However, I believe there's a significant difference between throwing a punch and merely stepping across the sideline during an altercation and then stepping back.

That was a push, not a punch. Adams trips Zack as they are both going upcourt. For a playoff game, that hardly warrants a suspension. But Westbrook got flattened by a moving screen/block and that should have been called a foul and wasn't.

Markji wrote:

That was a push, not a punch. Adams trips Zack as they are both going upcourt. For a playoff game, that hardly warrants a suspension. But Westbrook got flattened by a moving screen/block and that should have been called a foul and wasn't.

Agreed, they are really pushing things here. Must want OKC to advance. In the playoffs getting suspended for that??? In a game 7

Here's what happened: Boris Diaw entered the game to throw the inbounds pass, except no one subbed out. So the Spurs had five players — Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Tim Duncan, and Kawhi Leonard — against four Mavericks defenders in the frontcourt. Such a situation should have given Dallas a technical free throw, but referees failed to make the call. Ellis and Jae Crowder pleaded for a technical, but none came. It would seem that counting the correct number of players should serve as a basic task for any official, but maybe they got caught up in the moment with the rest of us.

If the Spurs had come through with a miracle play on the pass (or any time after), the Mavericks would have had the ability to request a do-over. This wasn't always the case. In December 2008, the Portland Trail Blazers scored in such a situation against the Boston Celtics and were later assessed a technical for the error, except the points couldn't be wiped out after the fact. The rule was changed in March 2009, thankfully.

Oh, and we know all this because the Mavericks were on the other side of things the last time it happened. In January 2013, they had six players on the court against the Blazers and were handed a tech.

The good news is that the referees' failure to make the call had no effect on the result and did not tarnish an incredibly entertaining and well played game. The two teams will face off again on Sunday in Game 7 for the chance to move into the second round. Here's hoping neither the Spurs nor the Mavs has more than five guys on the court at any time.

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First was a shove then throws a punch, then continues to pursue!

What happend with George has nothing to do with this. We talking ZDUMB!!!!
It sucks, I was pulling for Memphis!

ZDumb has a history of bone headedness and while it sucks for fans and ownership, It was him that threw the punch. The shove was ok in my book, but Zdumb won't be disrespected! dude threw the punch and didn't back off. TO me that was the deciding moment. League won't have it, they tell these guys all the time don't throw punch's.

CrushAlot wrote:

Nalod wrote:ZDumb won't be disrespected!!!!

First was a shove then throws a punch, then continues to pursue!

What happend with George has nothing to do with this. We talking ZDUMB!!!!
It sucks, I was pulling for Memphis!

ZDumb has a history of bone headedness and while it sucks for fans and ownership, It was him that threw the punch. The shove was ok in my book, but Zdumb won't be disrespected! dude threw the punch and didn't back off. TO me that was the deciding moment. League won't have it, they tell these guys all the time don't throw punch's.

What had been a black and white rule. leaving the bench during an altercation, and has been enforced to the point where it decided playoff series, to suddenly be open for interpretation stinks in my opinion. The fact that it involves a team/player that the nba has worked hard to promote makes it worse. ZBo being suspended for a game 7 has the appearance that the nba wants okc to move on.

Interpretation.

ZDumb has had a nice rejuvenation of sorts that has been told/promoted and was rewarded with a nice contract a few years ago. He is their best player and paid like it.

Memphis is in an epic series and a position to not just win, but galvanize a fan base and a nice elevation of team stature/profits for his employer. No guarantee they win with him, or lose without him, but he had worked to be "Mature" and earn the trust that comes with being a leader, and a big contract.

dk7th wrote:

nixluva wrote:I hate the suspension rule. It should just be financial. Why punish the fans for a moment of thoughtlessness and emotion? Just like stepping a foot on the court when there's a fight. It's just not good for the league to take top players out of the game.

if it's financial it doesn't hurt the team it just hurts the player-- not to mention the recipient of the punch. what if the punch causes the recipient to miss the next game?

Now they can show the zdumb tape to all players at the beginning of the season and remind them that punches just don't punish the guilty, it affects your team, your fans, your sponsers and your employer!

It sucks, but for the most part it works.