Anyone watching the Blazers Lakers game?

[nickagneta]

From ESPN 

NBA vice president Stu Jackson decided Tuesday that Lakers forward Trevor Ariza would not be penalized further for his hard foul against Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez, but the league was still taking a long look at whether Lamar Odom's actions merited a suspension under the "leaving the bench" rule.

Portland's Brandon Roy appeared to grab at or shove Ariza before turning his attention to Odom, who appeared to come off the Lakers bench and walk approximately 15 feet toward the fray.

"I stood up, but I stood right there -- I didn't go nowhere," Odom said.

Doesn't Odom know it is on tape? 

So, no suspension for Ariza and Odom may or may not be suspended depending on whether you believe the video or what Odom says.   

What do you want to bet that Stern is on the phone right now doing everything in his power to make sure the video for that incident is lost so that the league has to take Odom's word that he didn't leave the bench? How can Odom not get suspended for leaving the bench? Wasn't someone suspended during the playoffs once for taking like a step or two over the line and onto the floor? Odom was 10-15 feet off the bench. What's the wait? Suspend him?

Oh yeah, that's right. These are Stern's Lakers and since they already have to play 10 of the nexy 12 games on the road, the league wouldn't want to put any more adversity in the way of personally handing the Lakers another title. They've had a cremepuff schedule and now that they finally have to go on the road someplace other than the Staples Center against the Clippers and play some ball, Stern couldn't have then be without Lamar Odom, now could he?

[Mr October]

speaking of cream puff schedule for the lakers.... is it just me or are the heavy hitting opponents of the lakers missing a key player at least every other game against the lakers?

Duncan, McGrady, Boozer, etc.

[ACF]

I'm sorry I don't know what a "tingle" is and I could care less. There's no "tingles" in basketball!

Thingie, he ment the emotocon for sarcasm, i.e 

trust me agmar wasen't calling for rudy to get killed, he's one of his favroite players if i recall correctly. He was making a sarcastic joke about how the lakers board will spin it.

Thanks, crownsy. TP.

[Bankshot]

speaking of cream puff schedule for the lakers.... is it just me or are the heavy hitting opponents of the lakers missing a key player at least every other game against the lakers?

Duncan, McGrady, Boozer, etc.

Well, the Lakers would have a tougher time against Houston if McGrady did play (they are just better without him).  Cleveland also got to play the Spurs without 3 of their starters.

[ma11l]

speaking of cream puff schedule for the lakers.... is it just me or are the heavy hitting opponents of the lakers missing a key player at least every other game against the lakers?

Duncan, McGrady, Boozer, etc.

Don't forget KG for the last 6 minutes for the game in Boston.

[Mr October]

speaking of cream puff schedule for the lakers.... is it just me or are the heavy hitting opponents of the lakers missing a key player at least every other game against the lakers?

Duncan, McGrady, Boozer, etc.

Don't forget KG for the last 6 minutes for the game in Boston.

The list goes on and on.... It seams like the Lakers rarely played the good teams at full strength. The Lakers are good. But I think they received a nice little creampuff pad.... good for about 4-5 extra wins. Man I hate the Lakers.

[FLCeltsFan]

speaking of cream puff schedule for the lakers.... is it just me or are the heavy hitting opponents of the lakers missing a key player at least every other game against the lakers?

Duncan, McGrady, Boozer, etc.

Don't forget KG for the last 6 minutes for the game in Boston.

And Perk at half strength on Christmas after they hacked his shoulder trying to take him out. 

[Mr October]

speaking of cream puff schedule for the lakers.... is it just me or are the heavy hitting opponents of the lakers missing a key player at least every other game against the lakers?

Duncan, McGrady, Boozer, etc.

Well, the Lakers would have a tougher time against Houston if McGrady did play (they are just better without him).  Cleveland also got to play the Spurs without 3 of their starters.

hahaha, true about Houston. Is McGrady the most over rated player of all time? Now I'm getting way off topic.

The West contenders have been ravaged with injuries this year. Especially Utah and San Antonio - who I think are the next 2 best teams.

And yet only a 2 game lead on the "has been" Celtics - who have been playing with a thin bench for the entire year.

