I am not a violent man and would never support violence. But it's good to see that the NBA Playoffs are starting to get a little tense. It makes for a much better product when there is something personal going on. However, it's one thing to get edgy in a close series, like the Suns-Spurs, but it's another things to do it when you're down 3-1 and getting out played badly like the Warriors are against the Jazz. A quick update for those who don't know what I'm talking about...
1) Pretty much all season teams have been calling the Spurs "dirty". A label often given to teams that are both physical and very good. In game one Steve Nash got his nose busted open and Tony Parker got a huge bump on his head. The next two games featured the Suns complaining about how dirty some of the Spurs were especially Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobli. Last night in game four, the Suns rallied to beat the Spurs to tie the series at 2. With seconds remaining and Steve Nash handling the ball Robert Horry ran over to foul him to stop the clock, but instead of fouling him he body checked him into the scorers table. Horry was ejected and faces a suspension.
2) The Warriors were about to lose game 4 to the Jazz at home and fall down 3-1 when Baron Davis lowered his shoulder into the face of Derek Fisher. No foul was called but video shows that Davis did this on purpose, a real low class move. A couple of plays later Mehmeh Okur of the Jazz went in for a dunk and was tackled in mid-air by the Warriors' Jason Richardson. Richardson was called for a double flagrant and was kicked out of the game. Both players could have been suspended but the league has not acted and they play again tonight.
It's getting personal out there and that's good for the game.
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I think the NBA is at the point where it needs to part ways with David Stern. Regardless of whatever good he has done during his tenure, he has been an albatross around the league's neck for at least a decade now. With the suspensions of Stoudemire and Diow he has shown that he is completely divorced from reality. Any rational person would recognize the fact that (1) neither Stoudemire or Diow made any overt violent acts and did a good job of policing there own anger; and (2) this is the only interesting series in the NBA and removing two of the more important players from it devalues the NBA's product. The NBA has enough problems without David Stern interjecting his own stupidity. Perhaps it is time for the NBA to be without the services of David Stern.
It is 12:52am and I just witnessed the Warriors pick up a flagrant and a technical in a span of about 5 minutes. What a bunch of thugs.
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