Suspensions handed down

[kaydigi]

Re: Suspensions handed down

Melo and Nate should have been gone for 25 games.

[sdrotar]

Re: Suspensions handed down

I think Collins probably should have gotten 10 games like Smith and Robinson, since he started the whole fracas with an unecessarily over-the-top foul.
I like the fact that Stern fined each club $500,000 - but to a hyper-wealthy club like the Knicks, I don't think it does much.

Thomas getting off scot-free shocks me. That's the only inexcusable omission in Stern's decision. I suppose Stern figured that after watching Zeke mangle two franchises and destroy the 50-year old CBA single-handedly, he didn't want Thomas' touch of death to get anywhere near him.

Suspending Thomas would have gone a long way towards preventing things like this in the future, too. If coaches know that they're responsible for their own actions, too - they'll crack down on their players.

In the end, this doesn't matter much. It's not like the Knicks were going to do anything but continue to throw money down the toilet, and the Nuggets were likely to barely squeak into the playoffs before getting bounced in the first round. Now, with their top two scorers out for nearly a month, the Nuggets won't make the playoffs at all and slip into the lottery instead.

Nothing really changes except the embarrassment of the franchises. This was an isolated incident, brought on by Thomas' and the Knicks' lack of professionalism, and made worse by Anthony's immaturity. It doesn't and shouldn't reflect on the NBA as a whole, which is held to higher standards than the other three major sports because of the fans' proximity to the players.

[Shaver]

Re: Suspensions handed down

This was an isolated incident, brought on by Thomas' and the Knicks' lack of professionalism, and made worse by Anthony's immaturity.

Don't George Karl and Nuggets deserve at least a little more finger pointing than this? I'm yet to see a good reason why Karl was still rolling with 4 starters in a 19 point game with 2 minutes to go. I didn't even see subs at the scorer's table, did I? Whatever his motivation was (and it certainly does not excuse what happened), it seemed to be a very intentional effort.

[SEGA_LOYAL_FAN]

Re: Suspensions handed down

30 days???

I doubt teams play 15 games in a month man...

lol. i meant 30 games. keeping him out of the Allstar game would of been another option for me...im probly taking it too far .

[sdrotar]

Re: Suspensions handed down

Don't George Karl and Nuggets deserve at least a little more finger pointing than this? I'm yet to see a good reason why Karl was still rolling with 4 starters in a 19 point game with 2 minutes to go. I didn't even see subs at the scorer's table, did I? Whatever his motivation was (and it certainly does not excuse what happened), it seemed to be a very intentional effort.

I'm not sure I agree with the assertion, if I'm understand it. Surely, you're not suggesting that a team should start a fight because they're being beaten badly? That happens all the time in sports... and the loser always feels "slighted" somehow.

There were, in fact, three Nuggets sitting in front of the scorer's table who were ready to come in at the next whistle. Unfortunately, on that possession, the Knicks turned over the ball to J.R. Smith, who went the other way before Collins brought him down with the foul that started the brawl.

Nene and Joe Smith are active, but hurt, and they're playing as little as possible. Denver's effectively playing with ten at the moment (or were on Saturday). Karl should have pulled Anthony earlier to be sure, but Smith is a 21-year old incomplete player who needs court time, Camby made it clear that he wanted to soak up the MSG atmosphere again, and Najera isn't really a starter, per se, even though he's been pressed into it.
This excuses nothing, especially the actions of Anthony, who has to grow up and realize that no matter what happens - you cannot throw a punch, period.
Wanna get back at them? Drop 50 on them next time you play.

However, as many New York writers posited, the perceived "diss" excuse by Thomas and Robinson (who tried dunking to himself off the backboard in a game recently and vowed to only try it next time when the Knicks were up 20) is laughable. Keep in mind that Collins had another late-game hard foul the very night before against Indiana, as well, when the Knicks were being blown out there.

