This is old news, but just to be thorough, the NBA fined Rip Hamilton for throwing an elbow at Kevin Garnett in Game 1. This is actually good news, since there was a small (okay, tiny) chance that Rip might have been suspended. That said, it doesn’t sound like there’s any hard feelings on Boston’s side. From Chris Silva of the Detroit Free Press:
Added Boston coach Doc Rivers: “It was flagrant, I can tell you that. We thought that at the time. But again, Rip is a good guy, great guy, and it’s an emotional game and that kind of stuff happens. I’ve done it before, too, and thank God at that time we didn’t have flagrant 1s or 2s. It’s just part of the game at times, and it’s not a big deal.”
Speaking of suspensions, Rasheed Wallace is flirting with one of his own: he picked up his fifth tech of the postseason in the first quarter last night, just two away from a mandatory one-game vacation. Once a player accumulates seven techs in the postseason, another suspension follows after every other tech the rest of the playoffs.
In all honesty, this may be the stupidest rule in the game, especially considering by design it creates controversy. The only teams it could possibly affect are the ones who advance deep into the playoffs, which means the first time a player is actually punished under this rule, it’ll happen under a huge spotlight.
Besides, techs are so subjective in the first place — some refs give players a long leash while others actually egg them on (cough, Joey Crawford, cough). Punish players by hitting them in the pocket book, not ruining a series that millions of fans would like to see decided by the best players playing.
The league need to give SHEED a break that Tech was BS.
My only gripe is that ‘Sheed, while he pushes refs to the limit, really gets more of an eye than Kevin Garnett.
if i was joe d. i’d have protested every technical sheed has gotten in the playoffs, especially knowing how quick a suspension could come. if we were to lose him for a game 5 with the series tied 2-2, or a close out or elimination game, it would be disastrous. you should be able to rely on a player to self-regulate, especially one in his 30s, but i guess that’s the highs and lows of having rasheed wallace on your team.
Of course they can’t suspend Rip for an elbow, not after failing to suspend Garnett for pushing a referee.