[ESPN RADIO] Avery Johnson announces Stackhouse to miss Game 5?

This is the finals -- Stack didn't even get ejected, suspending him for a critical game is complete nonsense.

 

Jason Terry wasn't ejected when he was suspended. Ron Artest wasn't ejected when he was suspended.

Whether the player was ejected during the game is a poor barometer to use on whether they should be suspended. These refs only get one look at the play in live action and often don't get a good view, especially on plays in transition such as this one. It takes replays and close observance to really tell, and that's why you can't really use the initial gut call from the referee as a barometer for how bad the foul actually is.

As for Dallas, if they don't like it, tough. They had it coming. They might not be to this point if not for some very questionable calls in the fourth quarters of Games 3 and 4 against San Antonio. Funny how they all want to right this supposed "wrong" but act as if those things that went against San Antonio were all just part of the game.

 

THe NBA set precedence in the playoffs by suspending players and Stackhouse's foul was probably the second worse foul in these playoffs, Raja Bell's beautiful tackle of Kobe was the worse. It's a big blow to the Mavs but they only have themselves to blame for chocking that 15 point lead with 6 minutes to go in game 3.

On another note, dallas crying about the refs is sickening. The refs called like 5 offensive fouls and so many blocking fouls against the Heat in that game it was ridiculous. Harris and Armstrong flopped like Vlade. Zo clearly blocked Nowitzki's shot and they called a foul on him; Shaq was clearly outside the circle and they called a blocking foul.

 

what i want to know is, why haven't avery and/or mark cuban been fined for saying the NBA is giving preferential treatment to shaq??

 

I think Stack's foul was worse because it could have hurt Shaq. Raja Bell was just plain stupid. Kobe wasn't even shooting the ball and he collared him, but Bell's foul had no potential to injure.

I totally agree with you about the Mavs complaining. This is the type of stuff that can turn me back into a "Mavs hater". They have the better team even without Stack and Avery Johnson must get them back to square one. If they start whining early in game 5 it could be a long day for them. If they come out focused on playing tough D and executing their offense, the Heat won't stand a chance. AJ must figure a way to snap them out of it.

 

That sounds a lot to me like the Rockets, the Spurs, the Lakers, the Heat and, well, every other team in the NBA. Is there a team that (1) doesn't whine or (2) wants to undo calls that benefitted them?

 

I didn't say the Mavs were the only team to do that. I was just pointing out that it's particularly fitting for it to happen to them given some of the breaks they've received this postseason... breaks that most other teams did not receive.

 

The difference between today's NBA in this regard, and the NBA we knew for so long, is just stunning. In the old days, the fists might fly, the benches empty, and one or two players would be tossed from a game, being able to play in the next. (see the '86 playoffs for an example during a Finals series) I don't want anyone to be seriously hurt, of course, but the league has gotten ridiculous.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking....they werent complaining when Duncan was fouled out on nonsense and when they got every single call in game 4 (Dirk running over Duncan when he is clearly out of the restricted zone). Thats why get irritated when Cuban and Avery Johnson complain about refs and how the game is called. It seems like everytime they lose, they complain.

 

I'm pretty certain there is another pro sport where a helmet and pads are used to help lessen the effects of a body tackle.

Maybe Stack should go to that league this offseason and try out.

No one should get a free ride on a tackle in the NBA.

Justice has been served IMHO.

EDIT:

FYI, my wife is a mavs fan... when that play happened she was embarrassed to be a mavs fan. She even said, "if they win it, they should win it with class."

I hate it when any team plays like the Jazz.

 

Wow...incredible.

I hate the Mav's, and I honestly don't think this was warranted. Hard, unncecessary foul, but not worthy of a suspension. Especially this time of the year.

Major, all teams complain about calls, but the Mav's are the biggest beneficiaries of shoddy officiating in the league. I don't know how Cuban was able to gather so many floppers and assemble a team. Kudos.

 

Watch the video in slow motion from the basket-cam angle.

First, Stack goes across Shaq's face with his left hand while not looking for the ball.

