Should Kobe/Fisher be suspended? (Fisher suspended, Kobe not, page 4)

[kozlodoev]

There was a replay today on ESPN that had footage from the camera under the basket -- it looks pretty bad and definitely deliberate, but I don't think it really makes contact above the shoulder.

Still, something has to happen.

[Cman]

Kobe shouldn't be suspended.  I dislike the guy, but he is just playing playoff basketball and you can get away with an extra elbow here or there in playoff basketball.  His elbows are different from the Howard elbow and the Artest slap -- h is come while making a play for the ball. 

BTW, the Lakers are playing grittier than they played last year, which will make them harder to beat.  I hate writing the above, because I hate the Lakers.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

The Kobe play was extremely dirty. Can you imagine if ANYONE ELSE threw that elbow underneath the basket? They'd be automatically ejected and dubbed a "dirty player" for the remainder of their career. Kobe on the other hand was "boxing out" and "basketball is a contact sport" etc... BULLSH*T! He wound up, clipped Ron-Ron in the throat, and even followed through. The worst part for me was how he handled Craig Sager's post-game question asking him to go over the play in question. He said something along the lines of "the playoffs get rough" or something like that. Just disgusting.

The Fisher play was also extremely dirty. I would have never expected a play of that caliber to be executed by D-Fish (known as a classy guy). Clearly he knew his team would win and simply wanted to take a (cheap) shot at Scola.

IMHO these two different plays lead me to believe that L.A.'s wheels are falling off 2 GAMES INTO THE SERIES. Odom, Gasol, and Bynum are all extremely soft and the on-court drama/cheap-shots are a byproduct of their softness.

[RAcker]

I hate the Lakers with a purple passion and of course want the Celtics to have every little advantage possible, but here is what I think should happen:

Fisher - Yes
Kobe - No
Alston - Yes

There.

[Reggie's Ghost]

I hate the Lakers with a purple passion and of course want the Celtics to have every little advantage possible, but here is what I think should happen:

Fisher - Yes
Kobe - No
Alston - Yes

There.

That is what WILL happen, but what SHOULD happen depends.  I wish the game was like it used to be, more physical and gutty then it's allowed to be today.  However, if the Dwight Howard elbow is a suspension, that you HAVE to suspend Kobe for this as a matter of consistency.

I don't want that to happen because I don't want the NBA to be declawed too much, but as a matter of fair and equal treatment of this Hollywood diva, I think the fair thing to do is suspend him (and def Fisher, no question on that one) 1 game. 

I'd say the same thing if it was one of our guys, honestly...

[indeedproceed]

Derick Fisher should absolutely be suspended.

[jambr380]

Eh, seems like we would be somewhat hypocritical calling for all of these suspensions, when Rondo never even got thrown out of a game. I thought for sure after he threw Hinrich into the scorer's table that he would be gone, especially after the questionable foul on Miller.

Kobe did throw his elbow while fighting for position- so it seems pretty petty to suspend him for that. Fisher already was thrown out, so I can't imagine he will have another penalty. And, Alston's slap was pretty minor. I just hate the wussification of basketball nowadays. I understand that none of these actions should be tolerated, but they aren't so bad that they deserve suspensions. A $25000 fine does suck (even though people think it is nothing to them) and they will also have a 'strike' against them next time they do something. Unless a fight breaks out or someone does something really malicious, I think we all need to chill out and stop hoping for advantages we don't necessarily deserve...we all thought Brad Miller was a chump in his post-game interview wanting the ball out of bounds after the FTs.

[Reggie's Ghost]

Eh, seems like we would be somewhat hypocritical calling for all of these suspensions, when Rondo never even got thrown out of a game. I thought for sure after he threw Hinrich into the scorer's table that he would be gone, especially after the questionable foul on Miller.

Kobe did throw his elbow while fighting for position- so it seems pretty petty to suspend him for that. Fisher already was thrown out, so I can't imagine he will have another penalty. And, Alston's slap was pretty minor. I just hate the wussification of basketball nowadays. I understand that none of these actions should be tolerated, but they aren't so bad that they deserve suspensions. A $25000 fine does suck (even though people think it is nothing to them) and they will also have a 'strike' against them next time they do something. Unless a fight breaks out or someone does something really malicious, I think we all need to chill out and stop hoping for advantages we don't necessarily deserve...we all thought Brad Miller was a chump in his post-game interview wanting the ball out of bounds after the FTs.

As I said before, I agree completely with the spirit of your post, and I'd rather the league released the players from this chock hold Stern has on them across the board.  But if you suspend DH for that elbow in the first round, and you want to be consistent, you would have to do the same about Kobe here.  I hope it doesn't happen, and it may not because he's such a huge star, but I'd understand if it does.

They WILL suspend Fisher an additional game, and every time I watch the replay I feel this would be justified, as much as I respect Fisher's rep around the league as a good guy...

[indeedproceed]

I don't think its hypocritical, I think Derrick Fisher's foul was an obvious premeditated action, and he deserves a suspension for that.

[yall hate]

Both (kobe/fisher) should be. 

Kobe wont be.

[ScoobyDoo]

Fisher should absolutely be susepended. Kobe, probably not, though I'd defiantely upgrade it to a Flagrant 1. As someone else mentioned, Kobe has a history of his elbows finding poeple's faces. He knows what he's doing, it's not coincidence.

Therefore, I wouldn't even argue with a suspension but I could understand if they pass on it. But I would definately upgrade it to a flagrant one.

I just couldn't beleive they called a foul on Artest on that play. The two were playing hip check, Artest wasn't even hooking him or holding him. Kobe throws a very clear elbow to Artest's head and Artest gets the foul? I really hate the superstar calls. Can't stand them.

Aslton? has to be. Even though it was more comedy than anything else...you simply cannot allow guys to be swatting each other on the head in in a heated moment, unless you allow everyone to salp each other. Now we have a bunch of guys running around slapping each other every night...while there's alot of enetertainment value in that, you can't have it. How do you say what grade of slap it is?

It's a punch...to someone's head.

[Cman]

Aslton? has to be. Even though it was more comedy than anything else...you simply cannot allow guys to be swatting each other on the head in in a heated moment, unless you allow everyone to salp each other. Now we have a bunch of guys running around slapping each other every night...while there's alot of enetertainment value in that, you can't have it. How do you say what grade of slap it is?

It's a punch...to someone's head.

Agreed.  If you don't suspend Alston, you send a signal that slaps to the head will go unpunished.

[Mr October]

i agree with the consensus... Fisher and Alston should be suspended.

Kobe's should have just been a hard playoff foul... maybe flag 1

[Scribbles]

Fisher should be for sure.  He even looked back as Scola was coming up to set the screen and then extended his arm.  As for Kobe, he most likely won't be suspended, but its similar to Howard's, and both Stern and Jackson said "elbow above the shoulders."  Well that then qualifies for a suspension. 

[libermaniac]

I hate the Lakers with a purple passion and of course want the Celtics to have every little advantage possible, but here is what I think should happen:

Fisher - Yes
Kobe - No
Alston - Yes

There.

Agree on all 3.