Rondo suspended, will miss Game 2
The NBA suspended Celtics all-star point guard Rajon Rondo on Monday for one game without pay for making contact with an official. Rondo will miss Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoff series with the Hawks Tuesday. It is the second suspension for Rondo this season for his conduct concerning an official.
Rondo bumped referee Marc Davis in the final minute of the Celtics’ Game 1 loss to the Hawks Sunday after being assessed a technical foul for arguing a call. He was subsequently given a second technical and ejected. Rondo was upset because officials called teammate Brandon Bass for a foul, instead of awarding a jump ball, during a scrum for a loose ball with Hawks forward Josh Smith.
“It’s part of the package with our team,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Monday prior to be informed of the ruling. “We are a volatile team in a lot of ways. Rondo is an emotional player. You know the old saying, I would rather kindle a fire than start one. I like his fire and sometimes he burns you. I like the fire that he has. Someone asked, why was he involved [in arguing the call]. Because he is into the game. He is a fighter for his team. You didn’t want him to go that far, obviously. It’s just who he is. It’s also what makes him great. It’s that fine line that you have to walk and every once in a while he crosses it.”
Rondo and Rivers said the contact with Davis was unintentional and that his momentum carried him into the official. Teammate Paul Pierce called the contact “real minor.” However, league rules are clear on what is acceptable.
“We have a hard and fast rule, unless someone trips you and sends you into him, you don’t touch a referee,” NBA commissioner David Stern told ESPN radio prior to the announcement of the suspension.
The Celtics will now have to play without Rondo, who had 20 points and 11 assists in the series-opening loss to the Hawks.
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71 comments Add your comment
TMACfan
April 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
I honestly don’t care if he wasn’t suspended. I know the Hawks will win anyways.
High-sider
April 30th, 2012
8:03 pm
@Chris Vivlamore and Michael Cunningham
I have a suggestion. When you are ready to shut down or close a blog, please post a comment 15 – 30 minutes in advance informing [us] bloggers that you will be shutting down or closing a blog so bloggers don’t lose their posts/comments when they unknowingly attempt to post comments to a blog that has already been closed or shut down. [Does that make sense?]
DawgNole
April 30th, 2012
8:05 pm
High-sider
April 30th, 2012
8:03 pm
@Chris Vivlamore and Michael Cunningham
I have a suggestion. When you are ready to shut down or close a blog, please post a comment 15 – 30 minutes in advance informing [us] bloggers that you will be shutting down or closing a blog so bloggers don’t lose their posts/comments when they unknowingly attempt to post comments to a blog that has already been closed or shut down. [Does that make sense?]
_____________________
Co-sign.
Yes, it does make sense–which of course guarantees nothing.
DawgNole
April 30th, 2012
8:07 pm
MC’s pretty good about shutting down a thread when he posts a new blog. CV, not so much.
kuhndog
April 30th, 2012
8:10 pm
If this is possible,this makes this game a little more difficult.You know the Cs are gonna come out gunnin,we need to keep on doin what got us here and dont get complaisant .I think KG is gonna try to start some $hit and get his team fired up,probably Ivan,I expect the refs. to be touchy with the calls,josh no complaining I predict a Hawks win but I dont think it is going to be a blow out.About marvin I think he will have a better game lets hope he doesn’t get hurt lol
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 30th, 2012
8:15 pm
My Prediction From Rio
Hawks in 6
Shamrock got the Hushmouth
High-sider
April 30th, 2012
8:21 pm
I hear ya, DawgNole.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 30th, 2012
8:31 pm
wow hibbert is so overrated…big baby is owning him
Joe
April 30th, 2012
8:35 pm
So…..how come Bradley isn’t mentioned as being up for suspension?? Everyone focuses on Rondo’s “bump”, but Bradley consciously reached out and grabbed the ref’s arm, trying to turn him to Bradley while he was making the call to the scorer’s table.
