Spurs' Horry cries foul
Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
May. 16, 2007 01:55 PM
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."
Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
May. 16, 2007 01:55 PM
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."
