Stoudemire and Diaw have to be Suspended

[Phenomanul]

They will be ready to play and don't forget they won 54 games without Amare last year and the way Nash has stepped up i wouldn't be surprised to see suns get the win.

So if amare is suspended it is by no means a lock for the spurs to win.

The reason they did so well was because Diaw got most of Amare's minutes last year and had a breakout season... it's a double whammy that both of them broke the rule on this occasion.

[Findog]

It's a stupid ing rule. The game was decided when the foul occured. Horry got a flagrant 2 -- the ejection should cover his "suspension." I thought it was actually at the borderline of F 1-2 but they gave him a 2 in order to keep him eligible for Game Five. If you upgrade later to a F2, then he would have to sit out G5.

As for Amare and Diaw, the coaching staff held them back. If we're going to be lenient when Bowen nails Nash in the nads, let's be lenient over guys in the heat of battle wandering away from the bench and momentarily forgetting the rule. Nothing of consequence came of it -- there was no brawl, just a lot of jostling and words exchanged.

This should be decided at full-strength.

[Phenomanul]

It's a stupid ing rule. The game was decided when the foul occured. Horry got a flagrant 2 -- the ejection should cover his "suspension." I thought it was actually at the borderline of F 1-2 but they gave him a 2 in order to keep him eligible for Game Five. If you upgrade later to a F2, then he would have to sit out G5.

As for Amare and Diaw, the coaching staff held them back. If we're going to be lenient when Bowen nails Nash in the nads, let's be lenient over guys in the heat of battle wandering away from the bench and momentarily forgetting the rule. Nothing of consequence came of it -- there was no brawl, just a lot of jostling and words exchanged.

This should be decided at full-strength.

I didn't make the rules....

And the players should know the rules....

Again, no Spurs bench player made a move towards the court... and Ginobili or Parker don't have a habit of running at players after they've been fouled. Maybe Nash wanted to play it tougher than them....

[Findog]

I didn't make the rules....

And the players should know the rules....

Again, no Spurs bench player made a move towards the court... and Ginobili or Parker don't have a habit of running at players after they've been fouled. Maybe Nash wanted to play it tougher than them....

Diaw and Amare did not escalate the situation, and they were ultimately restrained by their coaching staff before they could have been in a position to do so. The Phoenix coaching staff certainly was aware of the rule. If the NBA truly cares about its product, they'll let everybody play, including Horry. It would be a shame that Phoenix would ultimately be punished more for a sequence that was initiated by Horry.

That's the bottom line: the officiating in this series has been terrible for both teams, and I want this thing decided at full-strength. It would be ing bull for the Suns to be crippled and punished in G5. There's nothing wrong with Diaw and Amare jumping up in the heat of the moment to check on a teammate with a spinal condition that's been slammed into the scorer's table on a thug move. They violated the letter of the law but not the spirit.

[George Gervin's Afro]

These guys should play.

[Phenomanul]

Diaw and Amare did not escalate the situation, and they were ultimately restrained by their coaching staff before they could have been in a position to do so. The Phoenix coaching staff certainly was aware of the rule. If the NBA truly cares about its product, they'll let everybody play, including Horry. It would be a shame that Phoenix would ultimately be punished more for a sequence that was initiated by Horry.

That's the bottom line: the officiating in this series has been terrible for both teams, and I want this thing decided at full-strength. It would be ing bull for the Suns to be crippled and punished in G5. There's nothing wrong with Diaw and Amare jumping up in the heat of the moment to check on a teammate with a spinal condition that's been slammed into the scorer's table on a thug move. They violated the letter of the law but not the spirit.

I'm with you.... but bottom line is that this is not how one would run a business. Especially after events like the Palace Brawl and the MSG Melee have already tainted your product.

If no one is suspended it leaves behind a very bad precedent. The reason bench players aren't allowed on the court is cause they distract the referees from providing a restraining role. For every extra player that enters the court they loose their ability to gain control of the situation. Fortunately, in this case the event didn't escalate any further. Nevertheless, call me a stickler but a rule is a rule.

Only two courses of action... no one gets suspended or fined. Or everyone involved gets punished. Unfortunately for Phoenix, more Suns players sided with Horry in the 'loosing their cool' department.

[DarkReign]

I'd prefer no Suns suspensions. Its not really warranted.

And that my friends, is called not being a blind homer.

