Draymond Green suspended from game 5

[MBunge]

Green was given a flagrant for unnecessary contact in a non-basketball move. 

Green was being fouled and waved his arm at the guy fouling him.  If that's a flagrant foul, every single game in the NBA would have to be stopped before halftime because every single player has been ejected.

There's no way that's a flagrant foul in that situation if Green flails at Stephen Adams.  And there's no way it's only a flagrant one is Green kicks LeBron square in the nuts.

Mike

except Green wasn't being fouled when he committed the flagrant.  He was already on the ground and James was walking over him (correctly given a technical for that taunt).  Green stood up into James and then swung his arm twice, once hitting James in the junk and once missing entirely.  That is pretty obviously a flagrant foul

1.  I am unaware of any rule that says you aren't allowed to try and get up when you've been knocked down.  LeBron knocked Green down and then stepped over him as Green was trying to get up.  Green has no obligation to just lie there.

2.  Green didn't "swing" his arm at Lebron.  He flicked it at him in a backhand motion, like you were going to tap someone to get their attention.  When he did it the first time, it was as he was getting up and I don't think anyone can say if he meant to hit LeBron in the leg, butt, back or what have you.

3.  If that is a flagrant foul, then so is EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEONE GETS SHOVED AFTER HARD CONTACT.

4.  No one should feel sorry for Green or the Warriors because he should have gotten a flagrant 2 and a suspension after blasting Adams in the junk, but no one should pretend this is something it isn't.  Green is getting suspended because LeBron is involved and the Warriors are up 3-1 and the league doesn't think his suspension will unduly benefit the Cavs.  If Green had done it to J.R. Smith and the series were tied 2-2, it would have been nothing more than a double technical.

Mike

[D Dub]

Feels like the NBA is really reaching to make this happen. 

It should have been a double Tech.   But okay, I get it, sometimes they miss calls and the NBA should go back and ensure justice is served.   Problem is, that doesn't mean it was a flagrant.   The play still should have been a double Tech and the right thing to do would have been to go back and give Green a tech for his part (as LBJ already got his tech).   

But to incorrectly interpret it as a flagrant so they can trigger this auto-suspension? 

No, that is definitely not the right call. 

[Moranis]

Green was given a flagrant for unnecessary contact in a non-basketball move. 

Green was being fouled and waved his arm at the guy fouling him.  If that's a flagrant foul, every single game in the NBA would have to be stopped before halftime because every single player has been ejected.

There's no way that's a flagrant foul in that situation if Green flails at Stephen Adams.  And there's no way it's only a flagrant one is Green kicks LeBron square in the nuts.

Mike

except Green wasn't being fouled when he committed the flagrant.  He was already on the ground and James was walking over him (correctly given a technical for that taunt).  Green stood up into James and then swung his arm twice, once hitting James in the junk and once missing entirely.  That is pretty obviously a flagrant foul

1.  I am unaware of any rule that says you aren't allowed to try and get up when you've been knocked down.  LeBron knocked Green down and then stepped over him as Green was trying to get up.  Green has no obligation to just lie there.

2.  Green didn't "swing" his arm at Lebron.  He flicked it at him in a backhand motion, like you were going to tap someone to get their attention.  When he did it the first time, it was as he was getting up and I don't think anyone can say if he meant to hit LeBron in the leg, butt, back or what have you.

3.  If that is a flagrant foul, then so is EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEONE GETS SHOVED AFTER HARD CONTACT.

4.  No one should feel sorry for Green or the Warriors because he should have gotten a flagrant 2 and a suspension after blasting Adams in the junk, but no one should pretend this is something it isn't.  Green is getting suspended because LeBron is involved and the Warriors are up 3-1 and the league doesn't think his suspension will unduly benefit the Cavs.  If Green had done it to J.R. Smith and the series were tied 2-2, it would have been nothing more than a double technical.

Mike

I don't know how you can watch the video and not conclude that Green intentionally hit James in the groin and then swings at him again. 

