The NBA’s investigation into the postgame incident between the Rockets and Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night is focused on Trevor Ariza, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. According to Wojnarowski, Ariza has been “isolated as the person most responsible” for the Rockets’ attempt to get into the Clippers’ locker room.
Ariza, who got into it with Blake Griffin during the game, resulting in ejections for both players, was waiting on Griffin after the game, a Rockets source told Lee Jenkins of SI.com. A source also told Jenkins that teammates James Harden, Chris Paul, and Gerald Green were holding Ariza back when he attempted to get into the Clippers’ locker room to confront Griffin and Austin Rivers.
Wojnarowski hears similar rumblings, writing that Paul and Harden are “increasingly described” as having attempted to cool down Ariza. However, Woj does note that some sources on the Clippers’ side insist that Paul “eagerly entered” the home locker room through the back entrance, as we detailed on Tuesday.
The NBA interviewed several executives, coaches, players, and security personnel during the 24 hours following the incident, and those discussions are expected to continue today, league sources tell Wojnarowski. It remains to be seen whether fines and/or suspensions will be announced before the Clippers host Denver on Wednesday night. The Rockets’ next game takes place on Thursday night in Houston.
Is there a rule that only players on the floor can talk? Never heard about that policy.
There’s no rule but I think the Houston players were a little ticked off about how much talking Austin Rivers was doing from the bench when he wasn’t playing.
Griffin needs to get punished worse than Ariza. He’s the real instigator of everything that happened.
Everything on the court? Probably yeah. Once the final buzzer goes off it should be down with. Ariza is crossing a line by trying to get into the opposing locker room looking for a confrontation.
Done with*
EXACTLY!
Having said that, Griffin was hacked a few times so naturally got frustrated. But at the end of the day, it’s up to the officials to determine how the style of play goes. They let it get to how it did but were also quick to blow a T when it could have been defused earlier than that. They must get a bonus for every T and ejection they call this season. But what happens on the court stays on the court. What Ariza et al did was pretty childish and should not be tolerated. They’re grown men for Christs sake!
I don’t know why Blake Griffin was playing with such a huge chip on his shoulder. I understand from a competitive standpoint that you want to beat your former teammate in Paul and take down the second best team in the conference, but there’s absolutely no need for the antics that he showed on the court.Ariza is guilty as well, but there comes a point when you have to stand up for your teammates and yourself. All the extracurriculars are a part of the game but D’Antoni and Rivers need to control their guys. I’m sure multi game suspensions and fines are coming for all parties involved.
i still dont see anybody fighting. even w. everything that supposedly went on. too many players, too much security, police were called, players make too much money to be out here fighting. its not the 90’s anymore lol
Buncha chumps in the NBA
I would be willing to bet that when Ariza got into the locker room looking for Austin Rivers, Rivers crapped his pants and ran like a little 8itch. Dude is the definition of fake tough guy. Griffin showed how classless he was when he ran by D’antoni and elbowed him. Seriously? Great stuff tough guy
Griffin,Paul,Jordan,rivers,Reddick was and Barnes were all punks and the reason they never won anything
worth mentioning. Their teams lacked character and leadership.
Griffin,Paul,Jordan,Rivers,Reddick and Barnes are all punks. That is why they have never won anything to talk about. Their team has always lacked leadership and character.
Lol JJ Reddick has never done anything wrong in his career and has never done anything to make himself a villain to anyone (unless you hated Duke). Chris Paul is considered one of the greatest leaders in the game today (hence why he is the President of the NBA Players Association). He can be a bit rough and demanding, but no one questions his leadership.
Pending on the outcome, if he’s an instigator to get into the Clips changeroom than he should instantly step down as President of the Players Association. End of story
Paul is a great leader? Don’t get me wrong; I love him as a player and competitor. A leader gets people to reach great heights and follow you. He never ever did that with the Clippers. All he ever did was argue with Blake and De Andre. Not solely blaming Paul as my first post stated.
Paul has done plenty of trash talking and instigating in his career so to try and portray him as a choirboy is disingenuous at best.