we saw the refs taking it easy on the Suns because of Shaq's moaning about "floppers." I think the Spurs want to even things back up in game 3 by pointing out that there were things the refs didn't see that they need to keep an eye on.

As everyone knows, it's when the refs feel games are getting out of hand that they start calling those little "touch" fouls that otherwise they'd ignore. It's a fine line between letting teams "play on" and teams ending up swinging at each other.

So I think it's good strategy to send that film to the front office, even if there was little chance that they'd do anything about it. You can bet that the refs are holding their pre-game meeting and addressing the issue head-on. In which case, the strategy is likely to work after all. Wouldn't be surprised to see Shaq and Amare sitting out more minutes tonight because of this...

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You are right. It is time for the FO to protect their men!

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Originally Posted by remingtonbo2001

Johnny Blaze should've been all over this.

I'm very dissapointed.

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Um, ahem.

Who do you think wrote the story?

Holy shit I didn't notice this during the game! That is definitely grounds for suspension.

Wasn't there a similar sandwich/takedown of Ginobili in game 1? I think it was DUHmare and either Diaw, Bell Or Barbosa
Then there was Bell throwing Manu down at the end of game 2 also

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Originally Posted by Fabbs

Bill have you got a link?
I believe you I'm just wondering if Bells comments are on the Net anywheres.

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It was a comment after game 2 when Shaq put him on the floor with a hard foul. It may have been in the post-game comments on line at the Express News. Look at the paper online and see if the comments are still there.

I must have missed that play. I was getting up a couple of times during the game to do something and I must have missed it. That was clearly a deliberate take down on Manu that should have resulted in a flagrant 2 being called, and maybe a suspension.

With that said, the Spurs are the only ones that play dirty in this series.

Crazy... Barbosa did get somewhat um... NUTS... there, but Shaq knew he was spearing Manu why did he continue to do so? That itself could be flagrant imho.

Suns have lost it, and tonight we will put them to bed. Makes their misery sweet actually.

I'm just wondering... Manu has gained a rep as a flopper, so I think the refs and officials might second guess themselves when it comes to him. YOu know like the boy who cried wolf. Except Manu is not crying about it, and Barbosa did give hit him pretty hard it seemed....

Suns are dirty. :spin

Suspend him. I enjoy watching Suns fans melt down.

There was certainly a body sandwich just in front of the basket with Shaq/Tony/Steve? when Tony was trying to finish a fastbreak.

Nearly 3 full days, no suspension. Stew Jackson sucks. Stew Jackson also works as a sentence.

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Originally Posted by spursfan09

I'm just wondering... Manu has gained a rep as a flopper, so I think the refs and officials might second guess themselves when it comes to him. YOu know like the boy who cried wolf. Except Manu is not crying about it, and Barbosa did give hit him pretty hard it seemed....

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I actually think that Manu's well-earned reputation as a flopper costs him calls that he would otherwise get for the contact that he undoubtedly takes. Officials who see unnatural movements on Manu's drives have to ask themselves whether there was really contact or whether Manu is flailing, and I think sometimes they are more cautious about calling those plays for Manu.

I don't have any numbers to back it up -- just some observations from this season -- but I think that Monty McCutchen (who will be one of the three officials for tonight's game) is among the most reluctant to call contact on Manu. It will be interesting to watch that tonight.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...n.17ddac4.html

Barbosa cleared: After reviewing tape of Game 2, the Spurs were concerned about a play in which Phoenix guard Leandro Barbosa appeared to throw a punch at Manu Ginobili.

The incident occurred with 1:47 left in the third quarter, when Ginobili became entangled with Barbosa and Shaquille O'Neal while grappling for a rebound.

During the skirmish, Ginobili and Barbosa fell to the ground. Television replays seem to show that while the pair was prone, Barbosa directed a punch at Ginobili's head.

An NBA spokesman said Thursday that the league's basketball operations office had reviewed the play and determined that Barbosa's actions did not warrant disciplinary measures.

