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During the 2007 NBA playoffs between the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs, Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for one game for leaving the bench. Steve Nash had been knocked down. Stoudemire and Diaw had stepped away from the bench area. Many argue that the one game suspension altered the course of that playoff series - and, subsequently, the NBA championship.

Now, in the 2008 playoffs, there is an incident between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks:

“…Williams and Celtics center Kendrick Perkins both admitted stepping onto the floor to see what was happening — a no-no in the NBA, especially with commissioner David Stern in the crowd. But they were not punished under the rule designed to keep incidents from escalating into bench-clearing brawls.

“Technically, I broke the rule,” Williams said. “But I had no intentions of doing anything on the court. I was just trying to see what was going on.”

Said Perkins: “I didn’t realize it until I watched the tape.”"

link: Celtics, Hawks escape punishment for skirmish, leaving bench

For this 2008 incident, there are no fines; there are no suspensions. - The NBA owes the Phoenix Suns organization and fans a huge apology.

Catherine Forsythe

Tags: Amare Stoudemire, apology, Atlanta Hawks, Boris Diaw, Boston Celtics, NBA, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, suspensions

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