Najera -- useless P.O.S.

[toki9]

Why are yo pissed? He gave you 5 free points. I would be ecstatic if someone on the Spurs was dumb enough to so this.

i don't think anybody should be happy about plays like that...sportsmanship and playing honorably should still matter...

[TampaDude]

Dallas successfully clogging the lane. If our perimeter shooting doesn't improve, we'll get killed tonight.

[scottspurs]

Mavericks players, fans, and owner have no class. Win or lose, championships or not I'm glad I'm a Spurs fan.

[duncan228]

Win or lose, championships or not I'm glad I'm a Spurs fan.

Always.

[Russ]

Do the Spurs need/have a hatchet man?

It has to be someone you don't mind losing. Someone who has some size. Someone not too obvious . . .

How about this unlikely candidate -- Ian Mahinmi.

[Capt Bringdown]

Do the Spurs need/have a hatchet man?

Yes, they desperately need an enforcer.

Najera is not useless from a Mav perspective, his vicious play has left a mark on this series that Spurs have yet to answer.

I can't think of any remaining playoff teams that would allow a scrub to attack one of their main players for 2 GAMES IN A ROW and not do anything about it.

[TampaDude]

Yes, they desperately need an enforcer.

Najera is not useless from a Mav perspective, his vicious play has left a mark on this series that Spurs have yet to answer.

I can't think of any remaining playoff teams that would allow a scrub to attack one of their main players for 2 GAMES IN A ROW and not do anything about it.

You know what we're gonna do about it??? Beat the Mavs in Game 6 and send them fishing, that's what.

[duhoh]

Yes, they desperately need an enforcer.

Najera is not useless from a Mav perspective, his vicious play has left a mark on this series that Spurs have yet to answer.

I can't think of any remaining playoff teams that would allow a scrub to attack one of their main players for 2 GAMES IN A ROW and not do anything about it.

blair has been punking everyone that he's fouled, except they are the right plays

but we're talking about dirty plays though

[TC-MAVS]

He has a use. He woke the sleeping giant. We've played like and are only down 7.

Thanks, Eddie.

he didnt wake you up after he tossed ginobili across the SBC? give me a break.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Sorry, but this is pathetic. Two games in a row he's thugged on one of our Big 3.

Put in Ian the moment Najera enters the game and have him destroy that piece of . Actually better yet destroy Terry.

[samikeyp]

he didnt wake you up after he tossed ginobili across the SBC? give me a break.

I doubt it since Ex doesn't play for the Spurs.

LOL "we" and "you"

[TC-MAVS]

I doubt it since Ex doesn't play for the Spurs.

LOL "we" and "you"

good one........i guess.

[samikeyp]

good one........i guess.

Thanks!

[TC-MAVS]

but really, you guys had Bruce Bowen for crying out loud. Bruce ing Bowen, and you're complaining about dirty play? Mr face kicker and ankle breaker himself? Go f yourselves spurs fans. You're all jokes

[samikeyp]

but really, you guys had Bruce Bowen for crying out loud. Bruce ing Bowen, and you're complaining about dirty play? Mr face kicker and ankle breaker himself? Go f yourselves spurs fans. You're all jokes

yes because all spurs fans think alike.


(ok...its been awhile, had to dust that one off. )

[Capt Bringdown]

You know what we're gonna do about it??? Beat the Mavs in Game 6 and send them fishing, that's what.

We all hope so, but it remains to be seen if we can win a tough playoff series without a more physical presence.

Obviously Bowen filled this role in the past. He wasn't an enforcer per se, but he would have responded in more indirect, but no less physical, sneaky ways.

No denying the street ball dimension of the playoffs. Can't let anyone push you around or it's going to take a toll your team morale and compe iveness IMO.

[Mav-elous Man]

Najera has always been a tough, physical, hustle player who isn't the greatest athlete but moves around ok. Has a knack for getting under opposing players' skin but never dirty until now. He won't take crap off of anybody though. I have liked him since we first drafted him. Missed him while he was in Denver. Plays hard all the time. Kind of hard not to like him if he plays for your team. I like that he is "sending messages".

[samikeyp]

Najera has always been a tough, physical, hustle player who isn't the greatest athlete but moves around ok. Has a knack for getting under opposing players' skin but never dirty until now. He won't take crap off of anybody though. I have liked him since we first drafted him. Missed him while he was in Denver. Plays hard all the time. Kind of hard not to like him if he plays for your team. I like that he is "sending messages".

Much like Bowen...you love him if he is on your team, you hate him if he's not.

