Big Al Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 Unbelievable indeed!!!! I'm not ready to call this the work (i.e. fix) of Stern, but I'm getting damn close. I mean, come on man: aren't the Mavs shooting themselves in the foot enough by themselves? I think Sangrey's right, though: just like it did for the game without Terry, this oughta unify these guys in a way previously unseen. At least, I hope so. Quote
Big Al Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 From espn.com Stackhouse suspended one game for flagrant foul MIAMI -- Shaquille O'Neal mocked his collision with Jerry Stackhouse as being less vicious than a love tap from his daughters. The NBA declared it worthy of a one-game suspension. The Dallas Mavericks are calling it a joke. Following the league's announcement Friday that Stackhouse must miss Game 5 of the finals for his hard foul on O'Neal in the third quarter of Game 4, the team's top three officials all lambasted the punishment. "It makes no sense at all," owner Mark Cuban wrote in an e-mail. "There have been more 'accidental' elbows to Mavs players' heads this series than is statistically possible. (Wasn't it [Heat coach Pat] Riley who said that there is no such thing as an accidental elbow?) More stiff arms to faces of our double teams, all without response from the league." Stackhouse was called for a flagrant foul when it happened. But after reviewing the play and discussing the details with both players, league vice president Stu Jackson opted to upgrade the punishment. "The contact by Jerry Stackhouse was clearly excessive and warrants a suspension," Jackson said in a release. The series is tied 2-2, with the Heat having won the last two games. Game 5 is Sunday night in Miami. Before the league's decision, Dallas coach Avery Johnson said he didn't think the blow deserved a suspension, noting that O'Neal wasn't penalized for hitting Stackhouse hard enough in Game 1 that he opened a gash across the top of his nose that required three stitches to close. Once the announcement was made, Johnson called it "ridiculous" -- among other terms. "It's just a bunch of baloney," he said on his weekly radio show with Dallas' 103.3 ESPN. "For lack of a better word, it's sickening. Our fans should be upset, our players will be." Donnie Nelson, the team's president of basketball operations, called it "a low blow, especially at this critical time." "We're really surprised and appalled," he said. "The timing of it is the most unfortunate part. This is a bitter pill." Miami was leading 68-51 in the third quarter of Game 4 when Jason Williams stole the ball from Dallas' Josh Howard and drove to the other end of the court. A few steps beyond the foul line, Williams dished to O'Neal for a likely crowd-thrilling dunk but Stackhouse swooped in from the side, taking him down with a head-high shove. "It was a hard foul," Stackhouse said after the game. "When Shaq is going to the basket, we want to try to make him go to the free throw line and earn it." O'Neal did, making both foul shots. Given the ball back, the Heat got two more points to stretch their lead to 20 for the first time. They went on to win 98-74, leaving O'Neal in a playful mood, especially when asked about the foul by Stackhouse. "My daughters tackle me harder when I come home," O'Neal said. "I'm one of the last players of the old school, and you know, you just have to take a hard foul like that and keep on moving. It actually felt pretty good to get hit like that. Thank you, Jerry. Appreciate it." The Heat may really appreciate Stackhouse's absence from Game 5. Stackhouse is Dallas' top reserve. He's averaging 13.8 points this postseason and 13.0 in the finals. He had 16 in Game 2, including 10 straight over the final 79 seconds of the first half that propelled the Mavericks to a victory. This marks the third time this postseason a Dallas player has been suspended. Jason Terry was lost for Game 6 of the second round against San Antonio for punching Spurs guard Michael Finley below the belt and center D.J. Mbenga just completed a five-game suspension for running into the stands to aid Johnson's wife during the conference finals. Mbenga will return for Game 5. "And that's six more fouls," Johnson noted. An irate Johnson also told radio listeners O'Neal was being protected by the league, saying: "It's been around forever -- certain players get royal treatment, certain players don't." Cuban touched on the same topic. "Shaq creates more dangerous contact camping in the lane for 5 seconds trying to set an NBA finals record for charges taken by a center than Stack did trying to prevent a layup," Cuban wrote. Johnson opened his show with a Cuban-like rant against the way the league has handled cases like this, later saying there is "no rebuttal, no