Time for Stu to leap in to action -- and here's the update

This is going to be a big day for Stu Jackson.

The NBA’s vice-president of discipline could very well determine the winner of the Eastern Conference final when he clicks on the DVD player (which is apparently an upgrade on a VCR) to review last night’s Boston-Orlando game.

Specifically, he’s going to have to look at the two technicals Boston’s Kendrick Perkins got and figure out whether one needs to be rescinded to allow Perkins to play in Game 6.

The two techs Perkins got – one for elbowing My Favourite Marcin, one for whining – were his sixth and seventh of the post-season and carry an automatic suspension.

Now, the second one might have been a bit dubious but there’s no way Jackson can pull it back, I don’t think.

Not only would it undermine the game officials who made the call (I know that happens every now and then but I think it’s pretty much wrong all the time) but it would smack of the league office exerting too much influence.

(Conspiracy theorists take that for what it’s worth)

This just in:

I know nothing.

Well, I do know this because the NBA just me an e-mail to tell me:

They have rescinded the second technical foul on Perkins so he's able to play in Game 6; and they've upgraded a fourth quarter personal on Pierce to a Flagrant 1.

We now return you to you regularly-scheduled reading.

Of course, there’d be no issue if Perkins was able to control his temper but that’s not going to happen and, as I’ve mention, his anger-control problems have long been an issue. I don’t specifically remember a lot of his earlier techs but I’d venture to say a couple of them were for little more than excessive whining over correct calls.

And now he’s really going to hurt his team.

How much, you ask?

Well, I’m not about to say the Magic are in control of this series, that’d be silly, but if Perkins doesn’t play and Glen Davis is still banged up from a concussion, I’d say Orlando has a better than average chance to get the series to a seventh game at home.

The one thing the Celtics have been able to do is guard Dwight Howard with one guy, allowing the wings to stay home on Orlando’s shooters. Without Perkins or Davis, they cannot do that or Howard will go off for 40 or something like that and if they have to double all the time, even a guy like the guy who used to play here is going to knock down wide open looks.

One of the things about the Celtics was that they seem to play right on the edge of losing control. Perkins, Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Davis, all seem to be on the verge of exploding at any minute. It’s nice to play with some aggression; it’s not nice to play without thinking and that’s what Perkins did last night. The first one he got was a double technical for a brouhaha with Gortat and as soon as he got it, he had to know to be on his best behaviour. He had to know he was one more tech for a) getting thrown out of the game and b) getting suspended for the next game and that he couldn’t control his temper is a huge character flaw.

And one that could prove hugely costly to his team.

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You know, Kids Say The Darndest Things.

(You got that, right?)

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Back to Stu for a minute, we all know he’s not above making tough calls that turn series.

Back in ’07, it was his decision to follow the letter of the law and suspend Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for a pivotal game against the Spurs (it’s mentioned in here) that could have shifted the momentum in that series.

And way, way back in ’01, he hit Milwaukee’s Scott Williams well after the fact with a one-game suspension for a hit Williams laid on Allen Iverson that took the Bucks big man out of Game 7 of that Eastern Conference final. I remember being at that game in Philly and there were a couple of plays down the stretch of a close game where the Bucks could have used a rebounder of Williams’ ability.

So there is some history that shows Stu will do what’s right rather than what’s easy.

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Yes, we will be here tonight at 9 for the Suns-Lakers and I hope it’s a doozy. Stop by, it’s a lot of fun. Really.

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You know who’s a good role player?

Jason Williams of the Magic.

Seems to me he’s exactly the kind of backup point guard a team needs, someone who isn’t going to worry about playing excess minutes, someone who can make a shot and defend a little bit and someone who goes about his business in a calm, professional manner.

He’s come a long, long way from those White Chocolate days of yore but he’s really settled into quite a niche with the Magic.

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Mail? Gladly accepted if you click here to send it along. We’ll get this one taken care of right now:

Q: Quick question for you, watching the veteran ref's work the playoff games (I find them to be very good) I was wondering why Steve Javie who in my mind is an excellent ref is not working the games.

Kevin V, Waterloo

A: He is an excellent referee, probably in the top three or four in the league, and he should be working. But he’s injured and unavailable. Too bad, though.

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Any bets on how many times Steve Nash gets knocked down and bopped on the nose tonight?

I’ll put the over and under at 1.5.

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Comments

[Peter]

Posted at 9:21:49 AM.... Good night last night??? :)

[Thomas]

I must say I disagree with the assertion that Stu Jackson did what was right rather than what was easy in '07 when he suspended STAT and Diaw. I thought that due to the fact that their team's best player got was hammered -- somewhat maliciously -- by Big Shot Rob, the two showed remarkable composure. While they initially stepped onto the floor towards the scuffle, they both restrained themselves without having to be pulled back by a coach or an official.

To me, suspending them was the easy thing and the wrong thing. It was a matter of observing the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law, and the purpose of the rule's creation.