Horry suspended. No one else.

[SAGambler]

I don't know what the Horry was thinking, but both Stoudemire and Diaw left the bench to walk TOWARD the altercation. The NBA has a no tolerance rule stating that ANY PLAYER THAT LEAVES THE BENCH during an altercation is suspended for 1 game. They HAVE to follow that rule and suspend both Stoudemire and Diaw 1 game. If they don't, they have absolutely no integrity left.

I think Horry was probably thinking "enough is enough" tonight and decided to lay Nash out. The entire game was called so Phoenix could stay close enough to win it in the end. Totally biased and IMO the entire action of Horry and the reaction of the Suns bench is on the refs. How many times did a Spur go flying across the floor and no whistle? Frustration is what caused this entire thing.

But yes a rule is a rule. The players all know it. And if they don't suspend the two from Phoenix along with Horry and possibly even Bell (don't know if he threw a punch or not) then the league officials need to show up enmasse for a sex change operation.

[Findog]

but bottom line is that this is not how one would run a business.

You best run a business by making your products and services available. The NBA is doing itself no favors if Horry, STAT and Diaw are in streetclothes for G5.

If no one is suspended it leaves behind a very bad precedent.

Is that such a bad thing? We have a silly, ridiculous rule that has no compe ive bearing on a series, and we're not going to enforce it so these two teams can decide who is best on the court. That's a bad thing?

[Phenomanul]

You best run a business by making your products and services available. The NBA is doing itself no favors if Horry, STAT and Diaw are in streetclothes for G5.

How so? Game 6 and a possible Game 7 are still there for the taking with teams at full strength.

Is that such a bad thing? We have a silly, ridiculous rule that has no compe ive bearing on a series, and we're not going to enforce it so these two teams can decide who is best on the court. That's a bad thing?

The rule prevents much bigger melees from breaking out, and enbles the refereeing crew to manage the situation. It's not entirely without basis.

[Extra Stout]

Too many Spurs fans are being whiners and hypocrites, like Suns fans were being after Game 3.

[LEONARD]

LOL...gotta love this place...

Horry isn't dumb...he knew they were looking at a best of 3 without home court, so he wiped Nash out right in front of the Suns bench knowing that several key players were on the bench and knowing they'd react. THEN for good measure he throws an elbow at Bell...

"Cheap Shot Bob"

DIRTY DIRTY DIRTY!!!

[Findog]

How so? Game 6 and a possible Game 7 are still there for the taking with teams at full strength.

Game Five is critical in a 2-2 series, the winner of G5 goes on to win something like 75 percent of the time. I don't want to see Pat Burke and Jalen Rose getting major burn. Ditto Francisco Elson in for Robert Horry.

The rule prevents much bigger melees from breaking out, and enbles the refereeing crew to manage the situation. It's not entirely without basis

That's fine and all, but after the fact, there should be some leeway. This is the playoffs. I don't want a series decided on somebody sitting in streetclothes.

[Soul_Patch]

I hope they both get suspended. I dont give a about best teams against best teams.

stop being pussies...seriously. This is war, Id rather you all get suspended, you guys forfeit and we get to rest for Utah.

Amare has the IQ of my damn shoe. He is seriously the dumbest guy ive ever seen touch a basketball. Diaw got influenced by it, shame on him, but they broke the rule clear as day...a rule is a rule.


Horry did what veterans do. Stay in their in heads. It is obviously working like a charm.

Im so sick and tired, seriously, of listening to all the whining about dirty, and oo flagrant foul!! ooo he pushed me!! God i miss the bad boy pistons and karl malone days.

I love this series. LOVE it. The game last night was sickening, just to see the spurs tank the 4th quarter, but the series is great. Shows how big of a chip the suns actually have on their shoulder. Soo scared of the big bad spurs.

Good luck Phoenix, i like your team (save amare) so if you win, i think its deserved...but stop with the bull crying.

[Phenomanul]

Too many Spurs fans are being whiners and hypocrites, like Suns fans were being after Game 3.

So somehow being a Spurs fan, doesn't allow me to look at the 'bench players are not allowed to step on the court during altercations' rule objectively?

The Suns already marred this series with so much complaining to the media and the league. The Spurs haven't stooped to those cheapening tactics in spite of whatever short comings they may have seen in the officiating. They never have. It's just a shame that Phoenix never intended to play on that principle - being that this Spurs squad has had their number.

