Carmelo suspended one game for trying to confront Garnett

By Kurt HelinJan 9, 2013, 7:05 PM EDT

Nothing really happened. But that was more than the league wanted to happen.

So the NBA league office has suspended the Knicks Carmelo Anthony one game for trying to confront the Celtics Kevin Garnett after the game between their teams Monday night.

Anthony and Garnett were often matched up on the court, particularly with KG defending ‘Melo. At one point they earned double technical. Garnett talks a lot of smack on the court, a seeming constant flow of it.

At one point Garnett said something that got under Anthony’s skin, something Anthony said later crossed the line. Anthony wanted to confront KG about that and was even waiting outside the Celtics bus after the game because of it. Anthony and KG later spoke on the phone and cleared the air.

That crossed the line for the league.

“There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game,” said Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations, in a released statement. “Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday’s game and therefore a suspension was warranted.”

Anthony will sit out the Knicks game against the Pacers Thursday night on TNT.

I get where the league is going with this. Don’t love the suspension, but I get why they need to draw that line. But this really comes back to Anthony needing to let it go in the first place. KG talks a lot of smack, he tries to get into your head. If he does it’s on you, not him.

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By Dane DelgadoMay 20, 2019, 12:00 AM EDT

Raptors outlast Bucks in 2OT to take Game 3 of ECF

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By Dane DelgadoMay 19, 2019, 10:32 PM EDT

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Don’t count the Toronto Raptors out yet.

On Sunday, Kawhi Leonard and his bench mob outlasted Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 118-112, in 2OT.

Finally back at home, Toronto showed up in the biggest way possible, and in exactly the way they had been needing in Games 1 and 2. Pascal Siakam, a non-factor in those contests, scored 25 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, grabbing 11 boards to go with three steals. Norman Powell scored 19 off the bench, including hitting three 3-pointers.

Of course, the Raptors were led by none other than Leonard, who had 36 points and dominated at the free-throw line, going 12-of-13. Toronto’s best player also had nine rebounds and five assists.

As a team, Game 3 was about Toronto finally hitting on all cylinders from the 3-point line. Where before almost no players outside of Leonard were able to get it going from deep, Game 3 was a much different story. Eight Raptors combined to make at least one three each, and Toronto shot 37.8% from the arc.

By the same factor, the Bucks struggled. As the home crowd pushed Toronto forward, Antetokounmpo and his squad just couldn’t get it going. The first half only treated the Raptors right, who scored 58 points. And although Antetokounmpo started to come on a bit better in the third quarter, the game eventually developed into a bit of a rock fight by the fourth.

Toronto looked like it had sealed up the win the end of regulation. Fred Van Vleet came up with a crucial block on Khris Middleton on the final possession, but the Milwaukee guard scooped up the loose ball and put it back in the hoop to push it to extra time.

Middleton ties it. This game! pic.twitter.com/Y40A4p25Ex

— Will Gottlieb (@wontgottlieb) May 20, 2019

By the time the second overtime rolled around, Antetokounmpo only had one foul left to give. The Bucks’ superstar then fouled out just 36 seconds into the second overtime while trying to draw a charge on Siakam.

Drake waves goodbye to Giannis after he fouls out and the Raptors take game 3. 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/drmteWvvdg

— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) May 20, 2019

That allowed Leonard score eight of Toronto’s 15 points in the second OT en route to the six-point victory.

It took a wondrous night on defense for the Raptors to force Antetokounmpo to shoot just 5-of-16 from the field. Even still, Milwaukee’s star had 23 rebounds and seven steals, and it took until he fouled out in the second overtime for Toronto to grab a win.

The Raptors should be happy about what they were able to accomplish on Sunday night. Getting wins at home in a crucial playoff games is what championship hopeful teams should do. Still, it took every single ounce of what Toronto had, and even then it was only just barely enough to grab their first win of the series at home.

Nick Nurse will need to build on what he learned from Game 3 and see if they can improve upon it to level the series in Game 4 on Tuesday night.

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By Dane DelgadoMay 19, 2019, 8:00 PM EDT

Draymond Green on techs: ‘I was doing more crying than playing’ (VIDEO)

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By Dane DelgadoMay 19, 2019, 6:00 PM EDT

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Draymond Green believes he’s the best defender ever. The Golden State Warriors star was certainly incredible against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, with the Warriors beating the home team, 110-99.

But one thing that has bothered Green’s detractors over the years is how much he speaks to the referees, particularly to his own detriment. It’s one thing to work referees the way that Chris Paul or Damian Lillard or James Harden does. It’s another to continuously antagonize refs en route to a whole mess of technical fouls, which have been a problem for Green in the playoffs in the past.

But Green has been pretty subdued when it comes to technicals this postseason, and that’s apparently in due to a concerted effort by the Golden State forward to curb his attitude and realize that he’s doing more damage than good.

Via Twitter:

"I realized I got to a point where I was doing more crying than playing.

Draymond on his mindset now in the #NBAPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/eFswAVHhYn

— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 19, 2019

This postseason, and particularly this Western Conference Finals, have been an interesting shift in the narrative around Green. Where before it seemed like haters could glom onto how much Green whined, at this point he’s simply dominating the Trail Blazers from a play standpoint and nothing else.

It’s been impressive to see, and I think all of us are happy to watch Green play the way he has without flapping his gums and putting the Warriors at a disadvantage because he wants to yell at the boys in gray.