Suspensions on the horizon?

[WayOutWest]

I didn't think Houston was being all that physical with LA, it seemed the Lakers were getting any shot they wanted anyway.  Until LA started playing physically the game was close and it looked like the Rockets had a chance. The Rockets couldn't run decent possessions when LA was hounding the ball.

Where was a Houston player cited for a hard foul? Houston isn't a physical team, aside from Artest. Their size might bother LA, but non one thinks Yao or Scola is overly physical. 

I didn't think LA was a physical team either but Ariza and Fisher like to mix it up along with a few of their bench players.

The game didn't change until LA started pressing.  That's when the game got out of hand. Houston wasn't doing anything other than playing the same as they had at the beginning of the game.

Completely wrong, seems like you didn't watch the game.  When it was a finess game the Lakers pulled out to a 14 point lead in the 1st quater on fast breaks and Kobe floating all over the over place.  When the Rockets started getting physical is when they closed the gap.  The Rockets 2nd unit was quicker and tougher in the paint than the Lakers 2nd unit AND better than the Lakers starters.  The bench frontcourt was much better than Yao and Scola, where is Randy to claim his Yao glory, where on the bench.  I can't believe you think the Lakers where physical, you're completely off base.  Rockets got away with a ton of physical play.  Artest, Laundry and the back up center are all beasts and thugged the Lakers and shut down the free flowing Lakers offense.  Lakers got punked again but Kobe refused to let them lose.

[msc]

I guess I'm a completely un-objective homer, because I don't think Fish deserves a suspension at all.

I would have to say that, yes, that statement officially classifies you as a Laker homer, as in big, 'DUH"

Bah, humbug.  Fish fouled him hard intentionally and never swung at his face with any part of his body.  It was a hard, flagrant foul and he was kicked out of the game for it.  Another game suspension seems like too much to me here, but if he is suspended (which I believe he will be) I'm okay with that too.  As a veteran, Fish sent a message to Scola who has been extremely physical down low, that "we're not going to just sit back and let you push us around".  I'm okay with that, I don't think it was dirty, just a hard, intentional foul.  Just my opinion, as myopic as it might be  

[WayOutWest]

Looking through those purple-colored lens again, I see, WOW. Your unbiased view last all of, what, two posts? 

Do you even understand the comment.  Do you honestly think the Lakers prefer, or are even suited, to play a physical game?  Cavs, Rockets, and Celtics are physical teams, Lakers, Mavs, and Nuggets are finess.

Rockets would benefit 10X more than the Lakers if the game is allowed to be played physical.  How can you disagree?

[rickortreat]

I didn't think Houston was being all that physical with LA, it seemed the Lakers were getting any shot they wanted anyway.  Until LA started playing physically the game was close and it looked like the Rockets had a chance. The Rockets couldn't run decent possessions when LA was hounding the ball.

Where was a Houston player cited for a hard foul? Houston isn't a physical team, aside from Artest. Their size might bother LA, but non one thinks Yao or Scola is overly physical. 

I didn't think LA was a physical team either but Ariza and Fisher like to mix it up along with a few of their bench players.

The game didn't change until LA started pressing.  That's when the game got out of hand. Houston wasn't doing anything other than playing the same as they had at the beginning of the game.

Completely wrong, seems like you didn't watch the game.  When it was a finess game the Lakers pulled out to a 14 point lead in the 1st quater on fast breaks and Kobe floating all over the over place.  When the Rockets started getting physical is when they closed the gap.  The Rockets 2nd unit was quicker and tougher in the paint than the Lakers 2nd unit AND better than the Lakers starters.  The bench frontcourt was much better than Yao and Scola, where is Randy to claim his Yao glory, where on the bench.  I can't believe you think the Lakers where physical, you're completely off base.  Rockets got away with a ton of physical play.  Artest, Laundry and the back up center are all beasts and thugged the Lakers and shut down the free flowing Lakers offense.  Lakers got punked again but Kobe refused to let them lose.

I saw the game differently.  The Lakers got out to a quick lead because the Rockets weren't offereing any resistance and couldn't execute their offense.  Houston's 2nd unit came in and they found another scorer in Landy, but LA put no one in front of him who could stay with him. 

None of the physical play started until the 2nd half, and none of the Rockets physical players other than Artest were in the game, it was Houston's starters. The Rockets started executing with the fist team and that's when LA got physical with them.  Maybe Phil was whining in the locker room about how the Rockets 2nd group was getting 2nd shots, but the first over the top play was Fishers' premeditated run at Scola.

