4cwebb
Starter
I voted no, mainly b/c I'm not in favor of the league going "soft". I saw this play from Stackhouse as a different play than James Posey made against Kirk Hinrich earlier in the playoffs (when Posey ran down Hinrich with the Bulls on the break and just shoulder-blocked him off his feet without even extending his arms to reach for the ball). Stackhouse wanted to get to the ball, but he's only 6'6" or 6'7". Against a man who is 7'1" or 7'2", a guy like Stackhouse is going to have trouble getting to the basketball, but I thought he made an attempt to do that.
And, I'm sure most of Cuban's words about this suspension have been of the ridiculous nature, but considering that Stackhouse had to get stitches to his face after an O'Neal elbow when Stackhouse was taking the ball to the basket, and that was neither a flagrant foul nor even mentioned as suspension-worthy (presumably dismissed as incidental contat), then I can see why the Mavs are now trumpeting the "us against the world" mentality.
But, as others have pointed out, the tone was set with Artest's elbow to Flopobli (who didn't even flop on the play). Hard to tell whether Artest's elbow was intentional --- I'm of the view that it was, but was not meant to get Manu in the chops --- but if that contact warranted a suspension, then I can also see the justification that the league has used in suspending Stackhouse.
Of course, how Reggie Evans missed out on a suspension in beyond me. I would prefer that the league allow "rougher" play that is in the nature of the game (this Stackhouse play being the example), and suspend players for "dirty" play (Posey, Terry and Evans each setting fine examples in this year's playoffs).
And, I'm sure most of Cuban's words about this suspension have been of the ridiculous nature, but considering that Stackhouse had to get stitches to his face after an O'Neal elbow when Stackhouse was taking the ball to the basket, and that was neither a flagrant foul nor even mentioned as suspension-worthy (presumably dismissed as incidental contat), then I can see why the Mavs are now trumpeting the "us against the world" mentality.
But, as others have pointed out, the tone was set with Artest's elbow to Flopobli (who didn't even flop on the play). Hard to tell whether Artest's elbow was intentional --- I'm of the view that it was, but was not meant to get Manu in the chops --- but if that contact warranted a suspension, then I can also see the justification that the league has used in suspending Stackhouse.
Of course, how Reggie Evans missed out on a suspension in beyond me. I would prefer that the league allow "rougher" play that is in the nature of the game (this Stackhouse play being the example), and suspend players for "dirty" play (Posey, Terry and Evans each setting fine examples in this year's playoffs).