This is the New York Knicks - the glamour franchise of the NBA.
Instead of whining about how badly you're getting beaten, sack up and play better - then none of this will be a problem. For Thomas to suggest that he has a bunch of choirboys that play respectfully is ludicrous given their clear and factual history. That falls on Thomas, who was a notoriously dirty player, and has brought that style to the bench.
That's fine - it's worked for him in his career, but he can't expect to act like he has and never be held responsible for it... wait... I guess he can.

[roadman]

Re: Suspensions handed down

Don't George Karl and Nuggets deserve at least a little more finger pointing than this? I'm yet to see a good reason why Karl was still rolling with 4 starters in a 19 point game with 2 minutes to go. I didn't even see subs at the scorer's table, did I? Whatever his motivation was (and it certainly does not excuse what happened), it seemed to be a very intentional effort.

I've read somewhere that Karl has it in for Isiah. Karl is good friends with Larry Brown and Karl wasn't too happy with the way Isiah treated Brown.

[Shaver]

Re: Suspensions handed down

There were, in fact, three Nuggets sitting in front of the scorer's table who were ready to come in at the next whistle. Unfortunately, on that possession, the Knicks turned over the ball to J.R. Smith, who went the other way before Collins brought him down with the foul that started the brawl.

Fair enough

[stephenyoungchoi]

Re: Suspensions handed down

There were, in fact, three Nuggets sitting in front of the scorer's table who were ready to come in at the next whistle. Unfortunately, on that possession, the Knicks turned over the ball to J.R. Smith, who went the other way before Collins brought him down with the foul that started the brawl.

that's true. I also do not see rule that states that the starters cannot be on the floor during a blowout. it was inexcusable for thomas to use that as a reason.... learn to play better as a club so you won't be blown out like that at home......

[Jistic]

Re: Suspensions handed down

I would have liked to have seen Isiah Thomas get some sort of fine or suspension for sending in Collins to commit a hard foul, for threatening Carmelo, or for his post game laughter and comments. The guy has gone on to prove that he has no class.

Isiah has proven himself to be a piece of garbage years ago. None of this is any different for him.

[grunt]

Re: Suspensions handed down

David Stern is a joke and so are the suspensions. I remember not too long ago if you threw a punch you were suspended for a game and now a 15 game suspensions to one of your best players. I knew the fight at the garden was going to blown out of context.

[ehh]

Re: Suspensions handed down

I hated Zeke as a player, then he ruined my favorite franchise from the font office and now he's brought his low-class tactics to the sidelines to directly kill any class or hope this franchise had left.

It's going to stay very dark in MSG for at least another five years. Nothing would put the icing on the cake like the Knicks winning the lottery and having to trade the rights to Greg Oden off to Chicago.

[sroz39]

Re: Suspensions handed down

I've read somewhere that Karl has it in for Isiah. Karl is good friends with Larry Brown and Karl wasn't too happy with the way Isiah treated Brown.

In the latest SI, they chronicle some of Thomas' boneheaded/inappropriate actions and one of them was this past summer when he cornered Karl and berated him for comments Karl made about the way Larry Brown was treated.

[EZ Snappin]

Re: Suspensions handed down

David Stern is a joke and so are the suspensions. I remember not too long ago if you threw a punch you were suspended for a game and now a 15 game suspensions to one of your best players. I knew the fight at the garden was going to blown out of context.

Stern has made it very clear over the past 5 years or so that he was cleaning up the roughhousing. These players know that so deserve what they get. It isn't 1984, or 1995. The league is different, and Stern and the owners have made it clear that this is what they want.

You can say you liked the game better at some other time (I do all the time), but the only context this fight takes place in is post-Detroit brawl; the league is much closer to zero tolerance since then and has let everyone and their brother know it. Take a swing and sit for a good, long time.

[ehh]

Re: Suspensions handed down

LOL @ Karl calling Zeke "a jackass" on Dan Patrick's show.

[slimm44]

Re: Suspensions handed down

We all need to chip in and buy Jared Jeffries some cheeseburgers. He's incredibly skinny.