The most interesting part of the Raja clothesline

[jibikao]

Apparently Kobe likes it rough:



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-060503

Well, Kobe isn't going to get excited on game 6. Bell won't be playing.

 

[myrondizzo]

way to take a stand nash.

 

[myrondizzo]

Well, Kobe isn't going to get excited on game 6. Bell won't be playing.

they said that it could be a suspension.

 

[jibikao]

Bell's toll could be suspension
By Marc Stein, ESPN.com

Even when they lose now, they win.

In this series?

Even when they're forced to absorb a Kwame Brown bombshell before the Game 5 tip.

Even when they've given in to the complacency that comes with a 3-1 fairy-tale lead over the No. 2 seed.

Even when they've played the final 3:11 without an ejected Kobe Bryant.

The Los Angeles Lakers found themselves dealing with all of that Tuesday night and departed U.S. Airways Center having incurred a 114-97 pounding from the Phoenix Suns to force a Game 6 back in L.A. on Thursday.

Not that the Suns could celebrate too wildly.

Their offense finally looked Sun-like, and Boris Diaw racked up a near triple-double (25 points, 10 boards and nine assists) after collecting his Most Improved Player trophy, but they departed the scene with plenty to sweat themselves. Reason being: It's hard to imagine Phoenix will be dressing Raja Bell, its second-best player throughout this series, for the game they need to win to keep the season going.

The normally steady Bell took an uncharacteristically foolish risk by clotheslining Bryant with his left arm with 7:33 to play and the Suns up 14. The hit came in response to an elbow to Bell's jaw from Bryant minutes earlier, and Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said taunting from the Lakers' bench was another trigger, but there was little doubt which hit looked more forceful and premeditated.

So...

Compared to infractions earlier in the playoffs that resulted in one-game suspensions for Sacramento's Ron Artest and Miami's James Posey, Bell will be fortunate if he isn't hit with more than a one-game ban.

It would seem only two forces can save him from missing Game 6.

No. 1: The utter unpredictability from a league office that suspended Artest and Posey but didn't assess Denver's Reggie Evans more than a fine for grabbing the privates of Clippers center Chris Kaman.

No. 2: A most atypical reaction to the foul from Bryant and Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

Kobe and Phil, in fact, stunned observers here by making a co-plea to commissioner Stern to spare Bell from suspension.

"We want him out there," Jackson said. "We want their full team out there to play. It's the only way to do it. You have to earn what you win."

It came across as a noble stance, especially given Jackson's well-chronicled status as a pioneer in the art of calculated quotes at the post-game dais to work the refs for the next game. If you're looking for the ulterior side of it, maybe Jackson wants to make sure the home crowd has a target. Maybe he just wants to make sure Kobe's at his edgiest. Bryant, after all, also says he's rooting against a suspension, insisting that Tuesday's escalation in his season-long tiff with Bell "actually excites me."

You can understand, though, why the Suns are nervous. They remain convinced that they've been dealt several scroogies in this series, most notably the midcourt tie-up in overtime of Game 4 from which replays suggest that (A) Steve Nash was fouled before a jump ball was forced; (B) Boris Diaw should have been granted the timeout he was screaming for just a few feet away from Nash and referee Bennett Salvatore; and (C) Luke Walton's foot was out of bounds when he tied Nash up. But they also know how vicious Bell's hit looks when you watch that replay.

Which is why Bell, in another unusual response to such situations, showed up unannounced to the interview room here to take a turn on the dais, too.

To apologize.

"It was a bad play on my part," Bell said. "I overreacted. ... It's been a pretty physical series, and at that point in time I had caught another elbow in my jaw. I lost my head and overreacted to it. I can't really blame anybody for what happened."

Said Nash: "Everyone on television [Charles Barkley, namely] asks for more physicality and all the critics say we aren't tough enough, and then push comes to shove and now you want to say [Bell's hit] is disrespectful to the game. ... It's a very fine line, and I think a lot of guys make plays they regret.

"In this series, we haven't had many calls go our way," Nash continued. "...Kwame Brown elbowing Raja or standing over Boris or Kobe pushing Boris into Smush Parker ... I don't understand what the real difference is in all these plays. But they're going to single out this play because it's against Kobe, and that's just a real shame."

