2016 WCF: Warriors vs. Spu- sorry, Thunder

Smart from their point of view. It's about making money, and they're losing out on money with a Warriors team without Green. It also makes it more interesting for me to watch when he is there so....

Do they actually lose money if Green doesn't play? If so, how? What evidence is there of that? I imagine it's a trifling amount if anything, which would probably be offset by the $25,000 fine he has to pay.

Consistency in disciplinary action and policy should not be trumped by what's "interesting". Once you set that standard, you're basically saying "stars can do whatever they like without repercussions, because it's more important that they play and (theoretically) make the game more enjoyable than they take responsibility and face consequences for their actions." That's a dangerous precedent, and flies in the face of the usual grumbling about "superstar calls" and special treatment.

Ratings. People are more inclined to watch when their favourite player is playing. A good example was when the Warriors vs Rockets ratings dropped when Curry was out. I can't remember where I read it from, I think it was on reddit somewhere. It makes the NBA more money, a lot more than $25,000 dollars. I never said it was the right decision (it obviously wasn't, he straight up crushed his balls ), it was just the smart one on their part because they're going to benefit from it.

Besides this is just all speculation.... take my word with a grain of salt.

Well, if it's on Reddit, it must be true!

That comparison is apples and oranges. A first round series featuring a mediocre-at-best team that barely made the Playoffs taking on a team that won 73 games is not the same as the Western Conference Finals. Curry was also injured rather than suspended - so his absence is based on a medical circumstance, rather than a disciplinary action - and on top of that, he's a more significant and popular player to fans than Green is. I'd suggest that that first round series didn't have much appeal beyond the possibility that Curry would go off and really torch the Rockets with some historically significant performances; once his injury took that out of the equation, any interest that was there rapidly diminished. Conversely, if Green serves a suspension in Game 4, there's still plenty of intrigue in the series, and a marquee match-up in the form of Durant and Westbrook vs. Curry and Thompson.

Even if the ratings were to dip, especially for just a single game, I'm not sure that the NBA actually loses any money out of that. I'm assuming they don't have to refund the companies who purchased advertising time, just because the ratings aren't at a certain level, unless there's some absurd conditional clause in their agreement. Even if some companies were to pull out after a low-rated game - and that seems unlikely - others would step in and take their place.

But speaking of ratings: consider that there's also the possibility that electing not to suspend Green will negatively affects ratings, by way of people who are unhappy with the decision subsequently boycotting the game (and perhaps a significant chunk of the rest of the Playoffs, too) out of frustration and disillusionment. Not suspending Green is a decision that placates some fans, and in that respect, you could call it a smart move. It also infuriates others, while sending a bad message to fans and players alike, which is not so smart. In the past, players have missed key Playoff games because they've lost control and made bad decisions.

All things considered, I think the benefits of making consistent rulings and taking appropriate action in response to incidents such as this one outweigh any disappointment that a team is not at full strength. After all, there is a reason that the team isn't at full strength, and that's because a player crossed a line and has to face the music as a result. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time, as the saying goes.

When I say Reddit I mean a user posted a link reffering to some respected sports news website.

Kevin Durant says it perfectly in this clip, the leagues about business:

https://twitter.com/royceyoung/status/7 ... 3740558337

Thunder score 72 points in the first half for the second game in a row. Have the Warriors allowed that all season?

It really feels like this OKC team is finally living up to it's potential. Everyone being healthy helps big time.

I think protecting the integrity of the league would ultimately be good business, as I said above.

But speaking of the current series, the Thunder sure have a lot of fight in them. I can't count the Warriors out until such time as they're actually out, but the Thunder have given themselves a pretty good opportunity here, if they can put together another good second half.

Incidentally, the Warriors are -71 in the last six quarters when Green has been on the floor. Perhaps the league is actually favouring the Thunder with that ruling, after all.

What a game for Westbrook. Warrior fans in shambles.

Watch the Warriors come back and then win another two straight games because 73-9.

The lead is still twelve, but the Warriors did what they wanted and needed to do in the third. Thunder aren't looking sharp, Warriors are just a few threes to spark a big run away from completing the comeback and evening the series.

