Rondo suspended for possible Game 7? (UPDATE: Rondo will play in Game 7)

[Dissent]

I think if they were going to suspend him they would have done it by now.

If they were going to take a hard line like they did with Howard, they would do it early before they could talk themselves out of it. Because all the pundits and such want him in because they love the Rose-Rondo dueling aspect to the series.

[Roy Hobbs]

Here's one reason the league may choose to sweep this under the rug:

The triple-overtime thriller between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics is the most-watched first-round game on cable TV.

TNT says the Bulls' 128-127 victory Thursday in Game 6 was seen by 5.35 million viewers. The previous record was 4.97 million for Game 6 of the Suns-Lakers series in 2006, a 126-118 overtime win by Phoenix.

[pengaloo]

From the Chicago Tribune...

The league office issued no discipline for the Rondo- Kirk Hinrich first-quarter tussle. . . .

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-02-bulls-bits-chicago-may02,0,6597606.story

[Cman]

Here's one reason the league may choose to sweep this under the rug:

The triple-overtime thriller between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics is the most-watched first-round game on cable TV.

TNT says the Bulls' 128-127 victory Thursday in Game 6 was seen by 5.35 million viewers. The previous record was 4.97 million for Game 6 of the Suns-Lakers series in 2006, a 126-118 overtime win by Phoenix.

It will be interesting to see how the league comes down on this.  I'ts interesting that the benches of both teams behaved and didn't run on court.  Shows that the Horry-Nash thing sent a real message, and the league may want to do the same thing here.  All that said, I agree that this is a business, and the ratings are probably going to sway the decision.  If there is a suspension, it will be both players, I can't see them suspending one and not the other.  But I think it is unlikely that there will be any suspensions. 

Edit: I guess its a moot point now.  Thanks pengaloo.

[BballTim]

Since there was no contact, I see Rondo's raised arm as a defensive measure to get Hinrich to back off.

I disagree that it was only a defensive measure.  Here's the best (and fairest) look at it I've seen:



Hinrich gets Rondo in the neck area (which should be a suspension in its own right) and Rondo takes an apparent elbow jab at him which does not appear to just be a defensive posture to me.

He certainly didn't make contact, but to me, this looks like something more than just trying to defend himself.

  When you consider (from the side-angle photo) that Rondo's elbow was at least a foot from Hinrich's head it's silly to call that an elbow jab. Stand almost a full arm's length from something and try and jab it with your elbow without moving forward.

[Rondo_is_better]

Rondo will not be suspended! Good news there; no further action whatsoever.

BUT

Look at this report from ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4124025


Its just slander. They completely left out what Heinrich did to instigate the incident, and there was no elbow thrown (sure didn't look like one to me...otherwise he would have extended his arm alot more. He was just gathering himself after the shove in a defensive way). The whole report is bogus and anti-Celtic. 

[pengaloo]

Rondo will not be suspended! Good news there; no further action whatsoever.

BUT

Look at this report from ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4124025


Its just slander. They completely left out what Heinrich did to instigate the incident, and there was no elbow thrown (sure didn't look like one to me...otherwise he would have extended his arm alot more. He was just gathering himself after the shove in a defensive way). The whole report is bogus and anti-Celtic. 

the sad thing about that article is that it's an AP article - so it's going to be everywhere. I like the Boston Globe's version:

There will be no further action against Celtics guard Rajon Rondo and Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich for their altercation late in the first quarter of Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Thursday night, said NBA spokesman Tim Frank.

With 28 seconds remaining in the quarter, Rondo and Hinrich collided on the right side of the court. Rondo grabbed Hinrich's arm and pushed him against the scorer's table. Hinrich then shoved Rondo before referee Ed Malloy stepped in between the two players as they exchanged words, with Hinrich bounding around like a boxer.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2009/05/league_wont_pun.html

[celticinorlando]

good news...HE NEEDS TO PLAY LIKE A MAN TOMORROW NIGHT

[Dissent]

I'm glad he's going to be in the game.

But man is the league schizo on what does and does not get  you thrown out of a game these days.

[Drucci]

Good news, neither player deserved a suspension.

Now I hope Rondo will play the way he played in all game in this series, and not like in game 6.

[EJPLAYA]

Can anyone explain why Gray (which really doesn't matter) and Tyrus Thomas aren't being suspended?! They were on the bench before the rumble started and as soon as the two started shoving/throwing they left the bench to get in the middle of it. None of the C's bench left by the way. I thought this was an automatic! You leave your bench in a scrum and you are suspended.

[Roy Hobbs]

Can anyone explain why Gray (which really doesn't matter) and Tyrus Thomas aren't being suspended?! They were on the bench before the rumble started and as soon as the two started shoving/throwing they left the bench to get in the middle of it. None of the C's bench left by the way. I thought this was an automatic! You leave your bench in a scrum and you are suspended.

I know Aaron Gray was actually checked into the game, and I believe Ty Thomas was, too.  You can see the substitution pattern here:

http://espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=290430004&period=1

[Dissent]

Yeah it was the only minute he play weirdly enough.

[celticinorlando]

gray clearly left the bench..he was in warm-ups...

[Atzar]

I think Rondo will be on thin ice for the rest of the playoffs though, however long that might be.  If his name keeps popping up in connection with altercations, not only will he ruin his reputation, but he'll also stop getting the benefit of the doubt.  I honestly think he got the help of some fortunate circumstances in the past two games (the fact that it was judged at the same time as a worse transgression from Dwight Howard, and the fact that the NBA doesn't want to spoil one of the best series' ever).