Houston is not a physical team. Yao and Scola aren't tough guys. Landy is a nice player, but he's undersized. Artest is crazy, so that makes him pretty scary, but the biggest beast on the floor is Bynum. Brown was very active for the Lakers in the 2nd half, he seemed to be the one that bothered Houston the most. 

Simply becasue a team is scoring doesn't mean what they are doing is physical.  Typically teams are more physical on defense. I didn't see the Rockets stop the Lakers once last night, did you?

[WayOutWest]

I didn't think Houston was being all that physical with LA, it seemed the Lakers were getting any shot they wanted anyway.  Until LA started playing physically the game was close and it looked like the Rockets had a chance. The Rockets couldn't run decent possessions when LA was hounding the ball.

Where was a Houston player cited for a hard foul? Houston isn't a physical team, aside from Artest. Their size might bother LA, but non one thinks Yao or Scola is overly physical. 

I didn't think LA was a physical team either but Ariza and Fisher like to mix it up along with a few of their bench players.

The game didn't change until LA started pressing.  That's when the game got out of hand. Houston wasn't doing anything other than playing the same as they had at the beginning of the game.

Completely wrong, seems like you didn't watch the game.  When it was a finess game the Lakers pulled out to a 14 point lead in the 1st quater on fast breaks and Kobe floating all over the over place.  When the Rockets started getting physical is when they closed the gap.  The Rockets 2nd unit was quicker and tougher in the paint than the Lakers 2nd unit AND better than the Lakers starters.  The bench frontcourt was much better than Yao and Scola, where is Randy to claim his Yao glory, where on the bench.  I can't believe you think the Lakers where physical, you're completely off base.  Rockets got away with a ton of physical play.  Artest, Laundry and the back up center are all beasts and thugged the Lakers and shut down the free flowing Lakers offense.  Lakers got punked again but Kobe refused to let them lose.

I saw the game differently.  The Lakers got out to a quick lead because the Rockets weren't offereing any resistance and couldn't execute their offense.  Houston's 2nd unit came in and they found another scorer in Landy, but LA put no one in front of him who could stay with him. 

None of the physical play started until the 2nd half, and none of the Rockets physical players other than Artest were in the game, it was Houston's starters. The Rockets started executing with the fist team and that's when LA got physical with them.  Maybe Phil was whining in the locker room about how the Rockets 2nd group was getting 2nd shots, but the first over the top play was Fishers' premeditated run at Scola.

Houston is not a physical team. Yao and Scola aren't tough guys. Landy is a nice player, but he's undersized. Artest is crazy, so that makes him pretty scary, but the biggest beast on the floor is Bynum. Brown was very active for the Lakers in the 2nd half, he seemed to be the one that bothered Houston the most. 

Simply becasue a team is scoring doesn't mean what they are doing is physical.  Typically teams are more physical on defense. I didn't see the Rockets stop the Lakers once last night, did you?

I can not believe you don't think the Rockets are a physical team, they are the definition of physical and the Lakers are the definition of finess/soft.  End of discussion right there if you don't see that.

[westkoast]

This is the picture right before Kobe goes to shove Artest off him.  They are now saying that Kobe didn't actually hit him in the throat but actually got him at the top of his chest above the 'R'.  Had Artest got elbowed that hard in the throat he would have grabbed his adams apple. (this is just whats being reported out there dont get mad at me)

After thinking about it for a second and being hit in the throat plenty of times before, I would tend to agree.  Wouldn't he have been in more visible pain had he took an elbow to the neck?

Either way it was intentional so he would deserve a flagrant but Ron's antics were unwarranted.

EDIT:  WOW the Cavs are NOT a physical team.  Lebron James is a very physical player but Z, Mo Williams, and that creepy looking white guy with the tats are not physical at all.

[ziggy]

I think Fisher should get a 1 game suspension, and I think he will get one.

I am not sure about Alston, I think that was a kind of play that deserved an ejection, but a suspension I am not sure.  I could see him getting one though.

As far as Kobe, I think it should have been a technical foul, a suspension though I don't know.  It is similar but not as severe as Howard, so he might get one, because the technical was missed, but I kinda doubt it.

[JoMal]

I've never cried about the officials, and never will, I leave that to jilted Kings fans and our resident conspiracy theorist 

Real men cry foul over the officials, believe me. 

Laker fans have never, really been on the receiving end of a League conspiracy so I do not expect them to understand. 

[JoMal]

I guess I'm a completely un-objective homer, because I don't think Fish deserves a suspension at all.

