Kobe Bryant was shocked that he got caught for his hit on Ginobili during Sunday’s game in Los Angeles, with just 2.7 seconds remaining. The Spurs won 96-94 in overtime and Bryant was suspended for one game without pay.
A lot of Lakers fans are up in arms about this, believing what they want to believe. It doesn’t help that Kobe lied repeatedly to the press about his intentions. (Watch the video for yourself. His tells are shrugging his shoulders and licking his lips.)
“Unintentional elbows take place all the time,” Bryant said. “I’m blown away by it. It makes no sense.”
“The determining factors were the fact that there was contact made with Ginobili above the shoulders and the fact that this particular reaction by Kobe was an unnatural basketball act. Following the shot, he drove a stiff-arm backward in a hard motion and struck Ginobili in the head,” Stu Jackson (executive vice president of basketball operations) said. “We do not view this as an inadvertent action.”
Bryant used the word “unintentional” at least 10 times during his five-minute session with reporters and said he even sought out Ginobili to check on him. “I said: ‘I’m sorry, bro. I didn’t mean to,’ ” Bryant said. “I love Manu’s game, he’s always been a favorite player of mine.”
It’s clear from the video that Kobe intentionally smacked Ginobili. Yet again, Kobe got off easy, just like he did in Eagle, Colorado.
This is clearly a case of people watching tape in slow motion rather than real time, and making their conclusions based on the result rather than the action.
Think about it if the league was actually serious about following the logic that they set up; anytime someone strikes another player in an “unnatural basketball motion” above the shoulders they will get suspended for one game.
First, defining an unnatural basketball motion is impossible (although it does lead to some nice punchlines…like Kwame Brown’s free throws). Kobe was either trying to draw a foul or clear space, both actions that happen all the time.
I mean anytime someone is poked in the eye, shouldn’t the offender be suspended for a game? Or everytime Mutombo clears a rebound by waving his elbows isn’t that grounds for suspension?
Of course not that would be absurd, exactly why this suspension was absurd as well.
Looks like Kobe attempted to pop him to me. Like he didn’t like the fact that his shot was blocked: “How dare the, Ginobli?” Otherwise, if it’s as if the Kobe defenders suggest, that he was only attempting to make contact, in order to draw a foul, it shows all that’s wrong with the with the shooter being able to iniate contact, and then getting the call.b
Living in dallas, and watching the finals closely here…i used to think ..well Wade just drives to the basket and gets calls..
hmm not so much now.
Kobe..if you notice…hasnt been getting whistles lately.
watch replays of the SA game in LA….he got hit..and i mean HIT on the arm…when he tried to dunk on duncan….like 2 times….
yes NBA.com..NOTHING on kobe’s suspension really…
I am watching NBA TV daily…..who is that one dude who does all the action commentary?
he is loud and obnoxious..that guy is ANNOYING..and he is a kobe hater himself..just watch how he talks about kobe…
thats’ wacked..anyway
24 forever.
Looks like Kobe attempted to pop him to me. Like he didn’t like the fact that his shot was blocked: “How dare the, Ginobli?” Otherwise, if it’s as if the Kobe defenders suggest, that he was only attempting to make contact, in order to draw a foul, it shows all that’s wrong with the with the shooter being able to iniate contact, and then getting the call.
Forget filling out the form on the league’s website. Here is the email address it sends to:
nba-letters-l@nba.com
Also, for those who may be so inclined, I believe I have found David Stern’s and Stu Jackson’s email addresses. I sent these to email addresses emails more than 15 minutes ago and have not received failure notices so they more than likely work.
David Stern: dstern@nba.com
Stu Jackson: sjackson@nba.com
AK – here’s a conspiracy angle: thegirl in colorado was really David Stern’s illegitimate daughter. Can’t come up with anything else. But there is really no way this is an appropriate decision. Even the Spurs fans on their forum think it’s absurd And for it to come against the leagues biggest flopper just makes it all the more ridiculous. Compound it with popovich AND manu saying it was not intentional, not to mention Kobe checking on Manu after the play and you got yourself a real mystery here.
What rights, if any,do the Lakers have to appeal the decision? anyone know?
Im sorry but if you watch it a few times you realise Kobe lashed out ..there was far too much force in his arm movement to be caused by Ginobli.Whether it actually deserves a suspension I cant say but Kobe lashed out at his face…Bowen got faked out big time and Kobe thought he had a clear shot he got caught at the last minute by Ginobli…theres no doubt Kobe swung his arm…
Sorry but its pretty clear…watch it again
On the surface you would think Kobe is a player that deserves all the respect because of what he brings to the game, not only because he’s a great player, but because he plays for the Lakers.
But the fact is he doesn’t get the respect, even Phil said it today, that he doesn’t understand why Kobe doesn’t get the respect.
It may not be as elaborate as because the nba wants to promote whom ever, it may as well be as simple as not liking Kobe.
Kobe is the kind of person that doesn’t kiss any one’s a** and it may be that it’s a personal problem and nothing bigger than that.
You may say, but why would they do that to a player that makes them a lot of money, it’s a business. But is there really any logic when it comes to not liking someone?
I tend to believe is more personal than anything else and it’s interfering with work.
It is ridiculous to suspend Kobe for this and I don’t think the nba would consider Kobe a dirty player, because he is not.
So when you say to justify the conspiracy, we can’t, but it is so ridiculous that something has to be there for this to go on.
It actually looked pretty bad to me. Don’t think it was intentional or not, but he definitely swung his arm out there with the intention of getting some contact or looking as if he was fouled.
I don’t agree with the fact that Kobe gets one game for this and KG also got one game from throwing a ball and a punch at a player. Seems a tad on the ridiculous side.
Please. Kobe thugged Manu. That and his home team non-called foul on Horry shows the crew was all homer. Finally, his tongue waggin after getting away with the Horry foul just shows immature he is. He’s a jerk.