Colangelo placed a phone call on Bell

[Matt L]

We do have to admit that it was a tuff foul at a point in the game that did not warrant such a play. In fact, there are very few times in a game that any player should really be clotheslined. I do think that Bell will get suspended for one game if for no other reason than that the player he took down was Kobe, Bell clotheslines Walton, it is probably a flagrant maybe ejection, doubtful on the suspension.

To say that Bell wasn't elbowed earlier in the game or even all series is just putting the blinders on.

Bottom line is that it was a really dumb move and now he probably won't be able to play in the next game and help this team win.

I thought that it was really stupid that Barkley made the comment that this is going to get the Lakers really pumped up for game six on Thursday. What kind of team needs anything to get excited for any game that decides the winner of a playoff series?

 

[zett]

First off I don't agree with what raja did! mainly because it hurts the suns, but also it is only going to make things worse down the road if these two keep up there fued. That being said, I do think it was a bit of acting on kobe's part, the main foul was around his shoulders to stop him and then ended up sliding to the neck area, where raja put on a little bit of extra seasoning. Maybe a little bit worse then waltons foul but both were in the same category. so If one doesn't get suspended I don't think the other one should, but if he does it won't be anyones fault but raja's!

 

[BillsCarnage]

Raja deserves a suspension, but given the context of the series, I don't know if it would be right.

Exactly. Any other game and i'd agree, but given the status of this series and how its played out, suspending Bell would really detract from it.

TNT wants drama, then they should be against Bells being suspended; they know what's at stake.

Can you imagine how raucus the crouwd will be in LA if Bell is allowed to play? It'll be a mad house.

 

[nowagimp]

So, you are saying that if Kobe had done the exact same thing to Raja, you wouldn't be calling for his head?

Seriously?

Come on dude...take off the myopia shades and get with the real world. That crap is uncalled for.

Raja's going to taste his own medicine, and it tastes like Phoenix weather on a Thursday night...and maybe more.

I do think that what Raja did merits a suspension, but I also thought that about Waltons foul. The Raja foul on Kobe was not as dangerous physically, though it was still unacceptable. Waltons foul on an airborne player trying to finish could lead to a serious head injury and Tim Thomas' head did hit the floor on that play. Kobe at least could have reacted to Raja'a foul, as it was more slowly developing and occurred over 2-3 steps on a hesitation drive. Could Kobe have been injured, yes, but remember it was not an explosive play, it was a hesitation dribble penetration.

My perception was that Kobe felt the contact on his arm, knew he was being fouled and wanted the basket plus a foul, so he powered through the contact at which point Rajas arm slipped up around kobe's neck. Raja made the bad decision to stop the three point play. As far as elbows are concerned, they are very under rated as a weapon, they are more powerful than a fist in the martial arts. Kobe uses his elbows alot. He has probably hit Raja 5-6 times in the head with elbows this year. I dont think its unintentional, its a way of getting defenders off and is used too much in the league. The NBA office does not understand how wicked an elbow can be.

All that said, I think that the NBA is having trouble controlling violent outbursts in the playoffs, and not suspending Raja would just fan the flames. You cant not suspend Raja since Walton wasnt suspended and Evans wasnt suspended. A wrong isnt righted with another wrong. This is also true for regular fouls. The NBA is a joke, the refs gave the Heat 41 free throws last night after only 5 in the previous game.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't know if it matters, but Raja did walk away immediately towards the scorer's table--my guess is that he knew he was out, if only for getting his second technical.

And then Lamar Odom came over and started jawing at him, and Smush had to hold him back with Nash in-between the two. Raja ignored him.

 

[nowagimp]

The only thing I wonder is what is the difference between Raja's foul and the exact same foul that Walton did in Game 2(I think it was game 2)?

It was a flying intentional throw down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4FJWp_9tWA&search=Luke%20Walton%20Foul

Youre right, the risk of injury(head injury) is higher with the walton foul. Both fouls merit flagrant 2 and suspensions.

