<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MIAMI (AP) -- 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 crock. 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. </div> Source I'm not surpised by this ruling. The league has been fairly consistent with the suspensions dished out in the post season. The league has made it clear they aren't going to allow any hard fouls, even in the post season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NbaBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">That sucks. I got to say, I enjoyed it when Stack leveled Shaq. That was beautiful.</div> How immature can you get? Stack's foul was totally unnecessary. If you think a fioul like that doesn't deserve suspension, i wonder who's gonna get any suspension from this league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WadeDynasty:</div><div class="quote_post">How immature can you get? Stack's foul was totally unnecessary. If you think a fioul like that doesn't deserve suspension, i wonder who's gonna get any suspension from this league.</div> Yeah, that was on par with raja bell's move on kobe really. Neither of which is as bad as the non-suspension nut grab by evans. *shudder*
This is all because of Jason Williams' stupid pass to Shaq off the fast break. I still don't understand what he was trying to do.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">This is all because of Jason Williams' stupid pass to Shaq off the fast break. I still don't understand what he was trying to do.</div> Wrong. This is all because stackhouse chose to hard foul shaq.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WadeDynasty:</div><div class="quote_post">How immature can you get? Stack's foul was totally unnecessary. If you think a fioul like that doesn't deserve suspension, i wonder who's gonna get any suspension from this league.</div> I never said he doesn't deserve a suspension...now did I? The fact that I liked the foul didn't make it clean or dirty. Steve Kerr's thoughts <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As for the NBA's decision to suspend Stackhouse, I don't believe the league made a good decision. Yes, Stackhouse's foul was hard, but he raced back on defense, caught up to O'Neal and fouled him hard to force him to make two free throws. That's what you're supposed to do as a player, particularly in the playoffs. There are no easy baskets, especially when the guy you're fouling is such a poor free-throw shooter. Was the foul malicious? No. Was it cheap? No. Can you compare it to Raja Bell's clothesline foul of Kobe Bryant that also warranted a one-game suspension? Not a chance. What about Jason Terry's punch of Michael Finley in the Western Conference semifinals? That was a punch, which is an automatic suspension – no questions asked. Even the suspension of Udonis Haslem for firing his mouthpiece at referee Joey Crawford during the first round made sense because the officials have to be protected. And James Posey's blatant crosscheck of Kirk Hinrich in Game 3 of the Bulls-Heat series warranted at least a one-game suspension, if not two. Posey lined up Hinrich and made a premeditated hit on him while he was dribbling out on the floor, not driving for a layup. </div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NbaBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">I never said he doesn't deserve a suspension...now did I? The fact that I liked the foul didn't make it clean or dirty.</div> Let's see when someone does that to J Kidd and see if you still like that kinda fouls.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">Wrong. This is all because stackhouse chose to hard foul shaq.</div> w/e man. Williams was gonna try and show boat and do a fancy pass to shaq untill he saw stackhouse running in. I don not belive this is a fair suspension guys. Stackhouse fouled him. He's SHAQ. everyone fouls him, for a reason. Because he USUALLY misses free throws. Even the commentators, hubie brown said it was a good foul. even SHAQ himself said he didnt mind. He said it was just a good foul to keep him from scoring. Honestly do you think Jerry was planning on HURTING Shaq?? please... i bet it also helped head commision deciding a suspension when shaq stumbled into the crowd and couldnt get up. also.... Stackhouse flagrant foul to Shaq = 1 game suspension Jason Terry punch to Michael FInley's groin= 1 game suspsension <font color=""Navy""><u>DJ Mbenga goes into stand to escort Avery Johnson's wife away from discouraging fans(without laying a finger on one person, and not yelling in anyone's face.) = 6 game suspension</u></font> Just a bit interesting i thought.