Yes there was a small scuffle that involved Phoenix Suns players Matt Barnes, Steve Nash and Shaq with Houston Rockets players Rafer Alston, McGrady and Yao.
Why the punishments?
I am all for punishing players for misconduct on and off the Court, but what did the friendly neighborhood Nash do to deserve a one game suspension?
Alston and Barnes deserved their suspensions, but why was Nash held to a different standard than Yao, McGrady and even Shaq?
Nash ran into the argument to break it up and McGrady pushed him on the ground before Nash could even say anything. Then Alston went after Nash who didn't return a swing.
How is the fine greater for Shaq who was reacting to McGrady elevating the whole situation?
Did I watch a different "fight"? Was there not any real problems until McGrady decided to act like his team mate Artest and push Nash?
I haven't even heard Yao get anything in all this when he had the same involvement as Nash.
Was Nash the victim, no, but McGrady was the instigator and should be sitting or at least be penalized with the same fine amount, if not more, than Shaq.
Maybe the NBA felt bad for the Rockets because they look liked a bunch of chumps getting pushed around by Shaq. I hope the Rockets learned a valuable lesson that day.
Artest, for the first time was the only smart one and didn't get involved and I commend him for that...McGrady, you should be sitting and I hope your knees are ok from that nasty fall, and your back from having Yao thrown on top of you...
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about 1 month ago
it's just more evidence to make a case that the nba will do anything possible to make suns unsuccessful this season the nba is a joke and a sham and I can't believe I even watch the game anymore I mean it's clearly fixed and there's so much evidence to back that up just look back to the last few years it's ridiculous david stern is a douche and should be prosecuted for his actions he's clearly not a suns fan
and is doing anything in his will to sabotage the suns would-be success
he's a douche to the first degree
go suns! let's prove to the rest of the league that we aren't gonna be ruined by the nba and their ruthless conspiracy against us!
about 1 month ago
I wouldn't have a problem with Nash being suspended if McGrady had been suspended as well. TMac did exactly the same as thing as Nash did. Really, only Barnes should have been suspended and the others fined. Stern always tries to be fair, but always fails miserably.
about 1 month ago
Are you kidding me? Did you actually look at the video?
http://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/video-rockets-suns-fight-matt-barnes-rafer-alston-ejected/3720
After Alston and Barnes (who definitely threw a cheap shot, not a pick) were face-to-face, Yao goes over and grabs Alston from behind to pull him away. McGrady comes over and immediately gets in Alstons face to push him back. So far, three Rockets involved, one agressive to the Suns (Alston) the others trying to get their man out of there. At that point Nash runs in.
Does Nash go for his own man to pull him out? No. He instead goes directly at Alston and throws an elbow. At that point McGrady pushes Nash away from Alston to get him off his teammate. So Yao then tries to push McGrady back and ends up falling on him. Now comes Shaq.
Shaq doesn't try to separate anyone nor does he try to get anyone off one of his teammates. Every one of his shoves is against someone standing alone. He's not trying to separate anyone, just throwing his weight around to show what a man he is (questionable).
So yes, although Alston did not start it, he should be suspended for his conduct just like Barnes. Nash was at no time trying to either a) get his guys out of the fight or b) play the peacemaker.
Why was Shaq fined more than McGrady? McGrady did push Nash, but only because he was attacking Alston. Shaq on the other hand was pushing people just to make them fall. He was not directly defending anyone.
about 1 month ago
Did we watch the same video? Nash didn't throw any elbows. Then McGrady pushed him. Then Shaq Daddy had to come in and kick some a**. There was no reason for Nash to be suspended, especially while McGrady gets off with a pathetic fine. Stern just does whatever he can to keep the Suns down. I want Stern gone, outta there, never to be seen again.
about 1 month ago
All of you Rocket haters let's not forget who started this fight. I believe the underlying issue here we have a group of sore losers Barnes had no business putting a cheap shot on another play. Enough said.
about 1 month ago
Barnes and Alston deserved that suspension, no doubt about it. Nash did too, though. There really wasn't a need for him to run at Alston like that. I'm sure he had no negative intentions, he wasn't going to get in a fight, but he should not have run at those players.
As for McGrady and Shaq, those two should have been punished as well. Each escalated the situation, they deserved it more than Nash.
about 1 month ago
you said it your self..."Nash ran into the argument to break it up"...nash was the instigator...
meaning he had the intention to do something...which the nba will not tolerate...stu jackson saids "He ran over to engage Rafer Alston at a time when he should not have. And he came a pretty healthy distance to get there."
more of the reasons are explained in here http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-081115-16 ...
about 1 month ago
Nash definitely deserved to be suspended. Yao was trying to get Alston away from the skirmish, but Nash went after Alston. So Nash was definitely an instigator at that point in time and that's why McGrady pushed Nash is he kept on going after Alston and why Shaq pushed McGrady.
Watch the video Yao was trying to play peacemaker. While Nash came in like a madman trying to start something. Defintely a good suspension by the NBA.
about 1 month ago
I don't agree that Nash tried to start something but even still lets go with that crazy concept. Since when does some one get punished for something that could have occured or what he might have done? We can discuss all day what he was going to do but what he did do was nothing. He ran into an argument and didn't do anything. McGrady on the other hand did do something, pushed Nash. There was no doubt or argument about McGrady's actions but Nash's are still debated. So, how could someone who did not do anything get suspended for what someone thinks might have happened. As for Nash throwing an elbow no one would agree to that claim. Yao was in the middle of it, rather helping or not, isn't that what Nash was doing! I love the double standard and I can't wrap my head around the craziness that has become the NBA....Thanks for all the comments...
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