[BRC-14]

Definitely not a flagrant foul by any means, but Ty Lue and LeBron talking to the media really made it seem like they really wanted the league to give Draymond that flagrant to get him suspended (which is sad because the Cavs are resorting to making sure the Warriors aren't at full strength).

I think the best thing since though is the Warriors all calling out LeBron about his feeling and crying to the media about what Draymond called him. Even Ayesha Curry got after him about taking the "high road" when he said he wasn't going to respond to Klay's comments.

Also anyone see that Kevin Love thinks stepping over people during a game is a sign of disrespect?
http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/6/12/11917182/kevin-love-thinks-stepover-moves-like-lebrons-is-a-form-of-disrespect?yptr=yahoo

[BRC-14]

Green was given a flagrant for unnecessary contact in a non-basketball move. 

Green was being fouled and waved his arm at the guy fouling him.  If that's a flagrant foul, every single game in the NBA would have to be stopped before halftime because every single player has been ejected.

There's no way that's a flagrant foul in that situation if Green flails at Stephen Adams.  And there's no way it's only a flagrant one is Green kicks LeBron square in the nuts.

Mike

except Green wasn't being fouled when he committed the flagrant.  He was already on the ground and James was walking over him (correctly given a technical for that taunt).  Green stood up into James and then swung his arm twice, once hitting James in the junk and once missing entirely.  That is pretty obviously a flagrant foul

1.  I am unaware of any rule that says you aren't allowed to try and get up when you've been knocked down.  LeBron knocked Green down and then stepped over him as Green was trying to get up.  Green has no obligation to just lie there.

2.  Green didn't "swing" his arm at Lebron.  He flicked it at him in a backhand motion, like you were going to tap someone to get their attention.  When he did it the first time, it was as he was getting up and I don't think anyone can say if he meant to hit LeBron in the leg, butt, back or what have you.

3.  If that is a flagrant foul, then so is EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEONE GETS SHOVED AFTER HARD CONTACT.

4.  No one should feel sorry for Green or the Warriors because he should have gotten a flagrant 2 and a suspension after blasting Adams in the junk, but no one should pretend this is something it isn't.  Green is getting suspended because LeBron is involved and the Warriors are up 3-1 and the league doesn't think his suspension will unduly benefit the Cavs.  If Green had done it to J.R. Smith and the series were tied 2-2, it would have been nothing more than a double technical.

Mike

I don't know how you can watch the video and not conclude that Green intentionally hit James in the groin and then swings at him again.

It he was really trying to really hurt LeBron why would he throw a floppy swing of his backhand? To me it looked like he was trying to make the swing like "get off me bro" as I would have if someone stepped over me during a game of basketball. I honestly think he was just trying to make contact with LeBron but sadly what he got was below the belt because Bron was stepping over him with his legs spread. That's just my interpretation though.

[Finkelskyhook]

Don't make the case for the word "thug" referring to African American players. You are not going to win and only going to make people question why you'd pick "that" fight.

Do you really want to be the guy following in the footsteps of Jay from Clerks II?

The hyphenation of any American offends me.  It'd done for no other reason but to divide. 

That said....Apparently ABC and ESPN does a great job of stereotyping with that illiterate rapper in their promos..."If you think you a cham-p-an show me you a cham-p-an".  Really?  I can't imagine who they're targeting in this idiot's ads.   Seen many games and many interviews and commentating from current and ex-NBA players  and have yet to hear any NBA player sound as illiterate as this idiot.   But ABC and ESPN must assume that the NBA audience consists of people with IQs of 80 or less.

[Endless Paradise]

I'm not sure why people are arguing that this is a make-up for him not being suspended against OKC. He hit his flagrant foul limit. He was suspended for that, not specifically for hitting LeBron in the nuts. If he hadn't committed any prior flagrant fouls, he wouldn't have been suspended as he wouldn't have hit the point limit.

