Taken from http://www.indystar.com
Indiana Pacers' forward Ron Artest has been suspended for Tuesday's playoff game with Boston for leaving the bench in Saturday's opener.
Artest entered the playing court after Jermaine O'Neal responded angrily to a hard foul from Celtics reserve Brandon Hunter while positioning for a rebound in the second quarter. While O'Neal was confronting Hunter and Boston guard Ricky Davis near mid-court, drawing a technical foul, Artest ran a few steps onto the court and then quickly retreated.
Rules prohibit players not in the game from entering the playing area during altercations.
"It was straightforward," Stu Jackson, the NBA's Senior Vice-President of Basketball Operations, told The Star today. "Our rule says the players can't leave the vicinity of the bench area. In this case Ron clearly came onto the floor."
Pacers' coach Rick Carlisle had hoped Artest would be shown leniency because he had "benevolent" motive and had immediately returned to the bench after realizing he was in violation of the rule.
Jackson, however, applied a strict interpretation of the rule.
"The only people allowed on the floor as peacemakers are officials and players currently in the game and coaches," Jackson said. "Players are not allowed to enter the playing surface."
Artest, ironically, was suspended on the same day he receives the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award.
"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances," Jackson said. "It wasn't the best timing, but certainly that out of our control."
Indiana Pacers' forward Ron Artest has been suspended for Tuesday's playoff game with Boston for leaving the bench in Saturday's opener.
Artest entered the playing court after Jermaine O'Neal responded angrily to a hard foul from Celtics reserve Brandon Hunter while positioning for a rebound in the second quarter. While O'Neal was confronting Hunter and Boston guard Ricky Davis near mid-court, drawing a technical foul, Artest ran a few steps onto the court and then quickly retreated.
Rules prohibit players not in the game from entering the playing area during altercations.
"It was straightforward," Stu Jackson, the NBA's Senior Vice-President of Basketball Operations, told The Star today. "Our rule says the players can't leave the vicinity of the bench area. In this case Ron clearly came onto the floor."
Pacers' coach Rick Carlisle had hoped Artest would be shown leniency because he had "benevolent" motive and had immediately returned to the bench after realizing he was in violation of the rule.
Jackson, however, applied a strict interpretation of the rule.
"The only people allowed on the floor as peacemakers are officials and players currently in the game and coaches," Jackson said. "Players are not allowed to enter the playing surface."
Artest, ironically, was suspended on the same day he receives the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award.
"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances," Jackson said. "It wasn't the best timing, but certainly that out of our control."
