<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Here's a very early guess on how Game 6 will play out: a Lakers victory with Kobe Bryant parading to the free-throw line for a lot of production the easy way. NBA referees get a full report from the referees who worked the previous game in a playoff series, and so the tendency is to be on the lookout for certain things. In this case, it'll obviously be to defuse any potential physicality that escalates into violence. Beyond that, there'll obviously be much made on TV highlights of Raja Bell's Game 5 collar-job on Bryant, so everyone will be abundantly aware of it. So look for the Lakers to send Bryant into the post or into wing isolation a lot, freeing him to attack the basket and draw fouls. If Bell is suspended for Game 6 Thursday night, then it could get really difficult for Phoenix, which gave up on backup Bryant defender Leandro Barbosa in this game, staying with Bell on Bryant at all pre-ejection times. If Bell isn't available, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni might have to ask Shawn Marion to guard Bryant, which will be an additional challenge for a Matrix who has not exactly lived up to the challenges presented him so far. Things did get out of hand in this game from a physical standpoint. You wonder if Bryant didn't already have a technical foul on him (and a second T, which he would actually get later, meant automatic ejection), whether the refs would've T'd Bryant up for that elbow he gave Bell. There was no call made whatsoever except Bell's normal foul just before Bryant caught him with the elbow. That clearly triggered Bell to step over the edge with his throat takedown moments later. Well before that, you could see Bell was already eager to initiate contact on this night -- even on one of his flops that drew a Bryant offensive foul. As Bell fell to the floor, you could see him kicking out with his feet toward Bryant in classic Bruce Bowen fashion. Bryant, remember, cost the Lakers two regular-season games (the Lakers lost twice to Utah without Bryant) by elbowing Memphis' Mike Miller this season. After this game, Bryant said: "I'm not trying to elbow somebody. That's not what I do; that's not how I play. If you get elbowed, you still have to keep your cool. I get elbowed all the time, and I don't go out there and lose my head. It's part of the game and I don't get disturbed by it. It actually excites me. I enjoy it." Phil Jackson didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement of referees Leon Wood, Greg Willard and Ron Garretson after the game: "They made up rules tonight. I couldn't believe it. We had officials who were calling stuff that isn't in the rule book. Ronny (Turiaf) got a technical. We didn't know if that was a flagrant or why it was a technical on the foul. Sasha (Vujacic) got called for a delay of game for throwing the ball (after the opposition scored). You see that happen a lot in this game, but I've never seen that one before. But that's the way it is sometimes. There's a lot of pressure on these referees."</div> Source Co-sign! The Lakers are going to set the tone early in this game and pound away at Phoenix all game long. Lamar Odom went to the protection of Kobe, after Raja Bell's cheap shot, and Kobe defended Kwame Brown after he got pulled to the hardwood. These incidents form that brotherly bond amongst teammates and now they are ready to go to war with each other the rest of the way. The Lakers "Band of Brothers" will be ready to end this series Thursday!
I hope the Lakers come out very aggressive next game. In regards to the incident with Raja Bell...It's kinda a win-win situation. If Raja Bell is suspended it will effect Pheonix alot because Bell was doing a great job on Kobe and no one really, on the Suns, can continue doing what Bell did. If he does come back...Bell will be hearing alot of S*** from Laker fans. Kobe will be fired up from what happened and hopefully outplay Bell.
Lakers must be pissed right now. I was listening to the radio in the car, and they are still debating on whether to suspend Bell for game 6 and they should. They are suspending everyone else, why stop there. I expect Kobe to be less passive and more aggressive, but I hope they stick to the game plan that's been getting them victories. Game 5 was bad, but you can't expect to win them all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers must be pissed right now. I was listening to the radio in the car, and they are still debating on whether to suspend Bell for game 6 and they should. They are suspending everyone else, why stop there. I expect Kobe to be less passive and more aggressive, but I hope they stick to the game plan that's been getting them victories. Game 5 was bad, but you can't expect to win them all.</div> If they suspend Bell, they need to go back and suspend Kwame. The hard flagrant + standing over him and the resulting melee should be addressed by more than a fine. I'm actually surprised more didn't come of that, from what I saw one of the refs even got shoved fairly hard. I guess they figured it wouldn't accomplish anything to hand out a grip of fouls. *shrug* Either way it should be an entertaining game for fans on either side. Good luck to the spirit of sportsmanship and quality play from both teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TimmyDMVP:</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers are going to the second round today</div> They don't play today, they play tomorrow. Anyway, this is a must-win game for the Lakers. If they don't win, the series will likely go in Phoenix's favor. I do think the Lakers will win though and the officials play a big role in this game calling nearly everything and both teams get A LOT of free throws.
