SB Nation Boston - Celtics-Nets brawl: Rajon Rondo suspended two games, Kevin Garnett finedhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-11-29T17:21:24-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/34685232012-11-29T17:21:24-05:002012-11-29T17:21:24-05:00Rajon Rondo suspended 2 games; Kevin Garnett fined
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<p>Rajon Rondo has been suspended two games after the fight between the Celtics and Nets on Wednesday and Kevin Garnett has reportedly been fined.</p> <p>BOSTON -- <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> point guard <span>Rajon Rondo</span> has been suspended two games for shoving <span>Kris Humphries</span> and starting an altercation between the Celtics and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> during Wednesday night's game in Boston, MA, Celtics GM Danny Ainge told WEEI on Thursday.</p>
<p>Mike Dowling of WCVB was the first to report the news, and also reported that Rondo's teammate, center/forward <span>Kevin Garnett</span>, has been fined for the incident. That report is unconfirmed.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23NBA">#NBA</a> sources say Rajon <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Rondo">#Rondo</a> had been suspended for 2 games for his role in last nights shoving match w/ Nets. Kevin Garnett has been fined</p>
— Mike Dowling (@MDowlingWCVB) <a data-datetime="2012-11-29T21:38:13+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/MDowlingWCVB/status/274266035597762561">November 29, 2012</a>
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<p>The incident began with Humphries' hard foul on Garnett, which Rondo did not approve of, causing him to shove Humphries. Teammates rushed in to calm the situation, but Rondo and Humphries spilled three rows into the crowd. Play was stopped for nearly ten minutes, and after the dust had settled, officials ejected Rondo, Humphries and <span>Gerald Wallace</span>, who was tangled up with Garnett.</p>
<p>Rondo's early exit resulted in the end of his 37-game streak with double-digit assists. He ended the night with six points, three assists and two rebounds and is averaging 12.9 points and 12.9 assists so far this season.</p>
<p>Rondo will miss the Celtics' games against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> at home on Friday and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> on the road Saturday, but will be eligible to return on Dec. 5 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, check out our team blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com" target="_blank">Celtics Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/11/29/3708034/rajon-rondo-suspended-kevin-garnett-fined-celtics-nets-fightGethin Coolbaugh2012-11-29T09:01:52-05:002012-11-29T09:01:52-05:00Rondo should receive harsh penalty
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<figcaption>Jared Wickerham</figcaption>
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<p>Rajon Rondo's penalty for his altercation with Kris Humphries that sparked a brawl between the Celtics and Nets should be harsh.</p> <p>Sorry, <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Celtics</a> fans, but you might not like what I'm about to say.</p>
<p><span>Rajon Rondo's</span> actions during Wednesday nights game were inexcusable, rightly resulting in his ejection from the game. After a hard foul from <span>Kris Humphries</span> on <span>Kevin Garnett</span>, Rondo took it upon himself to enforce the law, shoving Humphries and starting a brawl between the Celtics and <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nets</a>.</p>
<p>Rondo and Humphries -- along with <span>Gerald Wallace</span> -- were tossed from the game. The league office will review video of the incident Thursday morning and will likely make a decision on Rondo's suspension and/or fine soon after.</p>
<p>When they do, they should come down hard on the Celtics' point guard.</p>
<p>Several elements go into this thought process. Aside from the obvious "you should not be exchanging physical blows with your opponent" mentality, Rondo is a repeat offender. Two incidents come to mind last season, both involving referees. Rondo was suspended for chucking a ball at a referee during a regular season game against the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Pistons</a> and was sidelined again for chest bumping an official during a playoff game against the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a>.</p>
<p>Neither of those incidents will help Rondo's cause. Sean Grande of WEEI put it best when he said that the principal isn't as lenient during your second visit.</p>
<p>The biggest issue, however, is that the fight made its way into the crowd.</p>
<p>This isn't the WWE, where fans can expect the fight to come to them. Basketball fans are there to enjoy a game, not to have tall, sweaty guys fall on them and beat each other up. To have an altercation between two players extend into the stands isn't acceptable. It wasn't in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0Av4vlJBpQ">Pistons-Pacers brawl</a>, and it isn't now.</p>
<p>David Stern must send a strong message that this can <i>never, ever </i>happen.</p>
<p>While this altercation wasn't nearly as chaotic as the one in Detroit -- as far as we know, Rondo wasn't beating up fans, a la Ron Artest -- but to have it enter fan territory is bad enough. In that brawl, the NBA assessed 147-games worth of suspensions to those involved. Of course, Rondo should not be suspended for that many games, but to send the message that this doesn't fly, the league should assess a sizable suspension -- in my opinion, five to ten games -- and a big fine.</p>