Keep up the good blogging.

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug

"So there is some history that shows Stu will do what’s right rather than what’s easy."

Could be the funniest thing you have you written.

It was easy destroying the Grizzlies...not right.

How does a guy so completely inept in running a franchise ever get an executive job at the NBA head office? No chance it was a reward for a job well done? On a related note...In have swampland in Jersey for sale...interested?

Ciao amigo

marc in panama

[Matty-Pix]

New rule: you have to say the word "Raptors" at least once per blog ... sure, nothing's going on ... but you're speaking to addicts, coming in with a desperate need of a fix!!!
Okay, maybe no news exists ... doesn't seem to stop others from making it up :)

[Andrew]

Does Steve Nash get his flopping and crying skills from his soccer background?

[Peter]

Hey Doug,

Question for you: In last night's game, when Howard elbowed Davis and gave him the woozies, there was no foul called as, I assume, it was just some incidental contact. But sometimes, in other cases, the incidental contact is called as a foul. So, was that a missed call, or is there no foul on that play as Howard is coming down from a shot and just going for a rebound?

Thanks Doug, keep up the great blog!

[Johnn19]

If the NBA recinds the tech's from Perkins it will be another clear indication of them manipulating game results, to Boston's advantage, to try and encourage a Lakers-Celts final, which is clearly their ideal.

[Dan]

Is this the same calm, professional Jason Williams? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkHJVYBs1Es

Also, was that Nav Bhatia sitting courtside in the Vince Carter jersey at the Amway Arena last night?

[Tiger]

I trust Stu to make the "right" decision.
But to paraphrase a certain ex-president, that would depend on what the meaning of "right" is.
According to the totally unbiased TV commentators, it was all the officials' fault. First, for instigating disputes with horrific foul calls. Then by provoking the angelic players, who only wanted to calmly discuss matters. The resulting techs were, of course, completely unwarranted, called by individuals who made no attempt to control of their too-short tempers. (Apparently no player has ever uttered insults or vulgarities while keeping an innocent mien for the TV cameras.)
Naturally the TV guys blathered on that the league has no choice but to do the "right" thing and rescind all of the techs or risk having the officials decide the outcome of the series. This they made their entire (and tiresome) story throughout the game.
Personally, the bostonians' chronic whining and trashtalking became old years ago, the techs and carping from the TV morons were kind of gratifying. :)
...to a point...
The game was much more palatable with the TV volume at zero.

[Tree]

A few years ago, Bill Simmons half-joked that anytime the NBA wanted to extend a playoff series, Joey Crawford and Eddie Rush worked the game. He even gave a list of examples that eludes me at the moment. I am no fan of the Celtics - in fact, I hate that team, with the exception of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the classiest dude in the NBA - but I'd classify both of last night's Ts on the dubious side. Marcin was asked for his opinion on the first, and he just kept saying "I don't know".

On another note, I find it truly amazing how many "inadvertant elbows" Howard lands on opponents faces. There was a sequence last night of the game before with Howard and Garnett, where there was another "inadvertant elbow" while they jostled for position that was quite clearly a case of 'accidentally on purpose'. As soon as it happened, Howard immediately started trash talking Garnett, which is a strange reaction to an accident. Plus, you'd figure at least one of these "inadvertant elbows" would make contact with a Magic player at some point. It's amazing how many "inavdevertant elbows" inadvertantly hit his opponents only.

[Harut S.]

If Stu Jackson is often inclined to do the right thing, wouldn't it be more likely that he waive the second technical on Perkins? Perkins did whine, but he did it in a somewhat controlling way since he immediately started walking away from the refs. How is it fair to get a technical to complain to yourself?... Even the in game commentators bluntly called it bad officiating, wouldn't you agree?

[Rob.V]

To think, some guy is getting paid how much?? to find an answer to whether or not Perkins should get a T. It's kind of hilarious really if you think about it, no? This is his job!!!? What an importance to the world, eh?

Doc Rivers is one hell of a quote.

Doc on Baby: "I don't know what kind of test they're going to do with Baby because he's a little delirious half the time anyway"

That dude is funny!! Makes me think - Man, I miss Mitchell. If there is one thing that really annoys me about Triano it's his ability to stay cool and collected when things arent going well. Yawn! There's just zero entertainment value unfortunately.

You know, if our team is going to suck year over year the least MLSE could do is bring in a coach with a little charisma... someone who can roll his eyes in disgust, or maybe break a lamp in a US hotel or something would be nice. You know, a little drama for petes sake.

Hmm!, I should have included that in my my year end Raptors survey.

Pleeeeease! Pheonix as Doug would say - for the love of all that's good in the world... Pleeease win one for the ages tonight. Wouldn't that just be great!