[Jimcs50]

I'd prefer no Suns suspensions. Its not really warranted.

Thems the rules...sorry.


The thing is, the Spurs better win game 5 if Phoenix plays w/o Amare and Diaw, because if they do not, then the Spurs will be labled the biggest pussies in the history of the NBA.

[Jimcs50]

I believe Horry threw a forearm to Raja's face.

He was defending himself with that forearm because Raja was getting ready to poke him one...it is clear.

[41times]

I guess Stat is worried about a suspension.

Stoudemire was caught on replays well off the bench but he said he was on his way to the scorer's table to check in when the incident happened. He said he's "just a little" worried about a possible suspension.

"I was just doing what the coach told me. He told me to check in," Stoudemire said. "I just got to say my prayers tonight."

[wildbill2u]

I don't know what the Horry was thinking, but both Stoudemire and Diaw left the bench to walk TOWARD the altercation. The NBA has a no tolerance rule stating that ANY PLAYER THAT LEAVES THE BENCH during an altercation is suspended for 1 game. They HAVE to follow that rule and suspend both Stoudemire and Diaw 1 game. If they don't, they have absolutely no integrity left.

You can bet the league will find a way to leave the players in the series without a suspension. Integrity? Not a part of TV-driven, big business sports.

[Mixability]

I'll say it again:

If any of the Suns are suspended, fine. But when we're begging for it, just because it's the "rules", then we just look like little es with no faith in our team.

[Spider TX]

No, you off.

Your boys are a bunch of hot heads and Horry baited them and they took the bait. Horry is dirty, so ing what? So is your boy Raja, and AMare and Boris are ing idiots for leaving the bench.

Shaq even called them out, said they knew what they were doing when they left the bench.

I'd love for it to be decided at full strength, but seeings the refs didn't afford us that liberty tonight with a couple of bull calls on Duncan, you won't get any pity for your suck ass team from me.

The league let this situation get to this point by letting Phoenix cry for the last 10 days, and then upgrading a personal to a flagrant on Bowen today. The stage was set, and the refs looked the other way all game long tonight while Phoenix took cheap shot after cheap shot at the Spurs because of all your team's pansy ass ing whining.

Horry paid all those cheap shots from Nash and Raja tonight back with interest. Sucks for you that Amare and Boris have the combined intelligence of a peanut.

What the is wrong with you? Are you really that dillusional of a fan? Your team absolutely chokes the game away when it matter, the Suns hit their shots, and you go and cry like this about the officiating, which was extremely fair tonight for the first time in the series. The Spurs have gotten every break from the officials up till now, but even then, I realize the Suns cost themselves game 3 for the most part even with bad officiating putting Amare on the bench most of that game. The refs did absolutely nothing to cost the Spurs game 4 last night, the Spurs did that to themselves. And then on top of that, Horry becomes the damn child that he is and lays the small Nash out like that.

The ONLY way the Spurs manage to win this series is if Amare and Diaw happen to be suspended, because the Suns are far and away the more talented team, and without the help of the officials, this series very well could have already been over with a quick 4 game sweep by the Suns. The Spurs are good, don't get me wrong, but they need extra help when facing a team like this who is clearly better than them.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The Spurs have gotten every break from the officials up till now,

In what way? You need to heed your own advice, you call me a dillusional fan, you're just as bad for your Suns.

We need extra help? Check again who shot 29 FTs last night, son.

[Spider TX]

I think even you Spurs fans will all agree that Aggie HoopsFan is far and away your most immature poster on here. He whines and cries much like Duncan does every game, except AHP shows personality and cannot post a single time without something against another poster or using foul language. It's quite humerous actually.

[Spider TX]

In what way? You need to heed your own advice, you call me a dillusional fan, you're just as bad for your Suns.

We need extra help? Check again who shot 29 FTs last night, son.

using the number of free throws is the worst possible argument. It just shows that for once the Spurs are getting called for fould they commit. They are a good defensive team, but also commit A LOT of contact each and every play, and are getting called for it when it is to much. The officiaiting was very fair for once like I said, and the Spurs failed when it mattered. It's because they are not nearly as talented as the Suns, and need a lot of help to keep up with a team like them and the Mavs.

[Oh, Gee!!]

I hope Stoudemire is out for the rest of the series.