Stu Jack-ass-on Spouts off...

[az1965]

NBA suspends Stoudemire, Diaw for leaving bench

ESPN.com news services

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Horry

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Diaw

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Stoudemire
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PHOENIX -- Phoenix All-Star center Amare Stoudemire and teammate Boris Diaw were suspended Tuesday for one game for leaving the bench after Robert Horry's flagrant foul of [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3103"]Steve Nash[/URL] in Game 4 of the Suns' Western Conference semifinal against San Antonio.
The NBA also announced Horry was suspended two games for his actions with 18 seconds remaining in the Suns' 104-98 victory at San Antonio on Monday night. Phoenix's victory evened the series at two games apiece.
All three players will miss Wednesday night's Game 5 in Phoenix of what has been a rough, intense showdown between two of the best teams in the NBA. Horry also will miss Friday night's Game 6 in San Antonio.
Horry was suspended for flagrantly fouling Nash and striking [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3467"]Raja Bell[/URL] about the shoulders with a forearm, NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson said in a statement. Stoudemire and Diaw were suspended for leaving "the immediate vicinity of their bench" during the altercation.
The penalties are a severe blow to a Phoenix team that had rallied in the final minutes to beat the Spurs in San Antonio.
"This is a very unfortunate circumstance," Jackson said during a conference call. "No one here at the league office wants to suspend players any game, much less a pivotal game in the second round of a playoff series. But the rule, however, is the rule, and we intend to apply it consistently."
Stoudemire, a first-team all-NBA selection, is averaging team highs of 23.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in the series. His loss removes the Suns' imposing inside presence. Phoenix's problems are compounded by the absence of Diaw, who started when Stoudemire missed all but three games last season because of surgeries on both knees.
Horry, meanwhile, is a role player best known for his clutch 3-pointers. He has scored 4.8 points per game.
Asked if he thought it was a fair decision, Jackson said, "It's not a matter of fairness, it's a matter of correctness, and this is the right decision at this point in time."
Jackson said it was clear that Stoudemire and Diaw had violated the rule, saying they were "20 to 25 feet" from their seats.
"Both players stood and made their way towards the altercation which occurred on the court," Jackson said. "They did not remain in the bench area."
The Suns' coaches quickly pushed the two players back to the bench, but the damage had been done, even though neither player reached the confrontation.
Bulls coach Scott Skiles weighted in on the suspensions.
"A rule is a rule, and in the past handful of years since they put that in, there have been I think less than five, maybe less than three, but there have been a couple occasions where someone just put one foot on the floor and got suspended. So if you're going to have a hard and fast rule like that, I think you've got to abide by it, and you can't make any exceptions," Skiles said.

 

[ndjmc]

Skiles? Thanks Baldylocks

 

[Mike Olbinski]

It's just so lame when Baron Davis can do what he did to Fisher, which gets him nothing, but two guys who just walked down the sidelines get suspended.

The rule is a friggin' joke.

 

[jbeecham]

Let this play happen to the Bulls and then get Skiles opinion.

 

[goldseraph]

This really pi$$es me off , I am furious that the Spurs can take all these cheaps shots, even after the game is basically over, and get a huge edge in the series because some washed up underacheiver Horry plays the goon. I am like in rage right now, and I hope the Suns are too and take it out on this pathetic Spur team.

 

[Sundance]

But the rule, however, is the rule, and we intend to apply it consistently

How about applying consistency to rest of rules, you turd! The ones that kind of come and go after the regular season ends.

 

[BuddyFranklin]

Asked if he thought it was a fair decision, Jackson said, "It's not a matter of fairness, it's a matter of correctness, and this is the right decision at this point in time."

At this point in time???

Does this leave the door a little bit open for an appeal? Is this possible? Surely, as seen, the altercation hadn't started, so technically there maybe an out clause. I know this is unlikely but i hope there is a big time appeal in the works.

Go Suns!

 

[Mainstreet]

NBA suspends Stoudemire, Diaw for leaving bench

ESPN.com news services


PHOENIX -- Phoenix All-Star center

Bulls coach Scott Skiles weighted in on the suspensions.
"A rule is a rule, and in the past handful of years since they put that in, there have been I think less than five, maybe less than three, but there have been a couple occasions where someone just put one foot on the floor and got suspended. So if you're going to have a hard and fast rule like that, I think you've got to abide by it, and you can't make any exceptions," Skiles said.

Just great, a quote from Scott Skiles who could not cut it as a Phoenix coach.

I wonder if he seen Duncan and Bowen frolic onto the court in game 4 when Elson fell and they thought there was going to be a fight. Yeah, right, just one foot on the court.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Apply it consistently? How about SUSPEND DUNCAN!

 

[Chaplin]

Gee, I didn't think Boris was 20-25 feet away from his chair on the bench... gimme a break.

 

[D-Dogg]

At this point in time???

Does this leave the door a little bit open for an appeal? Is this possible? Surely, as seen, the altercation hadn't started, so technically there maybe an out clause. I know this is unlikely but i hope there is a big time appeal in the works.

Go Suns!

It means, to me, that they will fix the rule in the offseason.

 

[D-Dogg]

Gee, I didn't think Boris was 20-25 feet away from his chair on the bench... gimme a break.

He wasn't. Amare yes, Boris no.

 

[devilalum]

Skiles? Thanks Baldylocks

Skiles hates the Suns, I'm sure he's loving this.

 

[BC867]

A Proclamation from King David

Hear ye, hear ye. An official proclamation.

By order of King David (Stern, that is), although small-ball is entertaining and revenue-producing during the regular season . . .

The tradition of muscle and thugery will continue to prevail during the post-season.

Kicks in the groin, sticking out of one’s foot, body-slamming a Point Guard into the wall on an intentional foul, etc., will be granted the status of You Shall Advance.

And sixty-and-fade will remain the fate of the kingdom of Phoenix. They will never be granted the final status of Thou art the best of the best, just as they have never been.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The league's decision was going make a statement either way. If for the Spurs, it's business as usual in the playoffs. if for the Suns, it's that entertaining basketball is welcome in the post-season, as it was during the regular season.

With Horry a bench player, they could have suspended Diaw, also a bench player . . . and not Amare, ruling that he was off the bench, getting ready to check into the game.

Didja know that Stern sent an e-mail to KTAR, saying that he would be at Game 5 in Phoenix, and would like to be on the air with Burnsy, who responded that he would be welcomed?

Then Stern sent another e-mail saying that he changed his mind and would be at the Cleveland game instead.

That was prior to 3:00 PM, and made it obvious that he was changing his decision, and wanted to be nowhere near Phoenix. What a dork!

Won't it be great when the Suns win Game 5 without Amare, probably lose in San Antonio, then return home to win Game 7 in Phoenix with Amare, and advance.

Here's hoping that KT, the Matrix and Burke can play quality minutes, manning the 4 and 5. Here's hoping that Mike D'Antoni gives them the chance, rather than putting 5 Guards and Small Forwards on the floor.