Should we blame the player's union for what happened to the Suns?

Here's my theory: David Stern had no choice but to suspend Stoudemire %26amp; Diaw because if he had used his own discretionary judgment, the union would've taken advantage. Imagine if Stern had said, "Ok, we'll let it go this time. You guys will get off with a small fine." Then the next time players jump off the bench and get suspended, they will say, "No fair! You let Stoudemire %26amp; Diaw off the hook. Why should we be punished?" Then it would get crazy and silly because it would get down to how many feet you walked away from the bench and whether or not you 'intended' to get into scuffle. Everything would be judged on a case-by-case basis and the union would fight every suspension tooth %26amp; nail - even if it was justified. Stern probably thought about all this and felt it was just a lot easier and sensible just to have one rule for all occasions. It only makes sense. The most important job for Stern is to protect the integrity of the game and to stop fights from breaking out.

Should we blame the player's union for what happened to the Suns?
By blaming the loss on the Robert Horry incident takes the blame away from Mike D'Antoni who should be looking for another job next season. Now since everybody is saying the league screwed the Suns and the Spurs got the series given to them, nobody realizes that the style of basketball they play in Phoenix isn't good enough to win in the playoffs. The style of run and gun and hope you outscore the other guys has never been a proven method of winning. It seems it only works during the regular season, which is why the Suns win 50 or 60 games a year. The Suns did manage to score over 100 points in 5 out of the 6 games, but they were constantly getting burnt on defense. Any team can score 100 on Phoenix. Those suspensions just overshadowed the fact that the Suns need to build around their core of Nash, Stoudemire and Marion and combine them with stoppers who can contain guys like Parker and Ginobli. You can't just put your hands over your balls every time and try taking a chagre, they need a few guys with quick feet to cause the turnover and feed Nash or Barbosa for the fast break. The suspension didn't lose the series for the Suns, their style of play did.
Reply:NO...The blame is on the devil DAVID STERN...he loves the spurs so much he always babies Tim Duncan.....
Reply:No blaming at all. What is done is done! Suns played well without Amare and Diaw and certainly they had a chance to win but they blew it. I will argue if Amare and Diaw played and they both have bad game that night, the result will be worse. Suns put up a great fight and I hope they will have another great season next season.
Reply:I dont think that Stoudemire %26amp; Diaw should have been suspended. They did not do anything wrong.





I think Robert H. should have been suspended for the rest of the season...
Reply:first of all, if David Stern had a "common sense" he never would have suspended either player for what occurred in the 5th game of the playoffs... He literally gave the series to the Spurs with this move and proved once again the old adage... don't let people think you are stupid.. just put your foot in your mouth and let them know for sure"....This was the biggest travesty for the Phoenix Suns. and mark my words you will see a rule change come about this winter... and only hope that both David Stern and Stu Jackson are replaced in the future.. for if you gave each one of them a new brain.. that would make the total one/half...
Reply:do any of u know about what happend in the 1997 eastern conference finals between the knicks and Heat the rule was only a year old or so and a fight broke out in game 5 and some of the knicks players left the bench including patrick ewing (ewing walked to mid court to get a better view of things were he stood with his hands on his waist watching) then 5 Knick players were suspended and Miami won the series so if u want someone to blame then your scapegoat is Rob Thorn and everyone else who made that decision 10 years ago


Not to mention that stoudamire went in trying to look tough to defend his canadian boy as to where Ewing just watched from mid court and like the East finals series more suns should have been suspended including nash and maybe even bell for what happend so grow up suns fans u couldnt have won anyways
Reply:NO
Reply:No. The Suns are to blame for what happened to the Suns. Even if the series had gone to 7 games, the Spurs still would have won.