Celtics, Hawks escape punishment for skirmish, leaving bench



WALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers remembers being in a couple of fights in his playing days, so he understands what was going through Kevin Garnett's mind when he pushed off from a referee who was trying to make peace.

"Right afterward, I felt like a dunce," Rivers said. "At the time, though, there was nothing in me that didn't feel like it was the right thing to do."

The rough-and-tumble playoff series between the Celtics and Atlanta Hawks returns to Boston for a fifth game on Wednesday night, with both teams getting good news from the league after practice on Tuesday. NBA spokesman Tim Frank said there would be no fines or suspensions for a Game 4 altercation that resulted in double technicals to each side.

"The game's emotional for everyone," Rivers said after the team's workout but before the league's decision was announced. "It's easy to say, 'Just step away.' We, as a team, have to stop putting the league in a position where they have to make a decision. That's on us; that's not on the league."

The incident in the second quarter of Atlanta's 97-92 victory on Monday night began when Garnett cleared out Zaza Pachulia with an elbow, and the Hawks forward went forehead-to-forehead with the Celtics star.

Referee Ed Rush grabbed Garnett, but he, too, got a push as Garnett struggled to break free. "The referee grabbed me," Garnett said.

"In the heat of the battle like that, you never know what's going on," said Hawks forward Marvin Williams, who also escaped discipline. "You never know who's grabbing you. I'm sure he had no intention of hurting anybody. He just plays hard. It got pretty emotional out there."

Williams and Celtics center Kendrick Perkins both admitted stepping onto the floor to see what was happening -- a no-no in the NBA, especially with commissioner David Stern in the crowd. But they were not punished under the rule designed to keep incidents from escalating into bench-clearing brawls.

"Technically, I broke the rule," Williams said. "But I had no intentions of doing anything on the court. I was just trying to see what was going on."

Said Perkins: "I didn't realize it until I watched the tape."

Hawks coach Mike Woodson said his team would have struggled to replace Williams. While the NBA-best Celtics have a deep bench, Atlanta has a more precipitous drop-off once Woodson gets out of his regular rotation.

"I don't want to lose anybody," the coach said. "I can't combat their team because they are a lot deeper than our team. I want to go to war with all my guys."
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With David "the don" Stern in the audience how could these players not be suspended for the next game. The rules are the rules , some players like Kendrick Perkins and Marvin Williams among others should not be playing the next game in the series for stepping on the court.

The knicks got screwed that yr , so why can't the celtics ?

Stern wants boston in the ECF or NBA finals that's why.

Posted by playa2:

Celtics, Hawks escape punishment for skirmish, leaving bench



WALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers remembers being in a couple of fights in his playing days, so he understands what was going through Kevin Garnett's mind when he pushed off from a referee who was trying to make peace.

"Right afterward, I felt like a dunce," Rivers said. "At the time, though, there was nothing in me that didn't feel like it was the right thing to do."

The rough-and-tumble playoff series between the Celtics and Atlanta Hawks returns to Boston for a fifth game on Wednesday night, with both teams getting good news from the league after practice on Tuesday. NBA spokesman Tim Frank said there would be no fines or suspensions for a Game 4 altercation that resulted in double technicals to each side.

"The game's emotional for everyone," Rivers said after the team's workout but before the league's decision was announced. "It's easy to say, 'Just step away.' We, as a team, have to stop putting the league in a position where they have to make a decision. That's on us; that's not on the league."

The incident in the second quarter of Atlanta's 97-92 victory on Monday night began when Garnett cleared out Zaza Pachulia with an elbow, and the Hawks forward went forehead-to-forehead with the Celtics star.

Referee Ed Rush grabbed Garnett, but he, too, got a push as Garnett struggled to break free. "The referee grabbed me," Garnett said.

"In the heat of the battle like that, you never know what's going on," said Hawks forward Marvin Williams, who also escaped discipline. "You never know who's grabbing you. I'm sure he had no intention of hurting anybody. He just plays hard. It got pretty emotional out there."

Williams and Celtics center Kendrick Perkins both admitted stepping onto the floor to see what was happening -- a no-no in the NBA, especially with commissioner David Stern in the crowd. But they were not punished under the rule designed to keep incidents from escalating into bench-clearing brawls.

"Technically, I broke the rule," Williams said. "But I had no intentions of doing anything on the court. I was just trying to see what was going on."

Said Perkins: "I didn't realize it until I watched the tape."

Hawks coach Mike Woodson said his team would have struggled to replace Williams. While the NBA-best Celtics have a deep bench, Atlanta has a more precipitous drop-off once Woodson gets out of his regular rotation.

"I don't want to lose anybody," the coach said. "I can't combat their team because they are a lot deeper than our team. I want to go to war with all my guys."
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With David "the don" Stern in the audience how could these players not be suspended for the next game. The rules are the rules , some players like Kendrick Perkins and Marvin Williams among others should not be playing the next game in the series for stepping on the court.

The knicks got screwed that yr , so why can't the celtics ?

Stern wants boston in the ECF or NBA finals that's why.

Yes this is BS. Why are they breaking the rules when they have tightly enforced them? What did it cost us? They better have the lotto rigged for NY if this is the case

There are no conspiracies in the NBA everything from Refs making bogus calls to #1 pick Ewing to NY draft Lottery in (85), what are you talking about ?

He's the WCE

WORST COMMISH EVER


What a joke basically he robbed the Suns of a shot a title but giving mulligans to the Celtics. LOL @ Stern this is the yr interpretation is considered but not last yr. Stern does whatever Stern wants to do.

In all honesty Stern may have one of the biggest egos in the world. He conducts business with a dictator mindset for sure. He wouldnt admit that the "on the court rule" was in no way in the spirit of whatever regulatory agent they were trying to come up with --- and that they got it wrong. For the Suns/Knicks the rule was remarkably unfair, but Emperor Stern has that omnipotent/Napoleon complex and would rather sacrifice the integrity of the league than a sliver of his ego.

Now he wants to switch 'ish up when HE feels like it, not because its the right thing to do for the league, the fans, and the respective franchises. I intensely dislike this man, and he and he alone robbed both the Suns and the Knicks out of what they both rightfully deserved. The popularity of the league ebbing and flowing is one thing, but one thing that will not change is that Stern is straight rotten.

Posted by Allanfan20:

You think if the Hawks gain a 10 point lead their next game, you think the whistles start to magically blow like no other, against the Hawks?

I still don't believe in these conspiracy theories (Thank you, however for Patrick Ewing) but if the Lakers get ALL the calls throughout the rest of the playoffs, I'd consider changing my view. I bet Stern is rooting hard for Celtics vs Lakers.

This PUNK BUM during the 2000 or 2001 ECF between the Bucks and Sixers was in the stands openly routing for Allen Iverson and the Sixers at the Bradley Center during the game. This was confirmed by several fans including Ray Allen's mom who he was sitting very close to.

Want nothing more than for him to get as far away from this league as possible.

Posted by TrueBlue:

He's the WCE

WORST COMMISH EVER


What a joke basically he robbed the Suns of a shot a title but giving mulligans to the Celtics. LOL @ Stern this is the yr interpretation is considered but not last yr. Stern does whatever Stern wants to do.

Agreed. Major inconsistency in the decisions.

Knicks fans deserve an apology for that PJ and Ward fight.....yeah suspensions were deserved but the Knicks Patrick Ewing wasn't even in the fray but was on the court....in the other half court mind you. Stern is an *******. Ewing alone would have sealed the deal on that Miami series. Instead the Knicks play unbelievably short handed and still almost beat Zo and his punk ass. That was our championship year.