[TC-MAVS]

Najera has always been a tough, physical, hustle player who isn't the greatest athlete but moves around ok. Has a knack for getting under opposing players' skin but never dirty until now. He won't take crap off of anybody though. I have liked him since we first drafted him. Missed him while he was in Denver. Plays hard all the time. Kind of hard not to like him if he plays for your team. I like that he is "sending messages".

there you go Mav-elous...... He's the reason the team was so pumped tonight. Mavs have been soft for a while and he brings the tough element to the team along with Haywood.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

After tonight I am sure that Carlisle did put in Najera to put someone on the floor in game 4.


If this guy does anything like this tomorrow and we do not retaliate just another reason to be pissed.

[Capt Bringdown]

After tonight I am sure that Carlisle did put in Najera to put someone on the floor in game 4.

Smart move, because he knew it would get his team riled up, and there would likely be no counter move from the Spurs.

Yep, the Mavs lost that game, but it was about setting a tone and sending a message down the line.

[LoneStarState'sPride]

I doubt it since Ex doesn't play for the Spurs.

LOL "we" and "you"

You do realize that it's the AT&T Center, don't you? Unless you've somehow teleported back to 2005 on us............

Edit: This was directed at tc-mavs, not you, samikeyp. My bad.

[duncan228]

Najera nears flagrant suspension
By Tim MacMahon

Eduardo Najera is one flagrant foul away from an automatic suspension.

The Mavs' enforcer was called for a flagrant 1 after poking Tony Parker in the eye while enforcing his personal playoff no-layup rule during the second quarter of Game 5. That came on the heels of a flagrant 2 in Game 4, when he yanked Manu Ginobili down from behind with a WWE-style neckwrap 47 seconds after checking into the game.

That gives him three flagrant foul points during the playoffs. Another flagrant 1 would result in a one-game suspension. Najera would be suspended two games if he's called for another flagrant 2.

"I just can't go wild like I usually can," Najera said. "Just pick and choose my spots. Obviously, I'm still going to have my rule, no lay-up rule. I'm sure they have it as well. But, you know I just have to be a little smarter than that."

However, Najera contends that his hack on Parker shouldn't have been called a flagrant foul. He noted that Parker initiated the contact and that the rake across the eyes was unintentional.

"They do flop a lot," Najera said. "He was on the floor like he got shot or something. It makes it look worse than it really is."

The league automatically reviews every flagrant foul and has the option of reclassifying it. Whether that happens with the Parker poke or not, Najera is prepared to play the enforcer role for the rest of the series, potential suspension be darned.

"I’m not worried about that," Najera said. "If it happens, it happens. We’ve got to stay aggressive."

[Spurtacus]

Najera nears flagrant suspension
By Tim MacMahon

Eduardo Najera is one flagrant foul away from an automatic suspension.

The Mavs' enforcer was called for a flagrant 1 after poking Tony Parker in the eye while enforcing his personal playoff no-layup rule during the second quarter of Game 5. That came on the heels of a flagrant 2 in Game 4, when he yanked Manu Ginobili down from behind with a WWE-style neckwrap 47 seconds after checking into the game.

That gives him three flagrant foul points during the playoffs. Another flagrant 1 would result in a one-game suspension. Najera would be suspended two games if he's called for another flagrant 2.

"I just can't go wild like I usually can," Najera said. "Just pick and choose my spots. Obviously, I'm still going to have my rule, no lay-up rule. I'm sure they have it as well. But, you know I just have to be a little smarter than that."

However, Najera contends that his hack on Parker shouldn't have been called a flagrant foul. He noted that Parker initiated the contact and that the rake across the eyes was unintentional.

"They do flop a lot," Najera said. "He was on the floor like he got shot or something. It makes it look worse than it really is."

The league automatically reviews every flagrant foul and has the option of reclassifying it. Whether that happens with the Parker poke or not, Najera is prepared to play the enforcer role for the rest of the series, potential suspension be darned.

"I’m not worried about that," Najera said. "If it happens, it happens. We’ve got to stay aggressive."

Asshole. Someone poke him in the eyes then kick him hard in the groin. Lets see how fast he gets up off the floor after that.

[LoneStarState'sPride]

You know, it'd be one thing if Najera was just playing hard and these flagrants were simply the byproduct of his extra effort. Problem is, he knows EXACTLY what he's doing, and the league seems to have no problem with it. Here's this guy with a self-proclaimed "no-layup rule," who's picked up flagrants in two consecutive games, and then turns around and unrepentantly rationalizes it all away by accusing the other team of flopping?

I can understand the whole "enforcer" role, but when Horry can get canned for two games for a hip check that was benign by comparison, and Garnett's elbow merits a one gamer, the fact that Najera is even still seeing court time is a slap in the face to any unilateral interpretation of the rules. That is a crying shame.