 

[abomb]

I don't know if it matters, but Raja did walk away immediately towards the scorer's table--my guess is that he knew he was out, if only for getting his second technical.

And then Lamar Odom came over and started jawing at him, and Smush had to hold him back with Nash in-between the two. Raja ignored him.

Interesting. There were also so reports of Raja and the Lakers bench jawing. I cant find anything on it. Did you hear that too?

A-Bomb

 

[Chaplin]

Interesting. There were also so reports of Raja and the Lakers bench jawing. I cant find anything on it. Did you hear that too?

A-Bomb

No, but I would bet money that had been happening all series.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I don't know if it matters, but Raja did walk away immediately towards the scorer's table--my guess is that he knew he was out, if only for getting his second technical.

And then Lamar Odom came over and started jawing at him, and Smush had to hold him back with Nash in-between the two. Raja ignored him.

This is blatantly untrue. I was at the game and after the takedown Raja went over towards the Lakers bench and started taunting them saying things along the lines of "you want some of this ----, too?" There was no need for him to even walk over there, it was juvenile and stupid and most likely ensured him getting a suspension as it disproves his brain fart excuse.

 

[Kobeisrealmvp]

Bell is simply a dumb player................did you see Kobe smiling, he knew that he just got Bell kicked out of Game 6............Lakers will win by 20+ and the MVP, MVP chants will reign down on Kobe, the best player in the NBA

 

[Chaplin]

This is blatantly untrue. I was at the game and after the takedown Raja went over towards the Lakers bench and started taunting them saying things along the lines of "you want some of this ----, too?" There was no need for him to even walk over there, it was juvenile and stupid and most likely ensured him getting a suspension as it disproves his brain fart excuse.

How close to the action were you? Maybe he walked over to the scorer's table and was taunted by the Laker bench, and what you saw was him responding to that... I only went by what I saw on the broadcast...

 

[Chaplin]

Bell is simply a dumb player................did you see Kobe smiling, he knew that he just got Bell kicked out of Game 6............Lakers will win by 20+ and the MVP, MVP chants will reign down on Kobe, the best player in the NBA

Will someone please get rid of this guy? His screen name alone is trolling.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

How close to the action were you? Maybe he walked over to the scorer's table and was taunted by the Laker bench, and what you saw was him responding to that... I only went by what I saw on the broadcast...

The Lakers were yelling like you'd expect them to after that fiasco but they never left the bench. Raja went towards them and but stopped at halfcourt and continued to taunt the bench most likely hoping someone would leave and get suspended.

 

[Chaplin]

The Lakers were yelling like you'd expect them to after that fiasco but they never left the bench. Raja went towards them and but stopped at halfcourt and continued to taunt the bench most likely hoping someone would leave and get suspended.

You're implying that Raja walked over there just to taunt the Laker bench? I know we're all in conspiracy mode and extremely negative, but come on now.

The whole point was that he immediately walked away. If you're implying that he walked away with the purpose of confronting the Laker bench, well, I don't know what to say except that I don't believe that.

 

[boisesuns]

Bell is simply a dumb player................did you see Kobe smiling, he knew that he just got Bell kicked out of Game 6............Lakers will win by 20+ and the MVP, MVP chants will reign down on Kobe, the best player in the NBA

Nice...Troll.

 

[Bada0Bing]

He definitely went over there to say something. I saw him walk halfway to the bench and point his finger at someone a few times and he was yelling something. I couldn’t tell whom he was yelling at though. I guess they didn’t show this on TV.

 

[sly fly]

The Lakers were yelling like you'd expect them to after that fiasco but they never left the bench. Raja went towards them and but stopped at halfcourt and continued to taunt the bench most likely hoping someone would leave and get suspended.

This just keeps getting better and better. Before you know it, Raja Bell is gong to be arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Attempted Murder.

- The more I think about it, the less problem I have with it.

- Screw Kobe. Just talk to Mike Miller.

- Kobe didn't get hurt. Unless laughing is an unusual way of showing pain.