I would have to say that, yes, that statement officially classifies you as a Laker homer, as in big, 'DUH"

Bah, humbug.  Fish fouled him hard intentionally and never swung at his face with any part of his body.  It was a hard, flagrant foul and he was kicked out of the game for it.  Another game suspension seems like too much to me here, but if he is suspended (which I believe he will be) I'm okay with that too.  As a veteran, Fish sent a message to Scola who has been extremely physical down low, that "we're not going to just sit back and let you push us around".  I'm okay with that, I don't think it was dirty, just a hard, intentional foul.  Just my opinion, as myopic as it might be  

Fish will be floating with the birds after today.

[JoMal]

Looking through those purple-colored lens again, I see, WOW. Your unbiased view last all of, what, two posts? 

Do you even understand the comment.  Do you honestly think the Lakers prefer, or are even suited, to play a physical game?  Cavs, Rockets, and Celtics are physical teams, Lakers, Mavs, and Nuggets are finess.

Rockets would benefit 10X more than the Lakers if the game is allowed to be played physical.  How can you disagree?

Actually, understanding how this game is played is better suited to someone who has seen it from the anti-Laker point of view. The old Shaq/Fox Laker team was then the benefactor when apparently it was okay "if the game is allowed to be played physical" and the Kings were the finesse team that was, what, being taken advantage of??

So whether or not I completely understand your comment is irrelevant. That this current Laker team is not suited to the physical game is just too bad.

[JoMal]

Well, the League agrees with most of you, in that both Alston and Fisher will be watching the next game from their respective hotel rooms. Both suspended for one game.

Kobe and Artest, however get to renew their quest to show each other the erotic parts of their elbows as often as possible.

[Reality]

I guess I'm a completely un-objective homer, because I don't think Fish deserves a suspension at all.

I would have to say that, yes, that statement officially classifies you as a Laker homer, as in big, 'DUH"

Bah, humbug.  Fish fouled him hard intentionally and never swung at his face with any part of his body.  It was a hard, flagrant foul and he was kicked out of the game for it.  Another game suspension seems like too much to me here, but if he is suspended (which I believe he will be) I'm okay with that too.  As a veteran, Fish sent a message to Scola who has been extremely physical down low, that "we're not going to just sit back and let you push us around".  I'm okay with that, I don't think it was dirty, just a hard, intentional foul.  Just my opinion, as myopic as it might be  

msc on Big Shots Robs body check of Nash 2007: 

I didn't think it was that big of a deal (as usual).  Yeah, it was a hard foul and basically a body check.  Big deal, give Rob a one game susupension and move on.  Nash definitely acted it up.

The NBA has become so wussified its embarrasing at this point.  With all the whining and posturing and crying and finger pointing and acting ... uggh .. I long for the good ole days!

I'm down with your consistency.

[Reality]

This is the picture right before Kobe goes to shove Artest off him.  They are now saying that Kobe didn't actually hit him in the throat but actually got him at the top of his chest above the 'R'.  Had Artest got elbowed that hard in the throat he would have grabbed his adams apple. (this is just whats being reported out there dont get mad at me)

After thinking about it for a second and being hit in the throat plenty of times before, I would tend to agree.  Wouldn't he have been in more visible pain had he took an elbow to the neck?

Just before.  Still waiting for a "moment of impact" photo.
However, notice the obvious upward motion of Kobes arm when comparing above photo with below.  Kobes was not swinging straight back just to block off 'Testy. 

[WayOutWest]

Actually, understanding how this game is played is better suited to someone who has seen it from the anti-Laker point of view. The old Shaq/Fox Laker team was then the benefactor when apparently it was okay "if the game is allowed to be played physical" and the Kings were the finesse team that was, what, being taken advantage of??

So whether or not I completely understand your comment is irrelevant. That this current Laker team is not suited to the physical game is just too bad.

So you half understood my comments and pretty much made my point.  The Rockets benefit more from the "let them play" style of reffing than the Lakers because as YOU stated, "The this current Laker team is not suited to the physical game is just too bad".  If the game was called "correctly" the physical style of play would not be allowed and the Lakers would benefit and the Rockets would suffer.

[msc]

msc on Big Shots Robs body check of Nash 2007: 

I didn't think it was that big of a deal (as usual).  Yeah, it was a hard foul and basically a body check.  Big deal, give Rob a one game susupension and move on.  Nash definitely acted it up.

The NBA has become so wussified its embarrasing at this point.  With all the whining and posturing and crying and finger pointing and acting ... uggh .. I long for the good ole days!

I'm down with your consistency.

I actually am consistent.  I didn't think Bob's was a big deal as I said and neither was Fish's.  As I recall, the context was whether he should have been given a longer suspension.  I think the one game was already handed down so I was saying just give it and move on to all those who were crying for more.  Nash acted it up and so did Scola, which by the way, I'm okay with.  It's their job to try and make it look worse than it was.