Stern Warnings

Sorry, Kevin. This pun thing is way too much fun.

During what has been one of the more memorable NBA playoffs in years, as well as one of the more memorable playoff series in years, David Stern has decided he has had enough of people actually enjoying the NBA, and has suspended Horry, Stoudamire, and Diaw for a game from the Spurs/Suns series. With Stern's ever-continuing drive to turn the NBA into his own Nazi regime, he has sucked any chance the Suns had of overcoming the Spurs (which was pretty slim anyway), and has destroyed what has been a fantastic series.

Certainly he is feeling the pressure of Roger Goodell's new tighter reign on the NFL, but c'mon David, is this really necessary? Yeah, they jumped off the bench and violated that rule, but does that really constitute the suspension of the best player on one team during a tight playoff series? Why not fine him or call a technical? No punches were even thrown! I half expected him to suspend Kobe for conspiracy of inciting the fight. Maybe we ought to retroactively look at each chest-bumping during the year and suspend players each time they came off the bench to defend a teammate. No wonder no one is watching basketball these days.

On another note, we were exposed to one of the sillier and more awkward moments of the year while watching Dirk Nowitzki accept his MVRSP (that being the Most Valuable Regular Season Player) award while all the more deserving candidates are still playing basketball. Why is it that the playoffs are not considered part of the voting process? Wouldn't the player that steps up during the playoffs and leads his team to, ahem, winning more games when they count, be more valuable to his team than someone that becomes invisible when they need him the most?

I'm not saying a player on a non-playoff team or a team with a quick playoff exit can't win an MVP, because my vote certainly goes to Kobe, who's team crapped out of the playoffs like a spicy bean burrito. You take Kobe off that team and they would no doubt be a high lottery team. But this post is not just for Kobe Bryant. It is a call out for recognition of Baron Davis, Tim Duncan, Lebron, and Jason Kidd--the guys who come through for their teams during high-pressure situations, and without whom their teams wouldn't be even close to where they are.