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Ginobili "fell to the ground"? What game were they watching? Seriously, the league would have been better of citing the Duncan elbow if they were going to give out a single reason Artest was suspended.
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Ron Artest's reputation might have caught up to him at a terrible time for the Sacramento Kings.
The NBA suspended Artest on Monday for Game 2 of the Kings' first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.
Stu Jackson, the league's top disciplinarian, said Artest's elbow to Manu Ginobili's head in the series opener was egregious enough to warrant another suspension for the man who missed 73 games and the playoffs last season after one of the most infamous brawls in sports history.
But after their difficult playoff task got exponentially harder, the Kings suggested Artest was punished simply for being Ron Artest, possibly the most notorious player of his generation.
"You know with Ron's questionable past, they're going to look for a way to get him," said Bonzi Wells, who will get many of Artest's defensive assignments. "Whether it's minor or major, they're going to look at it in a different way."
The one-game suspension caught both Artest's teammates and the Spurs completely by surprise, because neither club thought the personal foul was even worthy of postgame comment, much less a suspension nearly 48 hours after the fact.
Artest was at the AT&T Center for practice Monday, but the focal point of Sacramento's midseason turnaround won't be in uniform Tuesday night when the Kings play Game 2 against the defending league champions.
"I talked to Stu Jackson, which was encouraging," Artest said in a brief, apologetic statement after his usual post-practice shooting workout. "There have been a lot of things that have happened in my career which (were) unfair. I support my teammates, and hopefully they'll win the game, and I'll be back Friday (for Game 3)."
The league cited Artest for his foul on Ginobili in the third quarter of the Spurs' 122-88 victory. Ginobili caught Artest's elbow in his jaw while attempting to run through the lane, and the Argentine star fell to the ground as Artest got a personal foul.
Though Spurs coach Gregg Popovich jumped off the bench to argue for a flagrant foul, Ginobili got right back up, and the game continued. Afterward, Ginobili said he wasn't injured on the play and didn't consider it particularly serious, while Popovich said he had no problem with Artest's aggressive style of play.
"I didn't even see the play, but it couldn't have been that bad," said Mike Bibby, who declared himself "amazed" by the league's decision.
"There was no flagrant foul or technical foul on the play. They look at things differently for certain people, you could say."
Popovich said the Spurs didn't even contact the NBA about the play, something many teams -- including the Kings -- will do for any questionable play, particularly in the playoffs.
Ginobili was shocked when he heard about the suspension after practice at the Spurs' suburban training complex.
"For us it's good, because he's a great player, but we don't have much to do with it," Ginobili said. "It didn't hurt me. I said it after the game. But the league (watches) everything we do."
Artest was injured on the game's opening possession when Ginobili inadvertently elbowed him hard in the face while driving to the hoop. Artest's feet flew out from under him, and he stayed down for several moments before jogging around the court in pain from a cut that required three s ches to close.
Ginobili alluded to the Kings' theory that Artest was being punished partly for his history of misbehavior and hard-nosed play, which also included aggressive shots to Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in Game 1.
Popovich wouldn't speculate on such ideas, instead finding a way to worry about how the absence of the Kings' emotional leader and defensive star actually could hurt the Spurs.
"Sometimes it can be your worst nightmare when a good player is out on another team, because everybody else can pick up their games," Popovich said. "We're not going to change a whole lot. I'm more concerned about the mental part of the deal for us."
Artest mostly guarded Ginobili in Game 1 and scored 16 points on 7-of-21 shooting. The Spurs routed Sacramento with a 41-point second quarter, taking a quick 30-point lead and turning the entire second half into garbage time.
Kevin Martin will move into the Kings' starting lineup at guard, with Wells moving to small forward. Martin probably will get the unpleasant task of guarding Parker, who burned the Kings for 25 points in three quarters.
Artest's defense made little difference while the Spurs scored 73 points in the first half of Game 1, making 68 percent of their shots and cruising to a 34-point lead. And perhaps his absence will inspire the passion that was missing in his teammates while San Antonio won Game 1 -- or perhaps the Kings are headed for an 0-2 deficit heading home.
