After a review of the Rajon Rondo-Kirk Hinrich incident from Game 6 of the Bulls-Celtics series, the NBA will not suspend Rondo for Game 7. The called flagrant on Rondo will stand, and no further action will be taken by the league.NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed today that the league reviews every flagrant foul. The additional review by league vice president Stu Jackson, who's responsible for doling out punishment, ended with no further action deemed necessary.
Some, including FanHouse's Matt Watson, believe Rondo crossed the line by flinging Hinrich into the scorer's table. The Celtics are already missing Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe; Rondo has been Boston's most consistent stud this series, and losing him for the deciding game would (obviously) have been incredibly damaging.
Rondo Clashes With Bulls
Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, right, yells to Boston's Rajon Rondo after Rondo's altercation with Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich during the first quarter of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, April 30, 2009. Rondo was assessed a flagrant foul and Hinrich a technical foul. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
AP
Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro restrains Kirk Hinrich after Hinrich's altercation with Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo during the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, April 30, 2009. Hinrich received a technical foul and Rondo a flagrant foul. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
AP
Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, left, and Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro, right, listen as the fouls against Celtics' Rajon Rondo and Bulls' Kirk Hinrich are explained during the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, April 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
AP
Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo (9) reacts after an altercation with Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich during the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, April 30, 2009. Boston's Brian Scalabrine is at right rear. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
AP
Chicago Bulls head coach Vinnie Del Negro calms down Kirk Hinrich after a scuffle with Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo during first quarter action in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday, April 30, 2009. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune/MCT)
MCT
Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo, left, mixes it up with Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich during first quarter action in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday, April 30, 2009. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune/MCT)
MCT
Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich reacts after an altercation with Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo during the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, April 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
AP
Boston Celitcs' Rajon Rondo (9) reacts after an altercation with Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich during the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, April 30, 2009. Boston's Brian Scalabrine is at right rear. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
AP
Boston Celitcs coach Doc Rivers, left, and Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro, right, listen as the fouls against Celitcs' Rajon Rondo and Bulls' Kirk Hinrich are explained during the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, April 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
AP
CHICAGO - APRIL 30: Head coach Vinny Del Negro of the Chicago Bulls (L) grabs Kirk Hinrich #12 as referees Derrick Stafford #9 and Ed Malloy #73 hold Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics after a first quarter altercation in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 30, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agreees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vinny Del Negro;Kirk Hinrich;Derrick Stafford;Ed Malloy
Getty Images
Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Tell that to PHX when they suspended everyone except their mascot.
Mickeymouse league.
You are absolutely correct. You can bet that Bulls coach Del Negro remembers well as he was part of the Suns organization. It really does not matter as the NBA already decided that the finals will be between the Lakers and the Cavs.
The NBA has once again proven they are consistent in one area, and one area alone; inconsistency.
(slow clap)
Didn't the Phoenix players leave the bench to get into the scuffle? Isn't there a strict rule that suspension is automatic when the player leaves "the immediate vicinity of their bench"?
I'm so sick of all the Chicago players and they're fans constantly complaining about every foul that is called against them in this series---get a life and let the best team win. The Celtics will prevail!! no question----and with their heart---I would not count them out against winning the next round too. See ya next year--Chicago
Cooker...According to you, it would seem that the NBA has decided that they want a Lakers - Celtics final. It should be a Lakers - Cleveland finals because they are the two best teams from their conference but the playoffs has a long way to go. I personally think Rondo should have been suspended for Game 6.
you can't pull that move in the UFC. PHX really got jobbed now. NBA, where hypocracy happens.
Total and utter B.S.
What are they waiting for with this guy -
Broken Bones!
People are conveniently ignoring how Hinrich was blatantly shoving Rondo up the court. It went way beyond a box out. Hinrich wrapped Rondo up and shoved his ass into him like a dog in heat -- and then started pushing him backwards like he was trying to push a car up a hill. Hinrich was clearly trying to instigate the situation and it was a dirty play by Hinrich. Talk about a moving pick? This one takes the cake. Hinrich was baiting him. Rondo's mistake was that he should have just fallen down instead of pulling Hinrich's other arm to break free. If Rondo would have simply fell down, and the two bodies went crashing, people would be looking at the replay and be arguing that it should be a flagrant foul on Hinrich.
I'm not saying that we can condone Rondo's response. What I am saying is that it certainly wasn't unprovoked. When suspension is considered, all the factors are looked at, including provocation. I believe this was a carryover from the previous game and that Hinrich knew exactly what he was doing.
Furthermore, when it came to the actual fight (for lack of a better term), Hinrich came right at Rondo and clearly hit him. In Hinrich's defense, he had plenty of provocation also, because he had just been flung out of bounds. But the fact remains that he "intentionally" hit another player on the court. This would automatically call for some type of discipline against Hinrich. And he wasn't trying to keep someone from scoring (as Rondo was doing in the Miller incident).
The Vice President must be a Boston Fan. IF it was any one else,they be gone. Be fair to all and if not get the HELL out of the business.
what can we do. a BOS-CLE ECF is Sterns wet-dream match up.
Who's running the NBA, the OJ jury?! Somebody grab Rondo by the arm and fling him into the stands tomorrow, let's see what happens..
Given his actions in the last two games, one can only conclude that Rondo must have some pretty juicy photos of Stern and Jackson.
Give me a f---en brake both players were at fault. there should have been 2 tek fouls and play on. Like when Miller got hit in the mouth. Look at the size difference. What a baby.
FRANCIS said...Look at the size difference.This is the NBA not the WBA(world boxing association)where size matter.You must be a lil man yourself.
What if somebody blindsided you with a cheap shot. It doesn't make a difference in the size of the participants. It doesn't take much to knock someone's tooth out when you sucker punch them.
1) You're an idiot
2) Basketball was invented fat old white man, so everything you just said was moot.
That's why I don't like basketball. Referees decide every game. Now apparently you can act like a thug and the NBA condones it. I've watched a few of those exciting games and the Celtics have 8 people on the court--three with striped shirts. The Bulls have more heart than I've seen in the NBA in a long time.
If the three refs are all on the Celtic's side, then how is it that Pierce, Perkins and Davis all fouled out? How is it that in the previous game, they had to play the last 12 minutes without Ray Allen who fouled out after a couple of fouls that couldn't even be seen in slow-motion? How is it that in Game 6, Paul Pierce almost got his nose ripped off and had to leave the game for stitches -- with no foul being called at all? And how is it that after six games the total fouls are 143 to 142? - can't get more even than that.
I am not writing this to complain about the officiating -- I am simply disputing your false assertion that the three refs are on the Celtic's side.