[Tabber]

Gotta love the whining Celtics' fans - very closely associating with their team, I guess. I've seen so many calls go the Celtics way that I expect all penalties against them will be withdrawn, with the excuse that this will make things "right". Any contact on Garnett is apparently a foul (just ask him!), but anything he does is totally within the rules. He and Tim (The Big Whiner #2) should be soccer players. And the comment on Nash? Broken nose, closed and black eye, bodycheck into scorer's table - c'mon, the guy shows the grit often associated with hockey players. Andrew, try watching the games with both eyes before commenting.

[doug]

I know your stance whether its job induced or just your personal viewpoint is to defend the refs at all costs which is your perogative....but for one thing if you think it was Stu Jackson that handled the Suns issue without any major input from Stern then thats the delusional thought of the day as since the situation with the Pacers-Pistons Stern has mandated to the refs and Stu to clamp down on every potential situation in fear of bad press, optics....and last night even as JVG and Mark Jackson said Perkins handled the second situation fine, it was a abysmal call and should be rescinded...in fact that game last night was not close to getting out of control due to the players actions it was that way inclined due to the refs and their decisions all night....a mess of a game officiating wise and again Joey Crawford is involved, although he handled the Baby Davis situation with class......

so yes me know in your eyes the refs never make a bad call, or they have a tough job to do (don't we all), but at the same time if the officials or the league office thnks they are going to try and legislate emotion out of a game then there not only wrong but making a big mistake...its a playoff game with emotions, spontaneous actons, deal with it in a rational and thoughtful manner..

[doug]

Zach Randolph may be in for bit of legal trouble, really who is suprised..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/27/zach-randolph-drug-invest_n_591705.html

[Mr. Cook]

My favourite quote (that I'll paraphrase because it's from memory) from White Chocolate back in the day was when he was being asked about why he threw so many fancy passes:

"Because I'm a professional basketball player and I can throw the ball around my back just as easily as I can throw it straight. What's the difference? How many turnovers did I have tonight? 1? And it was off the dribble, not a pass. I can do my job a lot of ways, I'm sorry if you haven't been able to figure out yours yet."

Classic.

[Scott]

I quite frankly am tired of watching players complain after every call that goes against them. I have heard "Perkins turned his back and walked away" He still acted like a spoiled baby who did not get his way.
This behaviour has trickled down to college, high school and club basketball where kids watch this going on in the pros and think it is what they should do.
I say crack down further and get players to shut up. Let the coaches deal with the "discussion" of calls.

[Chris]

hey Andrew, which flops are you talking about? The one where he was body checked into the scorer's table in '07? Or maybe the elbow that cut above his eye this year (he stayed in that game by the way, and got 10 & 5 in the 4th with one eye closed). Or is it the head butt that gave him a CONCUSSION & BROKEN NOSE where he flopped, you know, the one where he took his broken nose, and put it back in place himself. (Insert shaking of head and bemused grin) Have an ax to grind buddy?

[Matt]

What's your take on Avery Bradley? With his defence and slashing ability, he would be a great fit for Raps at PG

[Nick M]

Just like to point out one of the small personal battles within the bigger Celts-Magic Series. The 'who can overblow the severity of contact/injury more' between Paul Pierce and Vince Carter. Last night Pierce went down in the 3rd quarter, spent the first 3 seconds on the floor trying to remember-in excruciating pain mind you-what actually happened during the play before grabbing his shoulder and writhing.
Reminded me of a few things:
1. The good old days with VC or, in general, once every 3 games with VC.
2. Any 'fixture' between the Portuguese and Italians
3. One of the more classic Pierce moments when he left on a wheel chair and came back to play a few minutes later. In fact, that is not even comparable it was single handedly the most overblown injury in the history of sport-I dare anyone to top it!

[Lorie]

Hi Doug,
In making his announcement that he is rescinding the 2nd technical foul on Perkins, do you think the fact that the next game to be played is a pivotal playoff game weighed heavily, marginally or perhaps not one iota, into Stu Jackson's decison-making process?

Blogger's note: I don't think so

[doug]

Perkins second T has been rescinded by the league...i am not a Celts fan nor a Magic fan just a b-ball fan and in the best interests of the game as a whole it was the right thing to do, as it was just a bad decision by a ref that was over-emotional and reactionary at the time not a player...so kudos for the league for getting it right, but let the conspiracy theorists begin..

[David]

Steve Nash gets his flopping skills by being outweighed by everyone on the court by atleast 20-140 pounds. I hate soccer too by the way.

[Bob Wesley]

Doug,The technical was rescinded.If Kendrick Perkins gets t,ed up in game 6 does he automatically get kicked out of the game?Kind of 101 question.

Blogger's note: No. But if he gets one technical in Game 6, he'll miss Game 7 if there is one; or Game 1 of the final

[Michel G]

According to NBA.com, the league has rescinded the second tech. I'd rather have both teams at full strength, it makes for a better game. It was strange seeing a referee not in tune with the game. Like the announcers stated, I doubt he would have given him a tech if he realized it was his second. Players complain so much that I guess the refs have their breaking point.