<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jerry Colangelo left a phone message as soon as Tuesday night's Game 5 ended. The Suns' chief executive officer wanted to get a dialogue started with Stu Jackson, the NBA's top disciplinarian. The Suns' postseason hopes are at stake. With 7:33 left in the game, Suns guard Raja Bell grabbed Kobe Bryant around the neck and threw him down as the Lakers star drove to the basket. Bell earned a technical foul, his second of the game, and an automatic ejection. The Suns fear their best perimeter defender could be suspended for Game 6, a possibility that put a damper on a 114-97 win at US Airways Center. "We don't believe this was an isolated incident or play," Colangelo said. "There were a number of things that led up to that flagrant foul. Things that have happened the whole series. A lot of elbows. It's been a very physical matchup between Raja and Kobe. I think Raja was pretty explicit. He lost his head. He overreacted, but a lot of things led to it." Bell, who has battled Bryant all season, took the blame. "At that point in time I had caught another elbow in my jaw," he said. "I've been hit in the face multiple times during the series, and it was an overreaction. A bad play on my part." Bell said he didn't know what to expect from the league. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said he was concerned, but he chose his words carefully. "We've been on the short end for a lot of things, and whether that comes into account, I don't know," he said. "Whatever, we're going to win it with him, or we'll go and win it for him."</div> Source I find this in bad taste by Jerry Colangelo. You cannot justify your player intentionally hitting another player in the neck. Clothes lining isn't even tolerated in the NFL, and it doesn't matter what lead up to it, the end result was Raja Bell going right after Kobe. He didn't even attempt to make a play on the basketball, his intent was to injure Kobe Bryant and then stood around and smirked about it. Jerry Colangelo should be embarrassed someone representing the Suns organization would resort to those tactics. What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if Smush Parker strangled Nash in the next game and stood around him like he just knocked someone out in the boxing ring? What's even more disappointing is Colangelo is the head of Team USA basketball.
I don't think you can allow Raja to be excused for it. But I don't think you can come down hard on him because the refs/league FINALLY decide to wake up and do something to stop the out of control physicallity of the series (and this year's playoffs in general). Kobe's elbow to Raja's jaw, his eye jab, all the other contact between the two + all the other flagrants in this and other series.. the inconsistancy is mind-boggling. Either suspend all the nasty flagrants (Reggie Evans anyone, WTF) or suspend none of them. When they come down in a inequal fashion it inevitably foments cries of bias, incompetence or even corruption. That's just my opinion.
Do you remember when Walton threw Thomas down in the game while still in the air and he wasnt thrown out. That is unacceptable. I dont usually accept when someone plays like that, but he had to stand up for himself since the ref's wouldn't. He was elbowed 2 time in the face from Bryant and nothing happened. So he took him down. If he is suspended, bryant should be also.
Mr Walton was going for the ball to stop the play obviously. But Raja Bell was nowhere close to what walton did
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheHitman:</div><div class="quote_post">Mr Walton was going for the ball to stop the play obviously. But Raja Bell was nowhere close to what walton did</div> You're right. It's closer to how Kobe shoved one of our guys into Tim Thomas after he just got up from Walton's flagrant, knocking him over again. But hey, princess kobe did it so who really cares. No kobe = no ratings to the NBA's fine minds of discipline.
Right, but.... You dont hit a guy in the air like that. Remember Marioin a season ago? Got really hurt from that. Like I said, if the Ref won't protect him who will?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MondoGecko:</div><div class="quote_post">Perfectly said. The Ref's want Lakers to win, so they call a "BS" game.</div> Gimme a break. There have been bad calls each way. Raja Bell got a 1 Game suspension for committing, by far, the worst foul out of the ones you listed above. I'd say the officiating has been equally unfair this entire series.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Perfectly said. The Ref's want Lakers to win, so they call a "BS" game </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> But hey, princess kobe did it so who really cares. No kobe = no ratings to the NBA's fine minds of discipline.</div> Why don't you stop making excuses and admit that Bell made a mistake. I think he should get a one game and if it goes to a game 7 he should be suspended for that game as well. This triples what Posey or Haslem did.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">Why don't you stop making excuses and admit that Bell made a mistake. I think he should get a one game and if it goes to a game 7 he should be suspended for that game as well. This triples what Posey or Haslem did.</div> I love when people don't even read 95% of a post and reply to one little thing they can find to complain about. It makes me happy inside. Seriously though, read some of my posts. I'm not excusing Bell's foul, but rather I'm trying to put it into the context it happened in. Not just the other fouls in the Suns/Lakers series but the whole of the playoffs. If Reggie Evans can sexually assault another player and not get suspended, if Posey can body check Heinrich onto the floor and get suspended but when Kwame does it to Diaw and then stands over him menacingly and gets nothing, when elbows can fly all series long and get ignored... those things have GOT to be considered when assessing any kind of penalty against Bell. That foul did not happen in a vacuum.
Agreed. Sure there have been no calls and bad calls for both sides but i dont think anyone, not even the most biased of fans (laker fans in this case) can argue that the Lakers have had by far more and bigger incidents of no calls. (walton's foot out of bounds on the jump ball + not accepting Diaw calling time out twice + tim thomas getting mugged by Walton and then knocked down again by Kobe + Kobe throwing elbows Motumbo would be proud of + Kwame mugging and mocking Diaw) I'm not a huge fan of either teams but so far i'd say that the Refs have given the Lakers a definate advantage. There has been no consistency in the series and out of conspiracy or sheer luck/badluck have the incidents all happened to the Suns disadvantage.
I know Bell did bad, but to suspend Bell for that and nothing for any other lakers players listed above is a biased move from NBA. The NBA wants the underdog "Lakers" to win, you can tell from the lack of calls. NBA would make more money from Lakers advancing to next round. I will never buy another basketball ticket again, that is plain and simple. Kobe throws elbows almost as good as Karl Malone, and gets away with it just like he did with cheating on his wife. I guess Marion will have to take on Kobe, and I really hope he shoots his average of 50 shots a game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MondoGecko:</div><div class="quote_post">I know Bell did bad, but to suspend Bell for that and nothing for any other lakers players listed above is a biased move from NBA. The NBA wants the underdog "Lakers" to win, you can tell from the lack of calls. NBA would make more money from Lakers advancing to next round. I will never buy another basketball ticket again, that is plain and simple. Kobe throws elbows almost as good as Karl Malone, and gets away with it just like he did with cheating on his wife. I guess Marion will have to take on Kobe, and I really hope he shoots his average of 50 shots a game.</div> Give me a freaking break.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Give me a freaking break.</div> You seriously think Kobe has been playing perfectly clean basketball? Have you not noticed the thrown elbows, the eye-gouge, the other drama crap I've mentioned to death in this and other threads? Raja Bell is no angel, but Kobe is just as far, if not farther, from getting his wings.
I just want to say I really hope that Kobe takes his 50 shots, they will have no chance to win. Or I would love to see Kobe get an elbow and see how he feels. Remember how bad he cried like a $%$#@ when he got bumped on his head? Get a life. Kobe is a joke, should never be considered for MVP
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If he is suspended, bryant should be also.</div> For what? The fact he didn't get a concussion or whiplash on that play is a miracle. I've watched the replays of those "elbows" Raja was talking about, they barely grazed him. Either he's a complete ***** or a lier. Take your pic. Either way he's pretty shady.
http://rapidshare.de/files/19564858/Phanto...Game_5.wmv.html Please watch seconds 27-30. It's clear Kobe did not elbow Raja Bell, he flopped and did a nice acting job.