Parker, Ginobili rest: Nursing what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called "just bumps and bruises," Ginobili and point guard Tony Parker did not practice with the team Thursday.

Both are expected to be available for Game 3.

It cannot be concluded that Barbosa went for Manu. Barbosa was standing on one foot falling towards Manu. Not really sure where else his arm could have gone except towards Manu.

Barbosa has never been a dirty player and as far as I know, there is no mean streak in him, he's probably one of the most passive players in the NBA.

So Horry gets suspended 2 games for a hip check that Nash exaggerates, but Barbosa clearly punching Manu in the head "did not warrant disciplinary measures." Who the Hell are Suns fans calling the Sterns?

I've looked at the video several times and it didn't seem that intentional to me when in real time. At the time I thought it was a hard fought possession which Manu won and got the call against Phoenix. Maybe it was intentional or maybe it wasn't. My concern is that we all pretty much went off on the sons fans after their BS against Bruce "intentionally" trying to step on Amare's Achilles in last year's series. They all slowed it down to show how deliberate it was and that Bruce was a dirty little mofo. Aren't we doing the same thing? Slowing video down and then inferring intent? We’re way better than Sons fans. Anyway I don’t want Barbosa suspended – he hasn’t done jack so far.

Barbosa slugged Manu, got caught on video, and got away with it.

Fuck NBA's league operations office.

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Originally Posted by nfg3

My concern is that we all pretty much went off on the sons fans after their BS against Bruce "intentionally" trying to step on Amare's Achilles in last year's series. They all slowed it down to show how deliberate it was and that Bruce was a dirty little mofo. Aren't we doing the same thing? Slowing video down and then inferring intent? We’re way better than Sons fans. Anyway I don’t want Barbosa suspended – he hasn’t done jack so far.

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I think it's generally a losing strategy to think that you can intimidate the Spurs and it's particularly silly to think that you can intimidate Manu Ginobili. If the Suns choose to be overly-physical with the Spurs, it places them at risk of foul trouble and might have other unintended consequences if things go too far (ala, Raja Bell clotheslining Kobe in 2006). I also think that the Spurs are a group that is poised enough and tough enough to just keep playing even when things get super-physical.

I think it's fair for the Spurs to ask the league to look at the play, but with the ruling in, it's over and it's time to move on. I agree that there's no point in screaming about Barbosa since nothing will come of it other than making some Spurs fans look like some Suns fans.

When you're the champion you have to take everybody's best shots and still turn around and beat their ass. The tape to the officials in the league office is just to send a message to watch out for dirty play, but IMO this is now a series in which Bruce can use all the borderline dirty tricks on Nash. I'd be physical as hell with Nash tonight and see how the game is going to be called, then adjust if necessary. To me the Spurs best strategy tonight is to run when possible to get break points, but also muck it up whenever the momentum swings the other way. Keep the crowd restless and quiet.

come on! this did not warrant a suspension. Why on earth would we want to bring that shit upon ourselves anyway?? Have you any idea how much bitching and moaning the Suns an their fans would do? We would NEVER hear the end of it, period. Just a little rough play, nothing Manu shouldn't be able to handle.

By the way, have you realized lately laker fans are bitching more about this series than the Suns fans? Its as if they're scared already and feel they need to start discrediting us now, so as to make the pummeling they are going to get less humiliating. I'm just worried that if they bitch this much now, they'll be so fucking annoying when we actually beat them...

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Originally Posted by BlackSwordsMan

If he's suspended every Suns fan will claim this is why they lost

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:lmao

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Originally Posted by ancestron

Leandro who?

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Barbasol I think but I'm not sure...

Seemed like the Spurs had a good case, and it was probably pre-emptive in case someone gets tangled up or Bruce flattens someone's tire. Since the Suns lobbied to have Bruce Bowen suspended after a game in which they didn't even participate, they shouldn't have any trouble keeping their mouths shut about this issue.