Spurs' Horry cries foul

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Doug Haller

The Arizona Republic

Spurs forward Robert Horry said Wednesday that his two-game suspension might have had more to do with the person getting fouled rather than the foul's severity.

"If it would have been anybody but Steve Nash it probably wouldn't have been two games," Horry told reporters after the Spurs shooting session. "But Steve Nash is a great player, MVP, focal point for the NBA now so they have to protect their players."

Horry's hard foul at the end of Game 4 in San Antonio triggered an altercation that led to league discipline.

In addition to Horry's suspension, Suns center Amaré Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for tonight's Game 5 at US Airways Center for leaving the immediate bench area.

The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2.

"I was going to try and take a charge and then I thought, ssshhh, he's too fast," Horry said. "So I'm like, 'I'll just bump him a little bit,' and as you know, the great acting skill Steve has, when you hit the floor and flop, and he's like 'Oh, I'm dying over here.' ...

"It happens. I really wasn't trying to hurt him. I like Steve, he's a good person, but sometimes in the playoffs things are blown out of perspective."

The NBA suspended Horry an additional game for raising his arm in a swinging motion to hold off Raja Bell during the altercation.

"That part I regret because it was kind of high," Horry said. "It was just a reaction on my part to protect myself."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he didn't think Horry's foul was excessive.

"I've seen harder fouls," he said. "(Horry) had to foul. Steve was running down the sideline. He was there. He gave him a shoulder. He just wanted to foul him. There was nothing hurtful or intentional at all. I didn't think it was a very big deal."

Here's a clip of it...judge for yourself.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3RDYD0EUBzY&amp...ted&search=

[JODO 2]

Horry did not "bump" Nash into the scorer's table he forearmed him ! Again, he could have braced Nash's fall or why bump him at all? How about grab him? As for Greg Popovich not seeing "the big deal", I think if someone hit Tim Duncan like that, he'd see the big deal!!!.

Edited May 16, 2007 by JODO

[Cassie 8]

Um yeah, whatever, Robert Horry.

It wasn't a shoulder, it was a hip check worthy of the NHL.

And if you watch the video, Steve Nash got up very quickly after "the flop", I think I laid there for 5 seconds at most.

So they need to shut their mouths and start playing clean.

/end rant

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Horry did not "bump" Nash into the scorer's table he forearmed him ! Again, he could have braced Nash's fall or why bump him at all? How about grab him? As for Greg Popovich not seeing "the big deal", I think if someone hit Tim Duncan like that, he'd see the big deal!!!.

I lost some respect for Popovich with what he said, because of your point right there - Horry could have simply grabbed him as is done situations like that. Popovich should have said it was bad judgment on Horry's part and left it at that. I understand a coach wants to stick for his players but there is a time when you got to call them out when they've done something wrong.