Thursday night, the league suspended Magic point guard Rafer Alston for the slap to the back of Eddie House's inflated head.
I know...I know...The rule is clear: "When a player intentionally swings his hand, whether open or closed, if the hand connects, it is an automatic one game suspension."
But, come on...It was a love tap for crying out loud! Intent was obvious. Rafer wasn't out to injure House. He merely wanted to warn him about the elbow he just got to the sternum after the loquacious House had drained yet another three pointer in our face.
Now, Rafer shouldn't have reacted the way he did. But, come on...A suspension? The punishment certainly does not fit the crime here.
While we're at it, how about nailing House with a technical foul every time he taunts the opposing bench? Eddie had the gumption to say after game two, "If I hit shots, I might yell at my teammates or stuff like that. I never disrespect the game by talking crazy to the other team." Eddie, your nose is growin'. Eddie House is one of the biggest trash-talkers and taunters in the game today. He, his coach and his teammates justify Fast Eddie's act as 'emotional'. I call it classless.
With that stated, the stakes are so huge and the play is so intense this time of year that I just have a hard time with all these suspensions we are seeing in the Playoffs. The NBA game is a very physical game. Intensity is through the roof.
I also have a problem with lack of equity here.
For example, how in the world has Celtic point guard Rajon Rondo avoided suspension this postseason? In the first round series with the Bulls', not only does Rondo not get suspended for knocking Brad Miller into yesterday with a haymaker right to Miller's choppers, he also gets off scot-free for dragging Bull Kirk Hinrich into the scorer's table in game six. Where's the equity?
This summer, the league needs to revisit the rulebook. There is no place in the game for on-court violence.
What I have a problem with is the lack of the uniform nature of these penalties.