dailyhoops.net » Los Angeles Lakers http://dailyhoops.net/blog The NBA every day Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:25:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 NBA Suspension http://dailyhoops.net/blog/2009/08/29/nba-suspension/ http://dailyhoops.net/blog/2009/08/29/nba-suspension/#comments Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:42:29 +0000 Administrator http://dailyhoops.net/blog/?p=43 The news broke yesterday that the NBA suspended Denver gaurd JR Smith seven games and Suns guard Jason Richardson for two games.  I am not opposed to the NBA’s decission, in fact I applaud the NBA for doing it.   I like how the NBA does not hand out punishment until the US legal system has done it’s job.   This way, NBA players have few options to challenge the ruling and if you’re guilty in the US legal system, which is harder to prove guilt in than the NBA, than you should be punished in the NBA.

 

This stance has been the NBA’s policy for a few years, and it has helped the players.  Think back to the Kobe Bryant rape trial.  Had the NBA had a similar policy to the NFL than Kobe would have been suspended for the year.   The charges against Bryant were eventually dropped and no action were taken by the NBA.    This policy by the NBA is a very American one of innocent until proven guilty.   Bryant was never proven guilty so he was not punished.

 

The NBA does have one exception to this, however,  that is when the player committs an offense on the court.   The main case I can point to here is the Malace at the Palace in 2o04.  Ron Artest was suspended for the entire season, Jermaine O’Neal for 50 something games and a handful of players smaller 2-5 game suspensions.    The NBA had to take a stance here because the offense happened in an NBA game, and the NBA’s rule are pretty clear that a punch equals a suspension. 

If players do not want to get suspended they need to stay out of trouble.   It’s not really that hard of a concept.  yeah everyone has a run in or two with the law, but players like JR Smith are making it a habit.  This is Smith’s second automoble related incident in the past year.  Last year he was involved in an accident that left his passenger dead.  This is why Smith got a longer suspension.     Unfortinately many NBA players are morons.  They know that driving drunk is a crime, yet they will still do it.  Every year three or four players or former players get arrested for DUI.   The percentage of NBA players are probably lower than the percentage of plumbers, lawyers or college students who get a DUI, but the NBA players are held to a higher standard because they are public figures.  

It’s a simple concept, don’t be an idiot and you will not get in trouble.  Use common sense and nothing will happen.

]]> http://dailyhoops.net/blog/2009/08/29/nba-suspension/feed/ 0 Picture of the Day 8/27/09 http://dailyhoops.net/blog/2009/08/27/picture-of-the-day-82709/ http://dailyhoops.net/blog/2009/08/27/picture-of-the-day-82709/#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:59:50 +0000 Administrator http://dailyhoops.net/blog/?p=38

The first picture of Ron Artest in a Lakers uniform.  Artest signed with the Lakers last July.    I am not really sure how he will work out with LA, but if he can not be a distraction he can make an already very good team even better.

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