I sat with an NBA owner at an event during the NBA All-star game in Las Vegas a couple of months ago and he did not have kind words to say regarding Stern. He viewed Stern as a complete idiot wielding way too much power.

I don't know Stern, but to continue to ride the WNBA train to Nowheresvillle I don't doubt that he is in fact idiotic.<br><br>Post edited by: BYUstud..., at: 2007/05/15 19:04

I read Diaw barely left the bench, then knew he shouldn't leave, then went back and didn't do anything. IS that true? Doesn't seem like it if he's suspended. If you break the rules, you should be punished. It's a rule enforced so fights/brawls don't get worse. It's a rule where you need to learn self-control, and if you figure you need to help your friend, even if you get suspended, you should get suspended. Rules aren't made to be broken. Horry for sure deserves it! Can't stand the guy, but he got away with too much and I'm glad to see him out.

Didn't Bigelow get punished for leaving the bench while playing NM a few years back? Granted it was in celebration, but I recall him getting on the court ended up being bad for BYU.

There are rules for leaving the bench, and though they are small, they are still rules. You may not agree with the rule, but if it's there, it should be followed.

If Stern was just following the rule, then that's good. If he was doing it for his power and glory, that is bad. If he didn't do anything, people would be mad. If he did, people would be mad. You're danged if you do, and danged if you don't. Presidents of this country understand this.

caveman_cougar wrote:

I read Diaw barely left the bench, then knew he shouldn't leave, then went back and didn't do anything. IS that true? Doesn't seem like it if he's suspended. If you break the rules, you should be punished. It's a rule enforced so fights/brawls don't get worse. It's a rule where you need to learn self-control, and if you figure you need to help your friend, even if you get suspended, you should get suspended. Rules aren't made to be broken. Horry for sure deserves it! Can't stand the guy, but he got away with too much and I'm glad to see him out.

Didn't Bigelow get punished for leaving the bench while playing NM a few years back? Granted it was in celebration, but I recall him getting on the court ended up being bad for BYU.

There are rules for leaving the bench, and though they are small, they are still rules. You may not agree with the rule, but if it's there, it should be followed.

If Stern was just following the rule, then that's good. If he was doing it for his power and glory, that is bad. If he didn't do anything, people would be mad. If he did, people would be mad. You're danged if you do, and danged if you don't. Presidents of this country understand this.

I think the point is that he is selectively enforcing the rule(s)(i.e. Horry is suspended while Duncan is not.) A trademark of a dictator.<br><br>Post edited by: imuakahuku, at: 2007/05/16 09:04

caveman_cougar wrote:

I read Diaw barely left the bench, then knew he shouldn't leave, then went back and didn't do anything. IS that true? Doesn't seem like it if he's suspended. If you break the rules, you should be punished. It's a rule enforced so fights/brawls don't get worse. It's a rule where you need to learn self-control, and if you figure you need to help your friend, even if you get suspended, you should get suspended. Rules aren't made to be broken. Horry for sure deserves it! Can't stand the guy, but he got away with too much and I'm glad to see him out.

Didn't Bigelow get punished for leaving the bench while playing NM a few years back? Granted it was in celebration, but I recall him getting on the court ended up being bad for BYU.

There are rules for leaving the bench, and though they are small, they are still rules. You may not agree with the rule, but if it's there, it should be followed.

If Stern was just following the rule, then that's good. If he was doing it for his power and glory, that is bad. If he didn't do anything, people would be mad. If he did, people would be mad. You're danged if you do, and danged if you don't. Presidents of this country understand this.

I would have no problem with this ruling if 1-Barron Davis had been suspended for game 5 with the Jazz, and 2-if Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen had been suspended for leaving the &quot;bench area&quot;.

In a way, though, this is counter to what Stern has done for years, which is to pander to TV networks and the popularity of the teams involved. I guarantee more people would watch the Western Conference Playoffs if Phoenix was moving on (a perfect example of this type of posture is in the non-suspension of Davis).

I still think Phoenix wins tonight, and probably wins game 6. Sure they don't have anybody that can stop Duncan, but they really didn't before either. Fact is, as good as he is, Tim Duncan cannot beat the Suns on his own. He is not as good as he used to be. If the Suns play good defense on the other 4 players of San Antonio, and let Tim get his, then they will be just fine. Another thing that will happen tonight is that the game will be officiated very closely, which helps the Suns because they don't play as physical. Look for Nash to have a monster game, with help from Barbosa and Bell.

Here's my take on the suspensions, over in the community news/blog section:
http://www.cougarblue.com/content/view/5642/93/

Wow, I have to disagree somewhat. Tim Duncan to me is at his prime and still dominates the floor tonight. It's hard to make up for it when you lose someone like Amare Stoudemaire - 9.6 RPG 20.4 PPG - I mean Duncan only averages 10.6 RPG and 20 PPG.

Who will make the difference tonight? (Suns Roster)
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB FROM YRS
2 Marcus Banks G 6-2 200 11/19/1981 Nevada-Las Vegas 3
10 Leandro Barbosa G 6-3 188 11/28/1982 Brazil 3
19 Raja Bell G 6-5 210 09/19/1976 Florida International 6
11 Pat Burke C-F 6-11 250 12/14/1973 Auburn 2
3 Boris Diaw F 6-8 230 04/16/1982 France 3
22 James Jones F 6-8 220 10/04/1980 Miami (Fla.) 3
20 Jumaine Jones F 6-8 230 02/10/1979 Georgia 7
31 Shawn Marion - C F 6-7 228 05/07/1978 UNLV 7
4 Sean Marks F-C 6-10 250 08/23/1975 California 6
13 Steve Nash - C G 6-3 195 02/07/1974 Santa Clara 10
52 Eric Piatkowski G-F 6-7 215 09/30/1970 Nebraska 12
8 Jalen Rose G-F 6-8 215 01/30/1973 Michigan 12
1 Amare Stoudemire C 6-10 245 11/16/1982 Cypress Creek (Orlando, FL) 4
40 Kurt Thomas - C F-C 6-9 235 10/04/1972 Texas Christian 11



Diaw averages 4.8 Ast/ 9.7PPG and 4.3 RPG - I don't think he'll have that much of an impact as the spurs increasingly utilize people like Leandro Barbosa (that guys a stud) and Robert Horry is out tonight 3.4 RPG and 3.9 PPG (2006-2007 wasn't the greatest for him). I'd also say that James Jones will have to step it up tonight as well.

If I had to make a prediction, I'd have to say that the Spurs win the game tonight as Duncan will put up huge numbers. Hope I'm wrong.<br><br>Post edited by: bdhcougar, at: 2007/05/16 09:34