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Remedy:</div><div class="quote_post">w/e man. Williams was gonna try and show boat and do a fancy pass to shaq untill he saw stackhouse running in. I don not belive this is a fair suspension guys. Stackhouse fouled him. He's SHAQ. everyone fouls him, for a reason. Because he USUALLY misses free throws. Even the commentators, hubie brown said it was a good foul. even SHAQ himself said he didnt mind. He said it was just a good foul to keep him from scoring. Honestly do you think Jerry was planning on HURTING Shaq?? please... i bet it also helped head commision deciding a suspension when shaq stumbled into the crowd and couldnt get up. also.... Stackhouse flagrant foul to Shaq = 1 game suspension Jason Terry punch to Michael FInley's groin= 1 game suspsension <font color=""Navy""><u>DJ Mbenga goes into stand to escort Avery Johnson's wife away from discouraging fans(without laying a finger on one person, and not yelling in anyone's face.) = 6 game suspension</u></font> Just a bit interesting i thought.</div> Based on the other suspensions of the post season this one is fine IMO. Artests' elbow wasn't very hard at all and may not have been intentional, he got one game, Posey running over Hinrich in a similar play got a one game suspension. Stack ran down Shaq from behind and threw his entire body at him, it was more of a takedown than a foul and was clearly not a play on the ball. This is the finals too, the biggest worldwide event for the NBA, they need to be classy and keep the games under control. With this suspension it should help to keep the games under control because Miami players won't be trying to get back at Dallas players. Can you imagine Stack playing tomorrow and either he or Dirk getting nailed by some scrub on Miami? It's much less likely that Miami players try to retaliate now which will make it less likely for a brawl to ensue. Ever since the Detroit-Pacers brawl any kind of hard foul like this is a suspension, especially in the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Asked after the game about his impression of the foul, O'Neal said: "My impression was, my daughters tackle me harder when I come home. I'm one of the last players of the old school, and you just have to take a hard foul like that and keep on moving." He added: "It actually felt pretty good to get hit like that. Thank you, Jerry. Appreciate it."</div> If the guy getting foul doesn't mind why is he getting suspended?? this suspension is dumb.
I honestly don't think Stack deserved the suspension, but with the suspensions being handed out left and right this post season, it wasn't surprising to hear the news.
It was Shaq that fouled Stack hard in Game 1 I believe..twice, that resulted in Stack getting 3 sticthes, no suspension or fine for him. And Shaq said himself after the game to reporters that his "daughters tackle him harder when he comes home". The suspension is complete bullshit!
I really don't think this suspension is waranted at all. Not one bit. However, given some of the reasons provdided by some of you, I can see why the L did it. Also, Remedy, I don't see why you emphasized DJ Mbenga's suspension. it's league poluicy that players are not allowed in the stands under any circumstances since the Detroit Brawl.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WadeDynasty:</div><div class="quote_post">Let's see when someone does that to J Kidd and see if you still like that kinda fouls.</div> Look I'm sure if Wade or any other Heat player went for the layup, Stackhouse wouldn't have fouled them as hard. Why? Because if Stackhouse didn't give a hard foul, Shaq would of taken the foul and made the basket. He made sure Shaq didn't make the shot.
All that did was hurt the Mavericks, it was a stupid decision in a blowout game that IMO cost his team game 5. IF he was in I think Dallas could've won with the way Miami played. It only motivated Shaq into having two straight double doubles as well which isn't a very good thing if your the opposing team.
from watching the replay, Stack kept his arms up, didn't keep them infront of him to protect himself, there was body to body contact at a high speed. hard, clean, flagrant foul? yes. suspension? heck no. Clothlining someone is not classy, punching someone is not classy, those are dirty. But it used to be if you delivered a hard, clean foul you fired your team up, you let your oppoents know you're not gonna get an open lay up/dunk. What separated the NBA from the rest of the world was it's physicalness, it was a man's game. Now Stern is trying to turn it into a little girl's game. Please, I've seen harder fouls playing at my small liberal arts college. What has happened to the NBA?
