The table are turned: it's Rudy who committed the hard foul, and Ariza's the one in the hospital. I want an honest answer: would you be calling Rudy scum, dirty, and all the other names you gave Ariza? An honest answer please. P.S If you're gonna say something like "well, rudy would never do something like that therefore there's no need to answer the question!!11 haha I win!!!111" don't even bother replying.
I suspect if everything were reversed, many Lakers fans would be up in arms and many Portland fans would be excusing the Blazer. Which is why I find all the arguing pointless. Of course, it's also understandable...people react on emotions when things like this happen.
Thanks, that's an honest answer, and exactly what I thoughts myself. In a way, the player on the team you root for are like your extended family, and you will always stand up for them.
If I saw Ariza carried away in a stretcher, I'd probably STFU about it and feel kind of bad for him. I don't hope or celebrate injuries, even of opponents.
I think my response would be the same as it has been for Ariza. It was an unwise play, but it was not dirty. He was going for the ball, and caught ball; however, he also caught some hand and in his momentum his (Ariza) own hand slipped off Rudy's, caught Rudy in the back of the head at which point Rudy's body started turning mid-air, then Ariza's hand kept going and caught part of Rudy's left arm which was twisting with his body at that point, making him twist even more. If Rudy hadn't bounced off the court (because he is so thin at this point) and stayed down I don't think Ariza would have been ejected. I am glad he wasn't suspended because I don't think he was trying to hurt Rudy and was just doing was Nic Batum does - making a play for the ball because he thought he could get it. He has the length, athleticism and the speed to make that kind of play and has probably done it before. If the roles were reversed the only thing I could see different is that Ariza's landing probably wouldn't be as bad because Rudy is probably thirty pounds lighter than Ariza and wouldn't have given Ariza's body much more additional momentum in mid-air. Again if Rudy had not landed like he did and stayed down I don't think Ariza gets a flagrant two - a flagrant one probably, but not a flagrant two.
From what I've seen of the replay, I don't think the play was as dirty as people are making it out to be but I also didn't see the mood of the game at that point, or anything that could of been going on. It's never good to see someone get hurt like Rudy did, so it's a bad situation no matter who it happens too. Good thing Rudy is out of the hospital though and is fine.
ariza definitely should have been suspended a game just for consistency. horford got a game for a similar type of play with tj ford. dirk and posey both were suspended a game for lesser instances in the last couple of years.
It's no fun if it's only the rational fans post here. I wanted some of the "OH NOES ARIZA IS SCUM SUSPEND HIM FOR A YEARRRRRR" crowd to come and justify their obvious homeristic response.
I do not remember the Dirk and Posey incidents but I do remember the Horford one. I think Horford got suspended because he got more head and neck IIRC - in addition to Ford's spinal cord injury history. But if Dirk and Posey were suspended for less then they probably should have remained consistent - something the NBA needs to get better at in all regards.
I didn't call Ariza scum, etc. I think he made a really stupid foul out of frustration, and regardless of intent should be suspended 1 game for what DID occur. I would find the same true if it was one of our players, although I'm sure I'd be praising Rudy for hustling as well.
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Wow I can't believe Posey got ejected let alone suspended for that. Dirk's was ugly only because he didn't have the length to actually get the ball and then his arm got entangled with AK's and caught him in the throat. Ejection was understandable in that situation but suspension not so. If they got suspended for that then Ariza probably should have been suspended as you said just for consistency sake.
I think that peoples opinions would be completely flip flopped.. Laker fans would be irate, and Blazer fans would be defending their guy. MY personal view however would not change, I dont think Ariza was scum for his foul. I never thought at any moment that he meant to hurt Rudy. It was unfortunate yes. But if the situation happened exactly like it did, only with the roles being reversed I wouldnt think Rudy was dirty or scum either.
so after Ariza goes down, does rudy start jawing and acting like a punk? that to me is the best indicator of ariza's intent. he had gotten schooled on the previous trip, they were getting their asses kicked and he made a dumb snap judgement. i'm not saying he's a dirty player in general but at that moment it seems he wanted to make a statement and i'm guessing it's one the blazers and their fans won't forget anytime soon.
I wouldn't defend Rudy or try to convince people he didn't mean any harm. In fact, I would assume just the opposite. I also wouldn't much care what happened to Ariza. I would be very sad it wasn't Odom. I would consider it the Blazers trying to show a playground bully they are not to be fucked with. I am pretty sure they have become as sick as I have of the Lakers act.
It was a play on the ball...kinda sorta. My friend told me tonight that Ariza is starring at the back of Rudy's head when he reaches back. I don't think Ariza was trying to hospitalize Rudy, but the fact that he did should've resulted in a one-game suspension. Down 30, not trying to give up a dunk at the end of the 3rd quarter, literally being embarrassed by one of your rivals... and looking at the result of the play, it's easy to conclude IMO what the intention was. Ariza's shit-talking attitude afterwards made it even more apparent. Roy is a good-natured player that seemingly has the respect of the entire league... if he's going to go bat-shit crazy, you know someone done fucked up. Not crying about it and didn't go to a Laker forum to talk shit, but Ariza based on his own actions (and based on precedence... see: Horford fouling TJ Ford) should've been forced to sit out for a game.
I think a lot of Blazer fans would be happy and talk about how its Karma for all the crap the Lakers have done. And they'd say that Rudy shot up in their book because he laid a Laker flat on his ass. If he was taken off in a stretcher I think it would cool down. But Laker fans would be overreacting similar to Blazer fans, and also probably starting conspiracy theories on how everyone is out to get them.
