Do you guys think Draymond Green should be suspended for Game 4? I think he should. I agree with Greeny on ESPN, Green's shot to the nuts looked more intentional than Jones's did.
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Of course he
should be suspended. The question is
will he be suspended. Will the NBA have the "balls" to make the right call? A precedent was set just hours before the incident when Dahntay Jones was suspended for a far less severe violation. And that wasn't the first. There have been many other precedents of players suspended for a blow to the groin of an opponent. Intent was never factor, because it can't be determined and no player will ever admit they intended to hit/kick an opponent in the nuts. They ALL deny it.
I get that Steve Kerr is lobbying against one of his key players being suspended for a critical playoff game, but this quote is absolute bullshit and caused me to lose a lot of respect for Kerr:
"
[Russell] Westbrook kicks his feet out on every 3, and there is contact. I mean, that's just part of the game.
So I don't understand how that can be deemed a flagrant 1. I think it should be rescinded."
Seriously Steve???? I don't think you believe that for one second. I know I'm not that dumb and you're a pretty smart guy. It's not even close to the same thing. What Westbrook does, Harden does, and so do Klay and Steph and many, many others. They extend a leg outward while in the air in an attempt to draw contact to get a whistle. They don't shoot the ball, land on both feet and then kick an opponent in the nuts.
What they do is similar to a punter on football trying to draw a roughing the kicker flag. They hold that leg out there and hope a defender, attempting to block the punt, lightly grazes it on the way by, at which point, they pirouette, like a well trained ballerina, fall to the ground and grab their knee. I'm pretty sure if a punter, got the kick off, landed on both feet and then kicked a defender squarely in the nuts, there would be a flag alright, but it wouldn't be for roughing the kicker.
There should be ZERO question about this. Green should be suspended for one game and there should be ZERO debate. Intent should not be a factor, as you can never
really know someone's intentions. Green's actions were reckless, unnecessary and put another player at risk for injury. END OF STORY.
The fact that it's Draymond Green, it's the Warriors and it's the playoffs should not be considered in the decision - unless they are considering a two game suspension instead of one based on Green's history. I HATE situational officiating. I HATE superstar calls and I hate that the game is called differently in the last minute than it is in the first minute. A foul is a foul is a foul, no matter who the player is and when it happens. And, if the NBA does not suspend Green, that's exactly what it is, considering the situation, not the act. It ruins the integrity of the game.
BNM
P.S. Congratulations to Andrew Bogut. You are now officially no longer the dirtiest, most hated player on your team.
Tom HaberstrohVerified account@tomhaberstroh