[CelticsWhat35]

We can't lose sleep over the scheduling fortunes of the Lakers.  If their record is in fact inflated because of these occurences, that will shine through in the playoffs.  But all we can do for now is worrying about how the Celtics play.

Also, I'm not going to cry conspiracy if Odom doesn't get suspended, or since Ariza got suspended.  Because as much as we all hate Kobe, he's gotten a couple questionable suspensions for that "arm-flailing" thing he does after jump shots.  Other players have done the same thing without a suspension.

All I ask for is consistency, and if Al Horford gets a one-game suspension for his hit on TJ Ford last year, I would love to hear Stu Jackson explain to Horford why he got suspended, and Ariza didn't.

[Cman]

I would love to hear Stu Jackson explain to Horford why he got suspended, and Ariza didn't.

It probably went something like this:

"Hey Al, sorry about the suspension, and please don't kick up a fuss about Ariza.  Listen, you will be on the all-star ballot as a forward next year, and we have a way of kicking you an extra 200,000 votes from our colleagues in China.  Whaddaya say?"

"Um, could you make it 400,000?"

"300,000 tops"

"Done"

[Mr October]

just in case anyone hasn't seen it.... here's the Lakers broadcast (they think it was a clean play - man i hate Joel Myers - worst play by play man in the NBA - even Laker fans don't like him)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTQ5x392QpQ

Chris Sheridan clip about Odom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgLzF5cQwEo

Lakers suck! Lakers suck!

[crownsy]

I would love to hear Stu Jackson explain to Horford why he got suspended, and Ariza didn't.

It probably went something like this:

"Hey Al, sorry about the suspension, and please don't kick up a fuss about Ariza.  Listen, you will be on the all-star ballot as a forward next year, and we have a way of kicking you an extra 200,000 votes from our colleagues in China.  Whaddaya say?"

"Um, could you make it 400,000?"

"300,000 tops"

"Done"

while funny, count me among those that don't really think the two fouls are the same. Horford got nothing lik a defensive position, Ariza got the ball, and was clearly going for it, not the man.

Horford pretty much assisinated TJ, with no hope of a play on the ball. diffrent imo.

[ACF]

It wasn't dirty.  It was unnecessarily hard, but it wasn't dirty.  Had Fernandez gotten right up, no one would have said anything.

And yet that is not the case in the BBD vs. Varajao incident when Baby and the Celtics were considered 'dirty'. AOL Fanhouse's resident Laker fan Brett is saying Ariza's was a flagarant but Baby was clearly 'headhunting'. Truly unbelievavle bias.

Remember, Rudy is a "soft Euro".
He had it coming     

I hate the Lakers and love Rudy.
There, settled, with no way to
misunderstand it 

[D Dub]

I am outraged that Ariza is not being suspended for a couple of games.  

His intent was hard foul.  Anyone who says he was going up for a clean block is kidding themselves.  Down 30 late in the game? breakaway dunk attempt by a high-flyer like Rudy?  No way he was thinking about blocking the shot.  

Now, I have no problem with hard fouls, but when you do so by winding up and recklessly swinging your forearm into the back of someone's head - you need to be suspended.  That type of blow was not necessary to break up the layup.  

Watch it again and watch Rudy's neck snap sideways causing the stretcher/neck brace fiasco.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTQ5x392QpQ

[CelticsWhat35]

I would love to hear Stu Jackson explain to Horford why he got suspended, and Ariza didn't.

It probably went something like this:

"Hey Al, sorry about the suspension, and please don't kick up a fuss about Ariza.  Listen, you will be on the all-star ballot as a forward next year, and we have a way of kicking you an extra 200,000 votes from our colleagues in China.  Whaddaya say?"

"Um, could you make it 400,000?"

"300,000 tops"

"Done"

while funny, count me among those that don't really think the two fouls are the same. Horford got nothing lik a defensive position, Ariza got the ball, and was clearly going for it, not the man.

Horford pretty much assisinated TJ, with no hope of a play on the ball. diffrent imo.

Go back and check the Horford foul.  The only reason the bad contact was made was because Ford tried to change direction at the last second.  Even Chris Bosh, Ford's teammate, was quoted as saying the same thing.