Lakers on Sunday Kobe doubtful?

O.K., I'll bite. Why would it be 'suspicious' if Bryant is allowed to play against the Rockets? Are you saying that because the Lakers game after the Rockets is against the Nets? Surely you don't think that the NBA cares what happens in the Lakers-Rockets game.

 

Kobe out.

Bryant Fight Remains a No Decision Lakers: NBA continues its investigation as teammates defend him. He will sit out at least tonight's game.


By STEVE SPRINGER
LA TIMES STAFF WRITER

The other shoe didn't drop Saturday.

League officials spent the day conducting an investigation of the Kobe Bryant-Reggie Miller fight after Friday night's Laker-Indiana Pacer game at Staples Center, but they weren't ready to reach any conclusions on disciplinary action.

Bryant, who struck Miller after the final buzzer had sounded, faces an automatic one-game suspension for throwing the punch, meaning he will not play in tonight's game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. But officials could assess Bryant additional games since the punch initiated a wild scene that resulted in referee Ted Bernhardt being knocked down and players from both teams streaming onto the court as Bryant and Miller wrestled onto the scorer's table.

A longer suspension would deny the Lakers of Bryant's services against the New Jersey Nets, owners of the best record in the Eastern Conference, in a game Tuesday at Staples Center.

Ostensibly, the players came out to restore order, but Indiana forward Austin Croshere suffered worse than either combatant. In the midst of a pile of players, Croshere emerged with scratches from the back of his neck down to his lower back. And the top of his uniform looked as if it had been in a shredder.

Some Lakers and Pacers could be suspended for leaving the bench to join in a fight, but such a ruling would get into a gray area since the game had already ended, allowing them to leave the bench area.

This is Bryant's second fight in as many weeks. On a team bus in Cleveland on Feb. 21, Bryant began teasing teammate Samaki Walker about money Bryant was owed from a competitive bet. At least others around them thought it was teasing.

But Bryant, who was seated behind Walker, reached around and punched the power forward under the right eye.

While Bryant's sudden streak of violence may concern some, his teammates have come to his defense in the latest incident, choosing to circle the wagons rather than point fingers.

"Teams have been coming at us quite a bit," said guard Derek Fisher. "Basically every night, teams are going to raise their game to another level and try to ... prove a point to us. There really isn't a point to prove. We are the best team in the league, and a lot of teams ... think that in one game, or on one play, they can take that away from us.

"I think sometimes we get fed up. Shaq [O'Neal] has had a situation this year [when he threw a punch at center Brad Miller, resulting in a three-game suspension] and now Kobe. Guys need to defend themselves and do whatever they feel they need to do to make sure teams don't feel that they can do whatever they want. We have to make sure that we force them to respect us."

Force has apparently become an acceptable option for a team obviously feeling the pressure of trying to win its third consecutive NBA title.

Teammate Rick Fox felt Reggie Miller triggered the incident.

"They let us play physical," Fox said of the officials. "There are going to be cheap shots. Eventually, by the third quarter, guys are going to be grabbing and holding.

"We saw a lot of that down the stretch between Reggie and whoever he was being guarded by. But that is Reggie's game, and that is nothing new."

There was a different view by the Pacers. While Miller also faces disciplinary action, his coach, Isiah Thomas, doesn't think he deserves it.

"I didn't really see him throw a punch," Thomas said, "and if he didn't swing, then you're allowed to grab the guy that's swinging at you. You've got to protect yourself and defend yourself out on the floor."

 

Both got 2 games. Your feeling was wrong.


NEW YORK (AP) -- Kobe Bryant and Reggie Miller were each suspended two games without pay by the NBA on Sunday for fighting at the end of the Indiana Pacers' game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Both players also were fined -- Bryant $12,500 and Miller $10,000 -- for the fight that occurred after the Lakers beat the Pacers 96-84 on Friday night in Los Angeles.

Bryant will miss Lakers' home games Sunday against the Houston Rockets and Tuesday against the New Jersey Nets. Miller will miss Sunday's game against the Sacramento Kings and Tuesday's home game against the Orlando Magic.

The NBA suspended Bryant for "throwing a punch and fighting" and Miller for "retaliating against Bryant and fighting."

The fight took place near center court, after the final buzzer. Miller appeared to be walking toward Bryant after the game, apparently trash-talking, when Bryant suddenly threw a punch. The melee spilled over onto the scorers' bench before order was restored.

After the game, Bryant issued a statement through team spokesman John Black, saying: "If somebody comes at me, I'm going to defend myself."

Indiana coach Isiah Thomas said words apparently were exchanged, and "I saw Kobe take a swing. Before I knew it, everyone was trying to grab each other and hold each other and make peace. I don't know what they were saying or what it was about."

 

kobe's a dick. just my opinion.