trial and jury, just a judge." "I've been holding my tongue all year about the foolishness, just the foolishness that goes on there," said Johnson, who was voted the NBA coach of the year in his first full season. "They're so inconsistent. I'm just embarrassed to have to deal with some of the things I have to deal with. ... We are in a position where we have no authority and we're always reminded of that -- we're just coaches." Asked whether he feared the Mavericks are being targeted because of how vocal Cuban is with barbs toward the league, Johnson said, "I would sure hope not." "If there is some truth to that, I hope certain people can't even look themselves in the mirror because that's a disgrace," he said. Perdue's take First of all, I don't think the suspension is warranted. I had the opportunity to see replay, after replay, after replay, and it appeared to me that Stackhouse was trying to make a play on the ball. Shaq was protecting the ball on his right side and Stackhouse was coming from the left, so Stack had to go through Shaq to get to the ball. Now the Mavs have to figure out how to replace Stackhouse's scoring for Game 5. But Stackhouse cannot be replaced by one player. Several guys have to chip in to get the job done. Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard have to fill the scoring void. Look for Mavs coach Avery Johnson to put Adrian Griffin back in the starting lineup. This will allow him to bring Devin Harris off the bench to provide offensive spark and scoring punch. -- Will Perdue in Miami Quote
slide_advantage_redoux Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 the suspension is pure BS! I couldn't agree more. And to think of that foul that Shaq put on Stack in the earlier game that resulted in stitches? Come on. It obviously is NOT a two way street here. What the league is doing is protecting Shaq, and it total horse shit. Quote
BruceW Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 (edited) Obviously all of you guys from TX have a lot at stake. You want your team to win. Like everyone else and their teams. Everyone gripes, like everyone else. BUT knock off all the bullshit. Dallas plays dirty when it can and when it thinks they will get away with something..... None of you can tell me that not for one minute did you not realize Stack was getting "revenge" for the foul Shaq made on him. The primary reasoning here is that Stack hit Shaq in the air. That is the reason for the suspension. Yes, it was a hard foul, yes, it was a flagrant, but when you take the legs out of someone in the air, shooting the ball, that is a suspension. Stu Jackson talked with Stack and with Shaq. You don't hear anyone from those conversations saying the suspension was unjust. You cannot take the legs out of someone in the air shooting the ball. You will sit a game period. OBTW, the Jet is still playing dirty. No, he no longer makes a fist, but watch his feet when he is in the air fighting for a ball against the big guys. How would you like a foot in your nuts??? AND Dirk throws as many elbows as anyone else. And let's face it, every player in the league "knows" a way to "get" somebody if necessary. So let's quit crying and play ball, and may the best team win.... Edited June 17, 2006 by BruceW Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 the suspension is pure BS! I couldn't agree more. And to think of that foul that Shaq put on Stack in the earlier game that resulted in stitches? Come on. It obviously is NOT a two way street here. What the league is doing is protecting Shaq, and it total horse shit. dude - big daddy don't need no protection. the NBA simply went overboard on the suspension. Quote
JSngry Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 the suspension is pure BS! I like a Miami fan who doesn't resort to pussyphonics. Quote
BruceW Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 (edited) Oh Boo Hoo Hoo Dallas is supposed to be one of the deepest teams in the league, What is all the fuss about the 6th or 7th man???? It is all PR by Dallas. Stack is not that big a loss. First it was the Jet, now Stack. Shit, if these guys are all that damn important, why isn't the series over already??? STOP WHINING Root for your team so everyone else will shut up. I do know how you feel though. Talk about injustice. :bwallace2: Edited June 17, 2006 by BruceW Quote
JSngry Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 the suspension is pure BS! I like a Miami fan who doesn't resort to pussyphonics. Word! Quote