Then, as his body makes full contact in the air, he begins to plant is right elbow and forearm across Shaq's head, jaw and neck, and does not stop until his arm is fully extended, pushing Shaq's upper body away from his (still not going for the ball).

And as they are descending from the air, Stack's right knee is firmly planted in Shaq's groin... wrong ball.

This is a Flagrant 2 upon further review of point(s) of contact, and lack of a play on the ball.

This was an all body contact foul against a player that was wide open to the basket. Not a play on the ball, or merely a shot block attempt.

It was most probably seen as retaliation for the busted nose in game one that Stack got when he ran his nose against the elbow of Shaq's fully extended arm.

This is also consistent to other suspensions in this year's playoffs, regardless of what Avery says.

Good ruling. Karl Malone-esque plays should be the cause for suspensions.

It could save a lesser-sized man from career ending injuries.

 

So because it's the finals, Stackhouse should be allowed to tomahawk Shaq in the head? He made no play on the ball at all. Luckily Shaq wasn't hurt.

If this happened to Yao, almost everyone on this board would be calling for a suspension. If it happened to Dirk, you can bet Cuban would send video tapes from every angle to the league, post some long whining rant on his board, and b%tch and complain to any media outlet who will grant him an interview.

 

Stack didn't throw a punch - he made a hard foul in the finals against Shaq who had repeatedly jacked his teammates with hard elbows.


Good hard foul by Stack -- terrible decision by the NBA.

 

I don't remember the exact nature of the foul. I remember it being hard and unnecessary, but could it have caused injury? If so, I kind of change my tone.

And, the finals thing...I don't know. I know every game is theoretically the same, but it sucks to handicap a team this time of the year.

Regardless, for once the call goes against Cuban...GO HEAT!

 

1. Stackhouse should of thought about the consequences a stupid stunt he made might have on the series especially when the game was more than finished, so hes comment on making shaq go to the line is "an excuse".

2. What the heck is Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson doing on the radio commenting on a play that they say is unprecedented??? All you have to look is across the court and see a perfect example JAMES POSEY in the Chicago series, he got suspended and it was half as bad.

3. I like what Pat Riley is doing here if you have noticed there has been barely any comments since the play happend except for Shaqs mockery. They are confident and Pat knows that its better to be on the Referees good side no matter what....look for favored refereeing due to Avery Johnson and Mark Cubans comments(dummy)...

 

Great post, especially your last 2 points. Avery Johnson and Mark Cuban are making a huge mistake going so public with this. If they can't keep their composure how can they expect the players to? Riley is playing it just right. Shaq, by hitting the FTs and making the ONE comment about his daughters has played it well also. AJ's outburst on ESPN103.3 was very unfortunate. He needs to cool it.

 

i'm tired of people say "oh today's NBA sucks. Back in the day we had fights, etc etc etc". Please, if you want to watch players getting physical, go watch rugby or hockey or something. This is basketball and I, for one, am glad that they've been cleaning things up. Other than regulating and punishing on perennial floppers, I think the NBA is doing the right thing. Everyone wants to see "no blood, no foul" but people might want to remember the Indy-Detroit incident when Wallace and Artest started to get a little too friendly. Not to mention the cheap shots taken by Bell and Terry and Posey in these playoff.

I thought it was a cheapshot/retaliation move by Stack and, aftering watching the clip again, I think one game is fair. As for Stack saying he has to use a little bit more force because it's Shaq--please, all you have to do is just wrap Shaq's arms and that's that.

 

Who said today's NBA sucks? I like the way the game used to be played. The foul on Shaq may have been out of line, but no one was hurt, apparently, and in those, "old days," you're worried about, Stackhouse would have been tossed, and then be playing the next game. Hell, I'm surprised they didn't suspend Shaq for just being there!

Short of a time machine, or watching old video, you won't have to subject yourself to any bloodshed, lol!

 

Today's NBA don't suck. Not by my accounts. Like I can see where a little physical contact could be "accepted" in the NBA. Like a hard screen, or boxing out/fighting for a rebound. But this was just a cheap shot.

And i'm only 23 so my "old days" involved watching Sleepy Floyd playing for the Rockets hahahaha