- PHX just shedded the soft label courtesy of Bell and James Jones.

- BTW, a game was played last night. Last time I checked, PHX was raining 3's once again... and Kobe was back to being Kobe.

- The Lakers better sure as hell finish it tomorrow night.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

You're implying that Raja walked over there just to taunt the Laker bench? I know we're all in conspiracy mode and extremely negative, but come on now.

The whole point was that he immediately walked away. If you're implying that he walked away with the purpose of confronting the Laker bench, well, I don't know what to say except that I don't believe that.

Okay. Since you were at the game and all...

Raja walked away from Kobe right towards the Laker bench and called them all out. It just just the icing on the cake when it comes the stupidity of Raja Bell last night. I want to win as much as the next guy, but having to resort to thuggery, taunting, and flopping to get there is flat-out pathetic.

 

[F-Dog]

I remember JC placing a phone call to the league office after the Fortson play.

Worked like a charm back then.

 

[Bada0Bing]

Okay. Since you were at the game and all...

Raja walked away from Kobe right towards the Laker bench and called them all out. It just just the icing on the cake when it comes the stupidity of Raja Bell last night. I want to win as much as the next guy, but having to resort to thuggery, taunting, and flopping to get there is flat-out pathetic.

That’s not correct. He slowly walked around the court first. It was probably about 15 seconds before he walked toward the Laker’s bench. He was standing near the Suns’ bench and then suddenly walked down the sideline and started shouting. For all we know, someone from the Laker’s bench could have yelled something at him to taunt him.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

That’s not correct. He slowly walked around the court first. It was probably about 15 seconds before he walked toward the Laker’s bench. He was standing near the Suns’ bench and then suddenly walked down the sideline and started shouting. For all we know, someone from the Laker’s bench could have yelled something at him to taunt him.

Perhaps you were right, the whole situation seemed surreal so I can't say whether or not it was the 15 seconds but to me it was right after the incident. I just remember thinking "what the hell are you doing now?" when he started walking towards the Laker bench cussing up a storm and calling them out. It very much reminded me of when Pedro Martinez kept beaning Yankees a few years back and after every beanball stared at the Yankee dugout as if to warn them.

 

[Bada0Bing]

I really want to know what was being said over there.

 

[Chaplin]

Perhaps you were right, the whole situation seemed surreal so I can't say whether or not it was the 15 seconds but to me it was right after the incident. I just remember thinking "what the hell are you doing now?" when he started walking towards the Laker bench cussing up a storm and calling them out. It very much reminded me of when Pedro Martinez kept beaning Yankees a few years back and after every beanball stared at the Yankee dugout as if to warn them.

What the...? Are you kidding me? You call me out and then say that perhaps you might be mistaken and that the situation was surreal?

I find it even harder to believe that you automatically assume that Raja yelled at the Laker bench with no provocation.

 

[asudevil83]

if this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKAj0HQnsuA&search=kwame

and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4FJWp_9tWA&search=Luke Walton Foul

dont warrent 1 game suspensions and Raja's does, then the league has a clear bias towards the Lakers over the Suns.

the refs have let this series get physical and there have been no punishments for recent actions. the suns should not be the only ones punished because the refs and league NOW decide to take control. if Raja gets suspended, the league should then bring suspensions upon Kwame and Luke (or at least Kwame) for game 6.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

What the...? Are you kidding me? You call me out and then say that perhaps you might be mistaken and that the situation was surreal?

I find it even harder to believe that you automatically assume that Raja yelled at the Laker bench with no provocation.

Unlike you, I'm actually willing to give someone else some benfit of the doubt without assuming they're wrong. If you actually read something before flying off the handle you'd see where I stated that in my mind Raja went over right after the incident. I only noticed Raja walking towards the Laker bench, no Laker came towards Raja nor did their voices stand out among the situation like Bell's did.

Give me a freaking break, you're the one assuming you know the facts and are in a position to question people who were actually there's judgment after watching it from your living room couch.