[Finkelskyhook]

NBA management is going to protect their best player...And they should.

They obviously didn't have the same regard for Steven Adams.   Green should've been dealt with then.

[Moranis]

Green was given a flagrant for unnecessary contact in a non-basketball move. 

Green was being fouled and waved his arm at the guy fouling him.  If that's a flagrant foul, every single game in the NBA would have to be stopped before halftime because every single player has been ejected.

There's no way that's a flagrant foul in that situation if Green flails at Stephen Adams.  And there's no way it's only a flagrant one is Green kicks LeBron square in the nuts.

Mike

except Green wasn't being fouled when he committed the flagrant.  He was already on the ground and James was walking over him (correctly given a technical for that taunt).  Green stood up into James and then swung his arm twice, once hitting James in the junk and once missing entirely.  That is pretty obviously a flagrant foul

1.  I am unaware of any rule that says you aren't allowed to try and get up when you've been knocked down.  LeBron knocked Green down and then stepped over him as Green was trying to get up.  Green has no obligation to just lie there.

2.  Green didn't "swing" his arm at Lebron.  He flicked it at him in a backhand motion, like you were going to tap someone to get their attention.  When he did it the first time, it was as he was getting up and I don't think anyone can say if he meant to hit LeBron in the leg, butt, back or what have you.

3.  If that is a flagrant foul, then so is EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEONE GETS SHOVED AFTER HARD CONTACT.

4.  No one should feel sorry for Green or the Warriors because he should have gotten a flagrant 2 and a suspension after blasting Adams in the junk, but no one should pretend this is something it isn't.  Green is getting suspended because LeBron is involved and the Warriors are up 3-1 and the league doesn't think his suspension will unduly benefit the Cavs.  If Green had done it to J.R. Smith and the series were tied 2-2, it would have been nothing more than a double technical.

Mike

I don't know how you can watch the video and not conclude that Green intentionally hit James in the groin and then swings at him again.

It he was really trying to really hurt LeBron why would he throw a floppy swing of his backhand? To me it looked like he was trying to make the swing like "get off me bro" as I would have if someone stepped over me during a game of basketball. I honestly think he was just trying to make contact with LeBron but sadly what he got was below the belt because Bron was stepping over him with his legs spread. That's just my interpretation though.

I'm not suggesting he was trying to hurt James (in the sense of injury), but it seems pretty clear he intentionally swung at him, twice.  Made contact in the junk once and missed the second time.  Those weren't love taps though either. 

when you are a dirty player, as Green is, you have to live with the consequences.  In this case that was his 4th flagrant foul point and now he is suspended for the close-out game at home.

[Finkelskyhook]

Diamond Leung ‏@diamond83 1h1 hour ago

Mychal Thompson: "LeBron (James) couldn't have survived in the 80s with the physicality and the words guys said to each other back then."

He'd definitely survive the physical aspect of it.  You just have to look at his body & his game to realize that. 

Mentally?  I think he'd have to make an adjustment.  This coddled, "kick & screaming" attitude wouldn't have endeared him much back then.    Of course, you could make the argument that if he came into the league in 1983 rather 2003, his temperament would've been better to begin with.

The messiah would've been great in any era.  He's a baby because of the way he's officiated.  Along with Jordan....We'll never know how much greater either could've been because of the way they were officiated.  I think both would've been a helluva lot better than they were/are.  If they couldn't get away with 3-4-5 step travels...They would've adjusted.  It's not like any of their peers outworked either of them.  Think if the messiah wouldn't be able to travel at will...Charge at will etc...That he'd have developed a more  reliable jumper?

The messiah struggles in the post season because the officiating is far more even handed in the playoffs the last few years.  He's actually been called for traveling in the playoffs. 

[BRC-14]

I'm not sure why people are arguing that this is a make-up for him not being suspended against OKC. He hit his flagrant foul limit. He was suspended for that, not specifically for hitting LeBron in the nuts. If he hadn't committed any prior flagrant fouls, he wouldn't have been suspended as he wouldn't have hit the point limit.