If so, Phoenix will deeply regret not putting the Lakers away after pushing the lead all the way up to 84-62 late in the third. The Suns then eased up (or inexplicably tightened up again) at the start of the fourth and saw their cushion promptly sliced to 86-73. That forced them to keep Nash in the game for most of the final quarter, when he really could have used some extra rest, and it kept Bell and Bryant going at it.

If the margin between the teams stays in the 20s, maybe their jostling is postponed until Thursday ... instead of reigniting.

If the league rules how Nash fears, Phoenix will have lost big on the night it finally won big.

At least it's good to hear Nash voiced his opinions.

 

[jibikao]

they said that it could be a suspension.

Oh, I thought it's already confirmed?

 

[myrondizzo]

by who? ive been watching but i havent found anything.

 

[myrondizzo]

kobe and phil are begging for a non suspension so that might say something to the league.

 

[Chaplin]

kobe and phil are begging for a non suspension so that might say something to the league.

You know, I've heard this a few times--do you have a link to something where they say that? Doesn't seem like it's begging above...

 

[jbeecham]

Lakers coach Phil Jackson indicated he didn’t think the incident, which he labeled a “bulldog” maneuver, rose to the level of a punch.

“That’s the way it’s going to be in this series,” Jackson said, referring to the physical play in the series.

Jackson said he doubted Bell would be suspended and that, “We want him out there. We want their whole team.

“It’s the only way to earn what you win.”

Bryant agreed, saying, “I hope not. When you’re a competitor . . . you want to compete against their top players.”

http://www.nba.com/suns/playoffs/tribune_bell_060503.html

 

[jibikao]

Hey, at this point, I am rooting for Bell sitting out! The more they want it, the more we don't want to give to them. Kobe loves the challenge and we should just throw Barbosa on him so he can get his game going.

 

[Chaplin]

Lakers coach Phil Jackson indicated he didn’t think the incident, which he labeled a “bulldog” maneuver, rose to the level of a punch.

“That’s the way it’s going to be in this series,” Jackson said, referring to the physical play in the series.

Jackson said he doubted Bell would be suspended and that, “We want him out there. We want their whole team.

“It’s the only way to earn what you win.”

Bryant agreed, saying, “I hope not. When you’re a competitor . . . you want to compete against their top players.”

http://www.nba.com/suns/playoffs/tribune_bell_060503.html

Interesting. Wonder if the league will listen. Probably not.

 

[jibikao]

Bell's toll could be suspension
By Marc Stein, ESPN.com

Kobe and Phil, in fact, stunned observers here by making a co-plea to commissioner Stern to spare Bell from suspension.

"We want him out there," Jackson said. "We want their full team out there to play. It's the only way to do it. You have to earn what you win."

Our full team is with Amare and Kurt Thomas, or at least with Kurt Thomas. Laker isn't playing against the full team to begin with, so why asking for it now? The more I think about it, the more I want Bell to sit out. Why giving them a chance to "compete" against us? What's better than Bell sitting out and Tim Thomas not playing (due to knee injury)??

What Bell did is suspension worthy. I don't want the league to "pity" us. Suspend Bell PLEASE.

 

[Djaughe]

... What's better than Bell sitting out and Tim Thomas not playing (due to knee injury)??....

A Sun's win.

 

[jbeecham]

More info:
http://www.nba.com/suns/playoffs/tribune_060503.html

Both Bryant and Lakers coach Phil Jackson said they hoped Bell would not be suspended and looked forward to playing the best team the Suns can put on the floor Thursday.

“They just got tangled up and Raja just gave him a bulldog — what you see in bulldogging where I come from,” Jackson said. “I don’t think it’s anything beyond flagrant, like there was a punch being thrown. We want him out there. We want their full team out there to play.”

 

[jibikao]

More info:
http://www.nba.com/suns/playoffs/tribune_060503.html

Both Bryant and Lakers coach Phil Jackson said they hoped Bell would not be suspended and looked forward to playing the best team the Suns can put on the floor Thursday.

