NBA Continues To Prove Rules Are Not RulesUnity Consciousness #2942

(9azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs of 11)

These thoughts are coming forth in the wee hours of the morning.

As discussed elsewhere, it's still annoying that fouls are called inconsistently during the regular and post-season, which is made worse by the sudden shift “let 'em play” lenient playoff style of refereeing that players are simply supposed to adjust to from game to game, quarter to quarter, minute to minute, possession to possession; and yet, when they do, the inconsistency within each game, keeps players unsure of what is and what isn't a foul.
It's annoying when calls are missed that are not even close. Yet close calls are reviewed, but not close calls and not close non-calls. Three-point shots are reviewed and so are shots at the end of shot clocks or game clocks. The NBA is only slightly concerned about getting calls right and allowing player performance to determine game outcomes.
Sweeping fouls on defensive players guarding a player with the ball and pitty-pat fouls are annoying.
It's really annoying that offensive players can push defensive players around (back them down), but the moment an offensive player pushes back, it's a foul.
It's annoying that technical fouls are allowed because officials get their feelings hurt.
It's criminal when the league uses inconsistent judgment when ejecting players, suspending players and fining players.
It's criminal when the league fines players, coaches and owners for complaining about the referees. If it's true, it's true, isn't it??
The NBA commissioner and officials obviously think, “we can do bad all by ourselves.”

Even after review, Nicola Jokic was not ejected on Sunday, May 7th, in Game 4 of their semi-final series with the Phoenix Suns. He should have been. What if it had been a female he hit?
No player has the right to hit a fan unless that fan clearly attacks first and there is no chance for the player to back off.
It is invalid that a fan was holding onto the ball. It's the official's job to get the ball back in play.
Media commentators courtside and on NBA shows and ESPN shows, are complicit in setting the stage for excuses for players, officials and the NBA.

Ja Morant was ejected for simply saying something to a fan, that even the fan did not deem offensive.

You can get a technical foul for taunting a player or a fan. But you don't necessarily get ejected for hitting a fan with a forearm shiver if you have white privilege.
No, it doesn't matter who the fan is, but it clearly matters that the player was Nikola Jokic.
No it doesn't matter what the score of the game is or the significance of the game.
Rules are rules, aren't they??

nba players ejected for hitting a fan

Truth is, people like Nicola Jokic and Luka Doncic are great white hopes just as tom brady and aaron rogers are. They are given much leeway for bad behavior, even allowed to cheat, and then that fact not be constantly repeated.
Yes, rules are rules and the NBA is following the rules.
The main rule is: we can do whatever the hell we want. It's our league, we are the slave owners and everyone else is just lucky we allow you to be a part of it.

05.08.23 Update

Keyshawn, Jwill & Max: All three made excuses for Jokic and blamed the fan who Jokic hit.
Get Up with Mike Greenberg, Monica McNutt, Brian Windhorst. Greenberg tows the company line. Windhorst explains that it's the Commissioner's discretion and that you cannot put your hands on a fan. He also said it's possible for it to only result in a fine and also a fine for the fan/owner. We know what “discretion” means. Same as police discretion, manager discretion, judge discretion, referee discretion. It means you can do whatever the hell you want depending on whether you like who is involved. Monica did not offer an opinion, which to me, is consent to Jokic's behavior. Jay Williams towed the company line. Sports TV and radio are priming the public pump so that the public will go along with it when the Commissioner finally let's Jokic off the hook. If Draymond had done the exact same thing, he would have been ejected, fined and suspended. And if a “lesser” player was involved, all the goofy logic being spewed by sport shows crews, would not be used.
Skip and Shannon: Undisputed: I missed what they said.
First Take: Stephen A, Kendrick Perkins and Brian Windhorst towed the company line that what Jokic did was fine.
Sportscenter: Hannah Storm joined in the flop meme. Flop means it didn't happen or was less serious or was minor. Hitting a fan to any degree is serious; however the consensus is, if you hold on to the ball, you deserve what you get.

None of these talking heads sports people care about consistent balanced logic. None of them mentioned Ja Morant being ejected in December 2022. They all spent more time spouting negatives against Matt Ishbia than Jokic. Their logic is random and only hits upon sensibility in random instances. Their logic is tandem because it is the logic of their employer and sports owners and the majority favored group and the culture and mental illness and suboptimal thinking and injustice, that finds implausible reasons and makes them seem plausible to justify the unjustifiable. All of them are saying the game is more important than the rules and playoff games are more important so rules should be less strictly enforced, which is what referees do to a higher lenient degree but not nowhere near 100%.

By The Way, this again shows the need for more sideline room for basketball courts where there are no players, media or fans.

And like all things, karma is coming to the NBA that involves a fan incident and a player that results in serious injury, just as karma with gun love is firmly playing out in the USA.

Matt Ishbia tweeted: Suspending or fining anyone over last nights incident would not be right. I have alot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that.

This is owners putting pressure on owners, because they are a small, mostly white male boys club. This does not excuse Jokic's behavior. Incidents should be evaluated against the rules and decisions for similar situations. It should not be based on anyone else's opinion. I wish the fan had not been anyone of note.
Talking heads keep saying that suspending Jokic would determine the series outcome. No. Jokic's behavior decided series outcome but the Commissioner will cosign and give him a get out of trouble free card.

2023: Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić has been fined $25,000 for making improper contact with a spectator sitting courtside, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations

Some talking heads said Dramond Green was suspended due to his history. Well, Jokic has a history too.
In 2019: Per an official statement from the NBA, Jokic will sit out Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns for leaving the bench during an altercation in Wednesday's 114-108 loss to the Utah Jazz.
In 2021: Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić has been suspended one game without pay for forcefully shoving Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris to the floor from behind.
April 2022: Jokic ejected after second technical foul in game against Golden State Warriors.
2022: Nikola Jokic ejected after outburst against referee Tony Brothers in game against Washington Wizards.

Jokic couldn't have possibly been in the wrong. According to him, he feared for his safety. Sound familiar as a go to excuse white people use?