Word of the day:  goon

So let me get this straight: Before the game the love between Mac and Shaq was strong, hugs and gracious smiles all around. But the second Tracy steps in to defend his boy from the rabid attack of a greasy Canadian, Shaq shows him how the floor tastes? Hmmmm…

So what will Stern do? Overreact? I don’t think Barnes should miss any games. Sure it was a cheap-shot, but nothing to suspend a guy for. That kind of play happens in just about every game. Hell, would you suspend someone for a charge? What about Rafer? I think I saw him sneak a bitch-slap to the face of Nash during the fracas. And if I had to guess, I would say that Alston was responsible for that shank hole in Nash’s neck… Just a guess… call me crazy…

What about T-Mac? After all, he was the first player to send a body to the floor. If he misses any time, Shaq should too because they both reacted in the same way.

My two cents: No missed games for anyone… This isn’t a pansy sport like football. ;)

1 game for Matt and Rafe + a virtual pass for the money makers… I’m a conspiracy junkie though… One of those guys who suspects Stern has a wild-hair for the Rockets. I’m going to be pissed beyond words if the punishments are lop-sided to the rockets.

Funny stuff to notice in the clip (thanks Paul):

1. T-Mac dribbled up, Rafer got smacked, T-Mac looked over like “what the” and then drills the 3.
2. Shaq’s involvement was from behind in nearly every instance… Hmmm? “He kept shoving rockets and then throwing his hands up like he was just trying break it up and then he would shove another one.” LOL! Shaq is a funny dude…
3. Brooks let Rafer go! He had a chance to get it there and try to break things up, but after a half-hearted attempt to hold hands with the STARTING point guard and pull him out, he left Rafer to his own devices. Clever bastard…

Here’s a good recap with quotes from Nash, Barnes and Alston:

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2008/11/13/rafer-alston-says-a-matt-barnes-cheap-shot-led-to-fight-betwee/

Nothing makes my day better than watching T-Mac put on his ass by Shaq. Thanks for the video.

is that while Barnes was busy shoving Alston, he left TMac undefended to hit the three. Barnes hadn’t been able to defend TMac at all that quarter, and apparently he took out his frustrations on Rafer. Because that makes sense.

On the other hand, I don’t know what else Rafer really should have done (except perhaps not react at all, but it’s not fair to expect a guy to not react after something like that). Rafer didn’t really do much except get in people’s faces and talk at them.