slide_advantage_redoux Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 Obviously all of you guys from TX have a lot at stake. You want your team to win. Like everyone else and their teams. Everyone gripes, like everyone else. BUT knock off all the bullshit. Dallas plays dirty when it can and when it thinks they will get away with something..... None of you can tell me that not for one minute did you not realize Stack was getting "revenge" for the foul Shaq made on him. The primary reasoning here is that Stack hit Shaq in the air. That is the reason for the suspension. Yes, it was a hard foul, yes, it was a flagrant, but when you take the legs out of someone in the air, shooting the ball, that is a suspension. Stu Jackson talked with Stack and with Shaq. You don't hear anyone from those conversations saying the suspension was unjust. You cannot take the legs out of someone in the air shooting the ball. You will sit a game period. OBTW, the Jet is still playing dirty. No, he no longer makes a fist, but watch his feet when he is in the air fighting for a ball against the big guys. How would you like a foot in your nuts??? AND Dirk throws as many elbows as anyone else. And let's face it, every player in the league "knows" a way to "get" somebody if necessary. So let's quit crying and play ball, and may the best team win.... I personally find it extremely ironic that in playoffs past, fouls like this one was considered a part of the physical element of playoff ball. And when the Mavs whined about getting thrown about, they were accused of not being tough enough. Now they are tougher, and suddenly hard play is considered flagrant? Give me a break. It is all about perception, and the refs on the floor both felt that the suspension was uncalled for. I have a novel idea: Why not LET the refs call the fouls and the penalties, not the suits in the booth. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 I think Sangrey's right, though: just like it did for the game without Terry, this oughta unify these guys in a way previously unseen. At least, I hope so. Er, Sangry didn't say that; I did. Sangry says a lot of shit, but that one was mine! Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 $$1 told me that any hard foul to the head is a flagrant foul. I asked him if hits to coconut heads count? $$1 said, yeah; even hits to Rodman's head.... Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 17, 2006 Report Posted June 17, 2006 It definitely wasn't as bad a foul as Raja Bell's on Kobe, or James Posey's on Hinrich. But maybe Bruce's claim about how the NBA perceives this foul is correct. Guy Quote
BruceW Posted June 18, 2006 Report Posted June 18, 2006 I think Sangrey's right, though: just like it did for the game without Terry, this oughta unify these guys in a way previously unseen. At least, I hope so. Er, Sangry didn't say that; I did. Sangry says a lot of shit, but that one was mine! Unify these guys..... you bet Avery Johnson knows what the hell he is doing by complaining to high heaven... Quote
Soulstation1 Posted June 18, 2006 Author Report Posted June 18, 2006 i wish the heat could choose which game stack sits out LOL Quote
Soulstation1 Posted June 18, 2006 Author Report Posted June 18, 2006 The mavs are MF toast AJ moved the team out of the hotel last night and checked into another AJ feels the playas are in vacation mode Quote
Soulstation1 Posted June 18, 2006 Author Report Posted June 18, 2006 ps today a guy at work said the fix is in and the daddy will be handed his 4th ring and this guy MF hates Shaq.... Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 18, 2006 Report Posted June 18, 2006 if heat win tonight the fat lady starts singing!!!! Quote
Soulstation1 Posted June 18, 2006 Author Report Posted June 18, 2006 game # 5 odds Miami - 2.5 pts GO HEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted June 18, 2006 Report Posted June 18, 2006 game # 5 odds Miami - 2.5 pts GO HEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Shaq's numbers?..... Quote
Soulstation1 Posted June 18, 2006 Author Report Posted June 18, 2006 big diezzzzel 14 pts and 8 boards and 4 dimes.... WTF these numbers suck Flash hits for 40 today 'Toine misses another 5 3-pointers Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 18, 2006 Report Posted June 18, 2006 From tradesports.com: Series winner Dallas 65.3-66.0% Miami 32.5-34.4% Heat in 6 17.2-18.4% Heat in 7 15.5-16.2% Mavs in 7 35.2-37.2% Mavs in 6 29.1-31.4% tonight's winner: Miami 56.5-57.0% Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted June 19, 2006 Report Posted June 19, 2006 Man, I think I could play the national anthem on saxophone better than Clarence Clemmons. Quote my wife: "He's the reason I never liked saxophone." Quote
slide_advantage_redoux Posted June 19, 2006 Report Posted June 19, 2006 That was easily the worst Star Spangled Banner I have heard in a long time. Whose brilliant idea was it to have Clarence Clemons play? That sucked. I hope the game is better. Quote
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