Andre Roberson is the real MVP

If you were to tell me that the Thunder are going to go 3-1 against the Warriors and blow them out 2 out of the 3 i would've thought you were crazy!

if they lose, Toronto's my only hope at watching any more NBA this year!

Wow. Impressive just isn't a strong enough word.

Still...still...with Game 5 being in Oakland, it's not inconceivable that the Warriors win the next one, find their groove and win Game 6 in Oklahoma City, and then complete an epic comeback at home in Game 7. Seemingly unlikely, but not inconceivable. No disrespect to the Thunder intended, give them all the credit in the world for what they've done so far, but like I said before, I can't count out the Warriors until they're actually out. Remember that Bird's Celtics came back from a 3-1 deficit to Dr. J's 76ers in the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals. Different circumstances, different players, but I'm just saying, great teams can do some incredible things. The Thunder can't let up, or the Warriors will pull off the seemingly impossible.

OKC completing that 2010 Celtic cockblock to Cleveland and Orlando. Warriors can still win this, but this is a big hole they dug in.

3-1 is a big hurdle to overcome. The Warriors may have had the best season ever, but it's hard to see OKC losing 3 in a row if both teams continue to play like this.

Damn, record season and now on the verge of getting eliminated...


Also Green not getting suspended is prime BS. Jones got suspended just one day earlier for hitting Biyombo in the last few seconds of the match, which also did not look as intentional as Green's foul.

Quick history of groin hits:

05/23/16: Draymond Green (GS) hits Steven Adams - NOT suspended, $25000 fine
05/22/16: Dahntay Jones (CLE) hits Bismack Biyombo - suspended
04/05/15: Shaun Livinston (GS) hits Dirk Nowitzki - suspended
03/21/15: Marcus Smart (BOS) hits Matt Bonner - suspended
11/05/14: J.R. Smith (NY) hits Glen Rice - suspended
11/07/13: Dennis Shröder (ATL) hits DeMarcus Cousins - suspended
03/05/13: Serge Ibaka (OKC) hits Blake Griffin - NOT suspended, $25000 fine
12/27/12: Dwyane Wade (MIA) hits Ramon Sessions while flailing his legs - suspended
12/12/12: DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) hits O. J. Mayo - suspended
04/14/09: Ray Allen (BOS) elbows Anderson Varejao in the groin - suspended (I'd say that was worth it)
03/04/97: Dennis Rodman (CHI) hits Joe Wolf - suspended, $7500 fine

Last edited by ThePointForward on Wed May 25, 2016 10:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Dommy73, thanks for that. I'm off throwing this shit to people who won't listen.

Rodman was also suspended for 11 games in 1997 for lashing out and kicking a camera man in the groin in the 1997 season. The Dwyane Wade incident is certainly noteworthy, too.

Wow you guys bring Wade into discussion I will now need to side with Green. Fuq, Off. Joke aside, andrew good point up there. Investing in integrity of league would be a wise long term move but this kinda feels short sighted business move.





That said, I am greatly surprised the best player in this series hasn't been neither Durant or Curry. RW is monstrous, fearless, certainly a big stage performer.

Don't count out Roberson just yet. Kid can play.

i keep saying the warriors wont win the ring and that 73 wins wont mean shit. OKC making me look good.

Yes, the list is very likely incomplete as I can't really search what each flagrant foul was, but when they explicitly state keyword "groin", it's in there.

However as far as the 11 incidents long list goes, 9 players were suspended for 1 game each and two got a free pass along with a $25000 fine.

The last two groin incidents can be compared to earlier's incidents pretty well with different results.

Jones' is similar to Ibaka's incident, however Jones got suspension, while Ibaka got away with a fine. I think Ibaka's was worse, but league might've wanted to punish Jones because it was in a final seconds of a lost game.

Green's is of comparable with DWade's kick. This time Green got away with a fine and Wade got suspended. Worth noting is that Green's kick in my opinion looks way more intentional than Wade's, who was fouled on the play.

73-9*

Damn it Draymond you piece of shit