"I think the Spurs are going to play the same no matter who's out there," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "When I looked at the tape, I thought it's possible they'll send a message and (upgrade) it to a flagrant foul, but I had no idea they would suspend him."
Ginobili "fell to the ground"? What game were they watching? Seriously, the league would have been better of citing the Duncan elbow if they were going to give out a single reason Artest was suspended.
The answer to the question people were wondering.Popovich said the Spurs didn't even contact the NBA about the play, something many teams -- including the Kings -- will do for any questionable play, particularly in the playoffs.
Martin probably will get the unpleasant task of guarding Parker, who burned the Kings for 25 points in three quarters.
If that's their game plan, R.I.P. Kings.
It's kind of a joke when none of the opposing players and the overwhelming majority of the opposing fans don't feel there should have been a suspension.
I thought the suspension was not warranted. Kings players and fans are alluding to Artest's past...well, if Artest didn't do things like that to create that past....this wouldn't be an issue.
their coach even thought is was a flagrant
No doubt, but I don't know that he could do any worse than Bibby. Mike was pretty bad, and the bigs certainly didn't have his back. Parker can run circles around either of them.
If that's their game plan, R.I.P. Kings.
Speaking of which, he's really matured as a player. He seems to know where to pick his spots.
As for the Artest suspension, it doesn't seem warranted to me, but I'll take it. I think the Kings have good reason to cry foul, but hopefully the Spurs will take advantage and won't ease up.
Pfft. I could've called that before the series even started. Or after Ron said they were going all the way. I bet that statement is on the blackboard in the Spurs locker room.
Well that's certainly one way to look at it. Another way would be Artest intentionally flew the forearm out there, but hey its semantics. Po-ta-to, po-tah-to. Damn Ginobili, not only do you flop on command but you purposely stick your face out to "catch" other people's forearms/elbows, whatever. What a menace to the NBA you are, you
I don't think it was so much punishing him for being Ron Artest as it was sending a message to everyone in the playoffs to knock that kind of off before it even starts.
Probably...only it's not up there for inspiration, but for a laugh.
I bet it's not. The Spurs rely on taking care of their own business, not worrying about what's being said. Bulletin board material is for people with no heart.
Thats one of the weirdest things I've read on here.
Game 6, 05 Finals, River Parade.
That is all.
True enough. I'd try running Hart and Bibby together for awhile, if anything.
If that's their game plan, R.I.P. Kings.
I really enjoy reading this kind of news. Because with this decision the nba is not only punishing a flagrant foul, they are punishing a guy who seems doesnt care to play basketball. So, if artest enjoys playing in this way, the nba must show him, because if he wants to box, this is not the best place to do that, THIS IS basketball.
This situation could be similar to when you have a child. When children do something wrong you show them this is something bad and they dont have to do this again. If they dont listen to you, you must punish them.
I'm lost. The Spurs loast game 6 of the '05 Finals. What's that have to do with bulletin board material?
I heard it was the Argentina President that called Stu Jackson.
BTW, Haslem got suspended for throwing the mouthpiece at the ref. Looks like the league isn't putting up with any bull this year.
ESPN reported that the NBA sent out a memo last week to all the playoff teams telling them bull will not be tolerated. Looks like they are holding everyone to that.
The Pistons used the "story" that the Spurs had already set the date and time for the Riverwalk parade as motivation for beating the Spurs in game 6. I still don't know if there ever were any such plans made public, or whether it was just a motivational gimmick.
Last edited by ShoogarBear; 04-24-2006 at 06:47 PM.
ShoogarBear got it.
I totally agree. Tony is going to murder Martin.
If that's their game plan, R.I.P. Kings.
I don't think that they will. It's smoke and mirrors. But I sure hope they do.
WORD. Kings fans can't cry about Artest's flagrant after the NBA did this. They already kick Haslem out of half of a game. Now he gets another full one.
So the Pistons did it? I never accused the Pistons of having any heart, but okay, I surrender. I therefore amend my original statement to now read: "Bulletin board material is for inferior teams."
Are we all happy now?
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