That was just as an intentional move on a ref as Rondo, in my opinion.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 30th, 2012
8:51 pm
“There is no cohesion in New York’s game. No continuity, no passing, just a bunch of iso’s by several players, mostly Carmelo.”
A Woody-coached team is offensively disjointed and iso-heavy? I am SHOCKED.
dap01
April 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
We now know that Rondo and Rivers both lie. At least Rivers is trying to take up for his player. Rondo needs to man up and not thug up.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 30th, 2012
9:02 pm
Here is an absolutely fantastic read:
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/29/nba-playoffs-hawks-again-scoff-at-the-notion-of-unsustainable-offense/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Dennis
April 30th, 2012
9:06 pm
I’m a Celts fan from way back, but Rondo was intentional in bumping the ref, tape shows it. He was upset from the previous call Davis blew when Josh Smith knocked the ball out of bounds at the Celtics end, and then this call, which was a close one, sent him over the top. But, calls are calls, and I saw a few shoves by the Celtics under the hoop that didn’t get called. You play the game and you win it, pure and simple. A loss should not be blamed on an official supposedly blowing a call. I thought Doc’s take was pretty good on it as well, he did note Rondo crossed the line.
TMACfan
April 30th, 2012
9:09 pm
FIRE WOODY!!
TMACfan
April 30th, 2012
9:10 pm
LOL
niremetal
April 30th, 2012
9:19 pm
Co-sign TMACfan.
*crawls back under rock*
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 30th, 2012
9:22 pm
1) T-Mac + Joe in the game at the same time. Attack whoever their SG is guarding
2) Joe and Josh: BETTER PASSES.
3) Teague: Do not be timid for 1 second on the court. Take open shots. Attack the basket.
Just like my comments last night, THESE AREN’T NEGATIVE COMMENTS. These are damn good observations that, if better utilized last night, would have won us the game by 20 points. We do need to use starters with the 2nd unit.
Pargo + Willie just can’t get it done. These guys only take jumpshots. We need to attack the basket. That means Pargo should try get in the lane or these guys should be decoys for T-Mac, who the BALL SHOULD RUN THROUGH EVERY SINGLE TIME HE IS IN THE GAME (which is usually when Joe is out). T-Mac needs to look for his damn shot. He had a few good looks last night, but was feeding it to Collins (who actually is a lot better than most people here think. An okay backup center).
Damn, I haven’t even mentioned Marvin yet. I co-sign Rod from College Park 2000000%. Give T-Mac all of Marvin’s minutes. If this guy is going to score 2 points, miss all his *OPEN* jumpshots, and play sucky defense, he should not be on ANY Playoff Roster. I think he was our worst bench player last night, and that’s just sad.
I find it amazing how several people here said Marvin had been playing well as of the end of this regular season. Look at his game log. Every 3 games he manages to score 4 or 6 points. That is pathetic. He had a huge game vs. a Knicks team that didn’t guard him (if you actually watch the games, you realize that no one actually guards this guy and his jumpshots are seldom contested).
Northcyde, nice 8 Mile rap. I know all those freestyle battle verses by heart LOL.
I don’t think LD has been that bad so far in this series. He just needs to use some starters with the bench.
Damn those Rondo Technicals changed the whole game. I believe right before then Pierce missed a 3 that would’ve cut it to 3. Joe played solid D on Pierce. Hopefully Pierce plays like that the whole series. Nothing much you can do about KG – that dude was amazing in last night’s game.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
MC replies to tweets usually instantly but doesn’t bother to maintain this site.
Michael Cunningham
April 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.
Morning Reads: May 1, 2012 — Peach Pundit
May 1st, 2012
9:18 am
[...] Celtics’ Rajon Rondo won’t be playing in game 2 tonight of their first round matchup against the Hawks. Apparently bumping the Ref will get you in some [...]
Morning Reads: May 1, 2012
May 1st, 2012
10:10 am
[...] Celtics’ Rajon Rondo won’t be playing in game 2 tonight of their first round matchup against the Hawks. Apparently bumping the Ref will get you in some [...]