I finished putting this post together before I heard the official news of Amare and Diaw getting a one game suspension. I'll still post it, since it is picture proof that the League's ruling is complete horse.
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After reading through many of these threads, I decided to go into the videos and grab the vital moments during this incident, in order to prove that Amare should NOT be suspended, according to the league rule.
The League Rule, Law: During an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be suspended, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $35,000. The suspensions will commence prior to the start of their next game.
The keyword of this whole argument is
during.
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This is before Nash is shoved to the ground. Amare is clearly on the sidelines.
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This is just as Nash is shoved to the ground by Horry. Again, Amare is still on the sidelines.
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This is the first moment Amare sets foot on the court. No altercation has taken place, yet, as is evident since the jersey of Bell (who was part of the later altercation) can be seen between Duncan's left arm and left hip.
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This is Amare still in the same vicinity, on the court, and Bell starting to head towards Horry.
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Lastly, here is Amare approaching Nash, during the Bell-Horry altercation. His feet are clearly pointed towards Nash, who is on the floor in front of him.
According to the NBA law, Amare would be suspended if he first stepped foot onto the court AFTER Bell had initiated the altercation. But that wasn't the case here. Amare was on the court BEFORE Bell even began approaching Horry. Amare was on the court initially because wanted to see if Nash was all right, still laying on the floor.
Amare was not involved in the altercation, nor was he aware of the altercation when he first stepped foot on the court. The altercation was not the flagrant foul by Horry to Nash, it was the Bell-Horry situation. One more time to hit home: Amare was first on the floor during the Nash-Horry to check on Nash. He was not first on the floor during the Bell-Horry.
There ya go. Cut and dry. Amare should not suspended [even though he was].
Last video screenshot taken from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp4UF4Av_g0
First four video screenshots taken from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0qe7PGCQvI
