The NBA is suspending Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green for “aggressively entering” the Clippers’ locker room earlier this week, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports (Twitter link).
Chris Paul and James Harden will face no discipline. Wojnarowski (Twitter links) adds that interviews with 20 people from the locker room incident were conducted. It was determined that Paul and Harden tried to be “peacemakers,” attempting to defuse the situation. The scribe also adds that Blake Griffin will not be suspended.
The pair of Rockets wings will miss the team’s games against the Wolves and Warriors this week. Golden State is the only team ahead of the Rockets in the Western Conference standings, while the Wolves own the fourth spot in the conference, sitting just three games behind Houston.
Ariza will lose approximately $103K as a result of the two-game suspension, while Green will lose roughly $19.K. The Rockets will receive a credit of slightly under $61K against the luxury tax, Bobby Marks of ESPN.com explains (Twitter link). The team now sits roughly $2.56MM below the luxury tax threshold.
That’s BS. Griffin should sit 2 and Austin Rivers should have to play in the WNBA. Rivers was talking at the Houston players while he was on the bench in a suit.
Not saying who was guilty and who wasn’t guilty but isn’t it a bit odd looking that Ariza and Green get suspended while the superstars get off free? Hmmmm
You are allowed to talk while on the bench. Rivers probably talked too much considering he didn’t play but its not like players on the bench can’t talk. Griffin should’ve gotten a large fine or a one game suspension for his on-court actions that did lead to all this.
Well, I’m glad to see Steven St Croix is in tune with #MeToo and the sexism that pervades our culture.
“Tell me whyyyy!”
The head of the players union gets off scot free. What BS,
Wussy Paul should pay Aliza’s fine. Adam Silver is a Wussy also!
Only suspending role players I see. Got to keep those ratings up!
Ariza and Greene entered the locker room aggressively, but Harden and Paul secured a valid warrant?
The word on Harden and Paul’s role is that they played a “peace-keeper” role when it came to the locker room confrontation. As in, they were trying to maintain peace by either trying to get Ariza and Green out or by some other peaceful means.
In general I like fights in basketball as long as they’re not malice in the palace levels. I think fights make the game more interesting as it leaves bad blood between teams which helps develop rivalries. This I don’t like though. This is after the game and uncalled for for the rockets players to do this
There’s something to be said for hockey, where they pound on each other and get it out of their systems.
The right decisions there.
Entering the locker rooms aggressively after the hame warrants a suspension.
As for people complaining Griffin and Rivers should have been suspended too for “talking trash” during the game and being “aggresive” while in play….. please, what kind of a baby excuse is that. ALL players talk trash on the sidelines, FULL STOP!
As for Griffin, pretty sure he was being hacked BY Arizia before anything happened and nothing was being called. Had the refs been on top of it earlier, nothing would have eventuated. Having said that, grow some f’ing balls and realise the game of basketball can get physical and aggressive that way. Fans need to harden up and suck it up. How goods this been for the game – all the on court attention. I’m so keen for the Feb 28 rematch!!