“They just got tangled up and Raja just gave him a bulldog — what you see in bulldogging where I come from,” Jackson said. “I don’t think it’s anything beyond flagrant, like there was a punch being thrown. We want him out there. We want their full team out there to play.”

You gotta admire Laker's influence in this league. We haven't heard anything about Bell's suspension so far and it's already half day over. IF Bell is not suspended because Laker is "begging" the league not to suspend him, then NBA is DEFINITELY FIXED.

If Stern is TRULY caring about the integrity of this league, he MUST suspend Bell. Anything less will be a true disgrace and NBA will suffer from it. We'll see how this plays out between Laker VS Stern.

 

[Chaplin]

You gotta admire Laker's influence in this league. We haven't heard anything about Bell's suspension so far and it's already half day over. IF Bell is not suspended because Laker is "begging" the league not to suspend him, then NBA is DEFINITELY FIXED.

If Stern is TRULY caring about the integrity of this league, he MUST suspend Bell. Anything less will be a true disgrace and NBA will suffer from it. We'll see how this plays out between Laker VS Stern.

Settle down. The league will go on the same with or without the suspension. There were several people on this board that said they wouldn't bother watching game 5, and with the exception of maybe you and Eric, I bet they all did.

Whether Bell gets suspended or not, it will be talked about for a week and then forgotten. That's the nature of the league.

 

[nothin' but net]

Apparently Kobe likes it rough:



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-060503

Unfortunately, Kobe isn't the first person we have heard this from. I just wasn't sure it was on the basketball court as well. Is it safe to assume that he finds come from behind wins better as well?

 

[jibikao]

Settle down. The league will go on the same with or without the suspension. There were several people on this board that said they wouldn't bother watching game 5, and with the exception of maybe you and Eric, I bet they all did.

Whether Bell gets suspended or not, it will be talked about for a week and then forgotten. That's the nature of the league.

Yes but I don't want the game to be played in Laker-way. Just because Phil and Kobe don't want Bell to get suspended, it doesn't mean the league has to listen to them. All I am saying is Stern just released an article saying that his goal is to get 100% right calls and to resume the integrity of the game, he can't let Bell go this time. It will only hurt Stern's integrity and to further prove that the games are fixed. You don't just let it go because some coaches/players beg for it. That will only mean how influencial Laker is in this league and it's sickening me.

 

[goldseraph]

Apparently Kobe likes it rough:



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-060503

We knew Kobe likes it rough, hence the term 'The Kobe' for grabbing a girl by the back of the neck when youre 'consenting' together.

 

[DeAnna]

We knew Kobe likes it rough, hence the term 'The Kobe' for grabbing a girl by the back of the neck when youre 'consenting' together.

Yeah, and it excites him, too.

I can't stand Kobe Bryant.

 

[SECTION 11]

... is watching the crowd reaction. You have old ladies put their hands to their mouths in shock. You have some nimrods cheering, then you have these two absolute idiots in black behind the Suns bench hi-five each other like they are at a boxing match. They loved it. Sick.

You can hate Kobe all you want, but if a Laker clotheslined Nash like that, I'd say suspend him immediately, and sure wouldn't be high-fiving a roided out buddy like it was a very neat play.

Freaking idiots.

HD is great.

Bell should have just cracked Kobe in the face. I would have cheered.

 

[DKCards]

I think the most interesting part of it was that nobody really came to Kobe's defense. Odom walked toward Bell but that was well after it happened. If something like that would have happened to MJ do you think the Bulls would all just stand around and not do anything at all?

 

[F-Dog]

I think the most interesting part of it was that nobody really came to Kobe's defense. Odom walked toward Bell but that was well after it happened. If something like that would have happened to MJ do you think the Bulls would all just stand around and not do anything at all?

It wouldn't surprise me if they did.

 

[Chaplin]

I think the most interesting part of it was that nobody really came to Kobe's defense. Odom walked toward Bell but that was well after it happened. If something like that would have happened to MJ do you think the Bulls would all just stand around and not do anything at all?

Odom walked toward Bell and was jawing at him--Smush Parker had to hold him back.

 

[devilalum]

I loved it too!