Tyson Chandler of the New Orleans Hornets has been suspended one game without pay for throwing an elbow and striking Portland's Joel Przybilla in the neck. In addition, Przybilla has been fined $7,500 for his role in the incident and assessed a Flagrant Foul Penalty One for a forearm to the chest of Chandler, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.Rules are rules, though after watching the replay numerous times, it's hard to tell if the "forearm to the chest" that Przybilla delivered rises to the level of a Flagrant One. If Chandler hadn't thrown the elbow that subsequently got him thrown out of the game, no one would have noticed Przybilla's supposed infraction. And a $7,500 fine? Ouch.
The incident, in which Chandler was also assessed a Flagrant Foul Penalty Two and ejected from the game, occurred with 6:16 remaining in the third period of New Orleans' 92-77 win over the Trail Blazers last night at the Rose Garden.
Chandler will serve his suspension tonight when the Hornets visit the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.
It's a physical game. Tempers flare. Two guys got a little upset, but no punches were thrown. Restraint was exercised. The NBA has to do what the NBA has to do, but it seems that for the most part, everyone handled themselves responsibly.
I'm not just being a homer here. Tyson was out to hurt Joel with the initial swipe, even if he did forget the Joel's wrist was broken. Joel did a minor elbow to let Tyson know he wasn't going to get away with it. Tyson then winds up for a monster elbow.
ReplyDeleteI don't see it as a "tempers flare between two guys". Tyson was clearly over the line. Had it been just the first swipe and return elbow, sure, that stuff happens but then Tyson lost his cool.
Seeing that swipe reminded me of the Rasheed Wallace when he did that do a defender (forgot who) and then the defender got called for the foul. Classic