SB Nation Lakers Vs. Mavericks, 2011 NBA Playoffs
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Ron Artest roped J.J. Barea in the closing seconds of the Los Angeles Lakers' Game 2 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, getting booted immediately and likely drawing a one-game suspension. Some, in defending Artest, have taken to comparing it to Kevin McHale's infamous clothesline of Kurt Rambis in the 1984 NBA Finals, seen as a seminal moment in "Man Up!" history.
But other than involving arms and necks, they are completely different.
Ron Artest faces a likely suspension after the Los Angeles Lakers' forward gave Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea a forearm to the face for no apparent reason on Wednesday. With the Lakers down double digits with just moments left, Barea was bringing the ball up court when Artest clotheslined him, drawing an immediate ejection and mass confusion as to why in the world he would do that with the odds already stacked against L.A.
No Mavericks reacted to the blow -- it's possible no one saw it. But the video did; we'll likely find out whether there will be further punishment doled out to Artest on Thursday. The teams play Game 3 Friday in Dallas with the two-time defending champs in a precarious 0-2 hole.
Artest has been suspended for a playoff game before. In 2006, he was booted for one game in the Sacramento Kings' first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs for elbowing Manu Ginobili. The Kings lost that series 4-2.
Artest had 11 points and six rebounds in Game 2. He's shooting 5-18 in the series against Dallas. If he is forced to sit, Lamar Odom or Matt Barnes could take his place in the starting lineup.
For more on the Lakers, visit Silver Screen And Roll.
Ron Artest Suspended For Lakers' Must-Win Game 3 Vs. Mavericks
Ron Artest has been suspended for Game 3 of the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA Playoffs series against the Dallas Mavericks. Artest struck Mavericks guard J.J. Barea in the face with just seconds left in the Lakers' Game 2 loss Wednesday; Artest was immediately tossed, and has since been assessed a Flagrant Two foul and the one-game suspension.
The Lakers are down 0-2 and face Games 3 and 4 in Dallas, where the Mavericks have won all three of their games in the playoffs. L.A. was trailing by an unsurmountable margin with Barea bringing the ball up the court when Artest hit the diminituive guard with a clothesline across the neck and face. No Mavericks, including Shawn Marion, who was very close to the play, responded or made a scene.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson could start Lamar Odom or Matt Barnes in Artest's place. Ron-Ron earned a share of the defensive culpability in Dirk Nowitzki's explosion in Game 2; Odom would figure the be the preferred defender on the 7-footer.
For more on the Lakers, visit Silver Screen And Roll.
May 05 4:02p by Tom Ziller - 0 comments