NBA Announces Suspensions From Pistons-Pacers Game

[skinnyjean]

The Commissioner lays down the law:

NEW YORK, Nov. 21 -- The following suspensions were announced today by NBA Commissioner David Stern, resulting from the events during the Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons game on Nov. 19.

Pacers forward Ron Artest has been suspended for the remainder of the season.

Indiana guard Stephen Jackson has been suspended for 30 games.

Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal has been suspended for 25 games.

Indiana guard Anthony Johnson has been suspended for five games.

Detroit forward/center Ben Wallace has been suspended for six games.

Pistons forwards Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman and guard Chauncey Billups have each been suspended for one game for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation.

Indiana guard Reggie Miller has been suspended for one game for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation.

Wow. I mean, that really was some fight that went down at the Pistons-Pacers game. What started out with a frustrated push from Ben Wallace turned into an all out fight between the players and fans. I don't blame Ron Artest for acting the way he did. I would probably do the same if fans were heckling me and throwing shit at me. It was pretty cowardly of the fans to behave that way. There is no way that any of them would single-handedly take on an NBA player if they saw them on the street (who wants to take on a 7 foot athlete?). I'm glad to see Stephen Jackson's suspension. The man is all mouth. And you can quite clearly see him in the game just rushing into the crowd and start swinging wildly at everyone. You get the feeling that nothing like that would have happened if he'd stayed with the Spurs (or else face the wrath of Popovich. Scary). Poor Jermaine O'Neal copped a lot too.

So now the suspensions are announced, it will be interesting to see what they will do in regards to the fans and their conduct. It will also be interesting to see the next Pistons-Pacers game - the Pistons have to go play in Indiana eventually...