Artest suspended...

[Axel]

I don't think sending a message through an intentional elbow is deemed acceptable by the rulebook at any stage of the NBA season.

I'm sorry, but that's just how things go when emotions and stakes are higher. "Sending a message" is a part of the game, and more so in the playoffs. History has shown that more physical contact is allowed in the post-season, and it seems that this ruling was made in part due to Ron Artest's past.

[Matt]

acting at it's finest...i mean he practically fell over when he ran into Miller.

[Alcoholic]

Perfect 10 on that flop..

[debiler]

Artest has to be the dumbest player in NBA history, no matter if it was intentional or not. Laimbeer comes to mind, but at least he threw elbows to agitate his opponents and get them ejected, not the other way 'round. And it was the style of play at that time. Nowadays, you can't play like that(sad, but true. I'd like to see a lot more contact in the NBA.). Artest's gotta realize that. As long as he doesn't, he will only hurt his team.

[Fenix]

I hate Ginobili, he's Stern's little bitch. With the amount of dirty plays and flops he gets without being punished, he's one of the NBA's most visible problems, IMO, but no one doesn't want to do anything about it. It's one thing drawing a foul, but it's another thing faking it. Like Rodman - he made the opposing player to foul him. Sure, you can still call it a flop, but there was a legit psychical contact every time, not like Ginobili does it, just falling down the moment someone puts his finger on him.

[Matthew]

Thats why soccer isnt a sport Vank, for those exact reasons you just said

As long as he doesn't, he will only hurt his team

Yup, he sure has been a negative to those sacramento kings. I bet they wish they had peja back now .

[Christopherson]

[quote="dadamafia"][quote="funk99"]
did look intentional to me cause he hit him and trhen looked away like he had nothing to do with it. [/quote]

Which NBA player ever owns up to a foul?[/quote]

I know Yao at least used to raise his hand every time he fouled. Not sure if he still does....

[Andrew]

I don't think sending a message through an intentional elbow is deemed acceptable by the rulebook at any stage of the NBA season.

I'm sorry, but that's just how things go when emotions and stakes are higher. "Sending a message" is a part of the game, and more so in the playoffs. History has shown that more physical contact is allowed in the post-season, and it seems that this ruling was made in part due to Ron Artest's past.

So what you're saying is unsportsmanlike conduct is a part of the game? I'm sorry, but that's absurd and again if you check the rulebook, I think you'll find that the rulings on elbows are pretty clean-cut no matter what time of year it is. Again, there's a difference between being physical or "sending a message" as you've put it and flatout being dirty or unsportsmanlike.

Are you suggesting that if a player threw a punch during a playoff game it would be acceptable because "more physical contact is allowed" and "emotions and stakes are much higher"? Why should it be different for a flagrant elbow, something that is also effective at injuring another player?

Don't get me wrong, I don't much care for Ginobili but as far as Artest's reputation preceeding him...well, much of that he's brought upon himself. The one game suspension is hardly without precedent when it comes to contact like this, playoffs or otherwise. Basketball is a physical sport, more physical than a non-contact sport is in theory, but there is a line and when it comes to intentionally striking another player in a manner that can cause injury - whether it does or not - you've crossed that line.

[Matt]

looking over that, Gino is acting like he got suckerpunched by Shaq. He's already falling over around Miller.

He needs to be suspended for that kind of stuff.

[gergerjai]

It wasnt as serious as Manu makes it looked like,
and don't blame Artest, he was just being a fool.

[Deadmaninc]

haha, that's stupid of Artest

[BIG GREEN]

looking over that, Gino is acting like he got suckerpunched by Shaq. He's already falling over around Miller.

He needs to be suspended for that kind of stuff.

lol..he should be suspended for flopping?

[cyanide]

That was definitely intentional. If you watch Artest's elbow suddenly rise as high as that, that was intentional, given he knew Ginobili was coming around the corner.

[Matt]

lol..he should be suspended for flopping?

yes....it's unsportsmanlike & unethical.

[Andreas Dahl]

Silly Warier.
To me it seems like he definitely did that intentionally. I mean he looks at him while he's coming around the screen, and then suddenly brings his elbow up at 'head-height' for no reason what so ever (other than to get Menu). And yea, Manu overreacted it looks like, but honestly, if you're playing against Artest and gets sucker punched in the head with an elbow, what would you do?

[Pera]

He needs to retire and get into boxing

[dan_suth]

lol..he should be suspended for flopping?

The NHL calls penalties for 'flopping' - so it really isn't too farfetched.

I don't know about suspending the guy for doing it, but the refs should all know by now not to take Ginobili's acting into consideration when calling a foul or not.

[BIG GREEN]

Great players like reggie miller got through their career's flopping. I reckon he wouldn't be as good if it was never allowed.

[Drex]

yes....it's unsportsmanlike & unethical.

Unethical? How is that unethical?

[Matthew]

Well I guess it is by "unethical" by trying to make the referees think there was contact and force them to make a call. I dunno, i cant explain it. Shep your on your own

yes....it's unsportsmanlike & unethical.

So how do you explain rip and princes flopping, which they do at times? Or Billups saying he should MVP? Thats unsportsmanlike too.