Projo Sports Blog

BOSTON -- The NBA suspended Orlando point guard Rafer Alston for Game 3 for slapping Boston's Eddie House in the back of the head after House made a 3-point shot with 49.7 seconds left in Boston's Game Two, 112-94, rout of Orlando.

"All I did was hit a shot and start running away and got hit upside the head," House said. "I guess he was tired of getting hit upside the head."

Alston said that House elbowed him in the stomach after making the shot, and that's why he slapped House.

"Eddie made the shot, I'm standing out of bounds letting him run by, and he runs by and shoots an elbow at me," Alston said. "It was just a natural reaction. You know I tried to get him, grab him before he ran back down the court. I have no hard feelings toward Eddie. I have a lot of respect for him. But when you're having a good night, kicking our behinds, he shot the elbow at me, in my stomach, it was just a natural reaction. Again, I have no hard feelings toward Eddie."

Boston coach Doc Rivers said: "You can't go around slapping people, otherwise all of the players will no longer punch, they'll just start slapping if they say you can get away with it. I don't believe in suspensions personally. I really don't and I know that sounds nuts. I just think that, I wished everyone got fined and suspended during the regular season. I really don't like guys getting suspended in the playoffs."

Rivers said that players who do something that warrants a suspension in the playoffs should get suspended during the following season in the regular season and not in the playoffs because the playoffs are too important for a player to be suspended.

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy wasn't surprised that Alston got upset with House.

"Eddie House was unbelievable," Van Gundy said. "I've seen some great shooting shows in my life, but that was incredible."

 Tags  Boston Celtics Eddie House Orlando Magic Rafer Alston Rob Lee Robert Lee

1 Comments

Hoopsfan said:

Thanks for the quotes from Rafer, Eddie and the coaches. What gets me about this is the NBA gives Rafer the same one game suspension as Derek Fisher. Alston does a little head slap, Fisher uses his elbow like a fist and decks Luis Scola. Same punishment? What?

Link | May 8, 2009 12:31 PM
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