I think LA needs to come out aggressive (but not too phsyical) as all hell and suck the life out of Pheonix Early. I say LA wins a close one, with free throw's extending the final margin to 8-11 pts. LA fans will go crazy, as will Ronny.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">If they suspend Bell, they need to go back and suspend Kwame. The hard flagrant + standing over him and the resulting melee should be addressed by more than a fine. I'm actually surprised more didn't come of that, from what I saw one of the refs even got shoved fairly hard. I guess they figured it wouldn't accomplish anything to hand out a grip of fouls. *shrug* Either way it should be an entertaining game for fans on either side. Good luck to the spirit of sportsmanship and quality play from both teams.</div> How can compare that to Bell's Flagrant foul. If you played basketball before that was a scamble play with Kwame and Diaw. Diaw was on Kwames arm and he just lifted his arm to get him off and since Kwame is much bigger then Diaw he fell down. Clotheslining someone when they go pass you and then throwing him down thats even a penatly in the NFL. Come on lets be reasonable here.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SIKwitIT:</div><div class="quote_post">How can compare that to Bell's Flagrant foul. If you played basketball before that was a scamble play with Kwame and Diaw. Diaw was on Kwames arm and he just lifted his arm to get him off and since Kwame is much bigger then Diaw he fell down. Clotheslining someone when they go pass you and then throwing him down thats even a penatly in the NFL. Come on lets be reasonable here.</div> Whatever. If that's all it was he wouldn't have stood over Diaw like that, there wouldn't have been all that tension and a near brawl. There was more to it than a simple physical element.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">^ I agree, Kwame and Diaw just got in a little tussle, Bell attacked Bryant.</div> Bell flagrantly fouled Kobe during play. Kwame shoved Diaw to the floor with his elbow after a play and stood over him, clearly showing his intent. They are different in terms of the physical nature involved I suppose but right after Bell did it, he walked away realizing he went too far. Kwame stood there and made it worse. I'd say that balances them out and makes them equally "bad". If one deserves a suspension, so does the other. It's that simple.
Well Raja Bell just made a huge mistake saying he doesn't regret what he did and said he would have done it again. 2 game suspension forth coming. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bell said he lost his cool because Bryant repeatedly had elbowed him in the face. "When I get hit in the face multiple times you crossed the line with me. That's not basketball," Bell said. "It's a personal thing when someone continually hits you in the face. He tried to bully me." Bell went on to say that, "there doesn't seem to be any boundaries or limitations to what he (Bryant) can do to me." Bell also said he was angered by a comment from Lakers coach Phil Jackson. Bell said that when he complained to an official in the fourth quarter about Bryant's wayward elbows, Jackson told him, "You (expletive-deleted) deserved it." "I thought that was kind of bush-league from such a good coach,” Bell said. “That was enough for me.” As of 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Suns still hadn't heard from the NBA regarding a possible suspension for Bell.</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Well Raja Bell just made a huge mistake saying he doesn't regret what he did and said he would have done it again. 2 game suspension forth coming.</div> Source? I'd like to see the whole article. It would be pretty dumb if he said that to the press. You'd think the Suns PR staff would have talked him through everything he should/shouldn't say, heh. Also, there is an interesting article that has some great quotes from both sides of the fence. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Lakers coach Phil Jackson indicated he didn’t think the incident, which he labeled a “bulldog” maneuver, rose to the level of a punch. “That’s the way it’s going to be in this series,” Jackson said, referring to the physical play in the series. Jackson said he doubted Bell would be suspended and that, “We want him out there. We want their whole team. “It’s the only way to earn what you win.” Bryant agreed, saying, “I hope not. When you’re a competitor . . . you want to compete against their top players.” </div> Nash also seems to share my view with regards to Kwame's foul, he even said it better: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Suns’ Steve Nash immediately started lobbying against a suspension, saying, “I think it would be unfair if they start suspending our guys, considering the hard fouls and bad breaks we’ve gotten — Kwame Brown elbowing Boris Diaw and standing over him with his crotch in his face.”</div> I guess we'll just have to wait and see. What's really disturbing though is that if Bell does get suspended, what about Reggie Evans? Has he been suspended yet? Will he be? edit to add: Ahh you added the source Shape, thanks. 8) edit to add again: I don't see anything in there about Bell saying he doesn't regret it. He said a bit more, in terms of calling Kobe names, than he should have but I don't see that he said he'd do it again or that he wasn't sorry.
Bell is an idiot. He can't guard Kobe so he tries to win it by flops and pushing, and in the end trying to cut Kobe's head off. He should be suspending from ever touching a basketball. Sign him for the NFL . Either Way LA will win this @ home. With help of the crowd which will be fired up! BTW>. Am I the only one that thought way too many calls went the Suns way? Offensive fouls which were clear flops. What kind of coach is D'antoni : "Guys , the game plan is , fall the minute they touch u cus we ain't got game"
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe0826:</div><div class="quote_post">Bell is an idiot. He can't guard Kobe so he tries to win it by flops and pushing, and in the end trying to cut Kobe's head off. He should be suspending from ever touching a basketball. Sign him for the NFL . Either Way LA will win this @ home. With help of the crowd which will be fired up! BTW>. Am I the only one that thought way too many calls went the Suns way? Offensive fouls which were clear flops. What kind of coach is D'antoni : "Guys , the game plan is , fall the minute they touch u cus we ain't got game"</div> Do any lakers fan actually watch the games? Or do they all just sit around cuddling with a #8 jersey and thinking up crap to post online? Seriously, if you think more calls went the Suns directions you need your eyesight checked. There were bad calls both ways, but more went in favor of the Lakers. Kobe has been getting away with murder this series. Elbows, eye gouges, fouls, etc. The fact that you think Bell can't defend Kobe further proves you haven't paid attention to a single minute of any Suns/Lakers game this season or playoffs.
The source is from the East Valley Tribune, I went back and posted the link and the article. kobe0826 Fans will always feel their team didn't get the benefit of the calls. There were some debatable calls both ways, but great teams find a way to play through the bad calls.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dtpxcore:</div><div class="quote_post">according to ESPN radio Bell was suspended two games.</div> Even given the context (an overly physical game with bad refereeing (lots of non-calls)), I could see a 1 game suspension. But two games? When neither kwame, walton or kobe get anything? That's crap. Typical, Stern, crap. And yes I included Kobe in there because of his flying elbows, eye jabs and when he pushed one of our guys into TT after walton's flagrant. He should have been ejected for that.