I don't think people are arguing whether he hit the flagrant limit or not, people are arguing that the most recent flagrant he was assessed was unwarranted. Many have said the Cavs have been trying to bait him, then what happened with LeBron, it just seems like he has been targeted. So with everything going on people are upset he got the flagrant for what happened.

[Endless Paradise]

*shrugs*

Draymond has developed a well-established reputation for going after nuts in the playoffs. I can't really muster up much sympathy for the dude.

[Beat LA]

I don't like or respect thugs like Draymond Green

Does anyone else have a problem with people referring to African Americans as thugs? I do. Call him a dirty player. Provide some links. Say look at what he did on that play.

But please don't refer to African Americans as thugs.

There's nothing racial about this, nor was I even thinking of that when I made that post.  I don't care if you're black, white, or whatever color Boehner and Trump are , if you're a thug, you're a thug, to me, which is why I later referenced the other two thugs on Golden State being Bogut and Varejao.  Rick Mahorn, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Greg Kite, Kurt Rambis, Charles Oakley, and Mitch Kupchak were all thugs.  It has nothing to do with someone's color - it's all about how they play the game, or don't, as the case may be. 

[PhoSita]

I'm not sure why people are arguing that this is a make-up for him not being suspended against OKC. He hit his flagrant foul limit. He was suspended for that, not specifically for hitting LeBron in the nuts. If he hadn't committed any prior flagrant fouls, he wouldn't have been suspended as he wouldn't have hit the point limit.

Because it wasn't a flagrant foul. Shoulda been a tech.

[MBunge]

Green was given a flagrant for unnecessary contact in a non-basketball move. 

Green was being fouled and waved his arm at the guy fouling him.  If that's a flagrant foul, every single game in the NBA would have to be stopped before halftime because every single player has been ejected.

There's no way that's a flagrant foul in that situation if Green flails at Stephen Adams.  And there's no way it's only a flagrant one is Green kicks LeBron square in the nuts.

Mike

except Green wasn't being fouled when he committed the flagrant.  He was already on the ground and James was walking over him (correctly given a technical for that taunt).  Green stood up into James and then swung his arm twice, once hitting James in the junk and once missing entirely.  That is pretty obviously a flagrant foul

1.  I am unaware of any rule that says you aren't allowed to try and get up when you've been knocked down.  LeBron knocked Green down and then stepped over him as Green was trying to get up.  Green has no obligation to just lie there.

2.  Green didn't "swing" his arm at Lebron.  He flicked it at him in a backhand motion, like you were going to tap someone to get their attention.  When he did it the first time, it was as he was getting up and I don't think anyone can say if he meant to hit LeBron in the leg, butt, back or what have you.

3.  If that is a flagrant foul, then so is EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEONE GETS SHOVED AFTER HARD CONTACT.

4.  No one should feel sorry for Green or the Warriors because he should have gotten a flagrant 2 and a suspension after blasting Adams in the junk, but no one should pretend this is something it isn't.  Green is getting suspended because LeBron is involved and the Warriors are up 3-1 and the league doesn't think his suspension will unduly benefit the Cavs.  If Green had done it to J.R. Smith and the series were tied 2-2, it would have been nothing more than a double technical.

Mike

I don't know how you can watch the video and not conclude that Green intentionally hit James in the groin and then swings at him again.

Go watch the video.

Green is bent over and it's not even clear if he's looking at Lebron when he snaps out his arm.  From the position of his body, it's literally the only thing he can do in the moment to try and smack at James.  And then he repeats the same exact motion when he's standing up.

The NBA said it could not determine Green's intent when he tried to punt Adams' genitalia into the rafters.  How can it possibly say it knows exactly what was in Green's mind this time?  Was he trying to smack LeBron?  Sure, and that's a technical not a flagrant foul.

Mike