David "Freddy Kruger" Stern handed down punishment for the end of game 4 scuffle. The end result? Stoudemire and Diaw will sit out Game 5 and Horry is suspended games 5/6.
Yes, the rule says do not leave the bench.
Does the NBA have a choice about punishments? Of course. The NBA is the judge and jury in this case and has the discretion to administer the punishment they see fit. I was hoping for the NBA to see this altercation as a minor incident (suspend Horry for the cheap shot) and let two great teams continue the battle. This was not the Pacers/fan brawl nor was it the Bulls/Knicks JoJo English versus Derek Harper fight.
Like clockwork, the NBA has violated the cardinal rule of playoff basketball: let the players determine the outcome of the series (not the refs, not the league). Hiding behind zero tolerance policies doesn't excuse the league when it applies punishment.
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