I’m sure every man watching the Thunder v. Clippers game last Sunday felt Blake Griffin’s pain when Serge Ibaka hit him below the belt. Clippers fan or not everyone expected Ibaka to get suspended for the shot especially with commissioner David Stern’s heavy hand. Surprisingly Ibaka was only hit with a $25K and everyone wanted answers from Matt Barnes to Lebron James. Well here it is… Read more after the jump.
The NBA rarely comments publicly or explains its thinking, but thanks to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, we have a little insight into what went into this one.
Some checking with the league office this week revealed that Stu Jackson & Co. deemed Ibaka’s contact with Griffin’s, uh, groin area to be unintentional. The league view, I’m told, is that Ibaka was slapping at an arm that Griffin unexpectedly pulled away, leading to the painful connection and thus distinguishing the play from the “groin altercations” that earned Wade and DeMarcus Cousins suspensions earlier this season.
Most people disagree and do view the hit as intentional but I’m sure everyone has already moved on.