<p>The lesson must be made clear: fighting, especially near fans, isn't tolerable.</p>
<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, check our out team blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.celticsblog.com">Celtics Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/11/29/3705540/celtics-nets-fight-rajon-rondo-should-receive-harsh-penaltyGethin Coolbaugh2012-11-29T01:57:04-05:002012-11-29T01:57:04-05:00Kris Humphries tweets picture of injury from fight
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<p>Kris Humphris might need a tetanus shot after what went down Wednesday.</p>
<p>At least, that's what the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> forward suggested when he tweeted out a picture of the cuts on his arm from his brawl with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> point guard <span>Rajon Rondo</span> prior to halftime of Wednesday's game in Boston.</p>
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<p>Anyone know where I can get a quick Tetanus shot in Boston?<a title="http://lockerz.com/s/265003890" href="http://t.co/mEOYU6gC">lockerz.com/s/265003890</a></p>
— <span>Kris Humphries</span> (@KrisHumphries) <a data-datetime="2012-11-29T04:39:33+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/KrisHumphries/status/274009681133985792">November 29, 2012</a>
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<p>Rondo and Humphries got into an altercation after Humphries committed a hard foul on <span>Kevin Garnett</span>, which Rondo took offense to. Rondo shoved Humphries, and the fight spilled over into the crowd. Teammates came to the aid of both players, and once things cooled down, both Rondo and Humphries -- along with <span>Gerald Wallace</span> -- were ejected.</p>
<p>The league will review the fight and Rondo will likely be fined and suspended.</p>
<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com" target="_blank">Celtics Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/11/29/3705364/celtics-nets-fight-kris-humphries-twitter-picture-rajon-rondo-suspensionGethin Coolbaugh2012-11-28T23:34:35-05:002012-11-28T23:34:35-05:00Celtics, Nets players react to fight
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b>What started as a battle on the court between divisional foes regressed to simply a battle, as <span>Rajon Rondo</span> led a shoving match with <span>Kris Humphries</span> that resulted in an all-out brawl between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> on Wednesday night inside TD Garden.</p>
<p>"I don't really have a reaction," Celtics head coach <span>Doc Rivers</span> said after the game. "Honestly I kind of saw it late and ran in just to clean it up. I haven't looked at it on film yet, so I don't have a lot to say about it."</p>
<p>Humphries fouled <span>Kevin Garnett</span> hard going to the basket, drawing the furor of Rondo, who immediately shoved him. The fight spilled into the third row seats under the baseline, and players from both sides came to the aid of their teammates. Wallace then got mixed up with Garnett, and it would take minutes to separate the players.</p>
<p>"Just a hard foul," Garnett said of Humphries' foul. "I thought that the antics after it was a bit extra, but a hard foul."</p>
<p>After the officials watched the play several times, three players were ejected -- Rondo, Humphries and Wallace. With the ejection, Rondo's 37-game double-digit assist streak came to a screeching halt, as he finished the night with six points, three assists and two steals in 18 minutes. Humphries's night concluded with three points and four rebounds while <span>Gerald Wallace</span> had five points, three steals and three assists.</p>
<p>"It was a pushing match," noted Celtics captain <span>Paul Pierce</span>. "That's all I really saw."</p>
<p>One of the referees, crew chief James Carper, was made available to the media to shed some light onto what they saw as well as the decisions they made following the fight.</p>
<p>"Rondo initiated everything that proceeded after the foul," Carper said. "And when he and Humphries go into the stands, they are involved in a fight. Fighting is an automatic ejection."</p>
<p>Carper added on Humphries' ejection: "When Kevin goes to the basket, he is re-routed by Humphries. So we had a personal foul for the re-route. Kevin is trying to continue -- to get a continuation by shooting -- and now Humphries hits him. Because the whistle blew, it was a dead-ball situation, and that's a technical foul for contact during a dead ball. ... What proceeds after that is a fight, so he's ejected."</p>
<p>While Rondo's actions were uncalled for, most saw it as him reacting to the additional contact given by Humphries to Garnett and backing up his teammate, but that's not a situation a player wants to get into, according to Pierce.</p>
<p>"You don't want get into an altercation where it's going to cost you any games," Pierce said. "The best you can do is try to play mediator in there. But you know, when you're in a battle, it's tough sometimes. Elbows are thrown, guys get pushed. Sometimes you just react. It's in a lot of people's nature. You know, if I come and push somebody, the natural reaction is to push you back, the natural reaction is to hit you back. It's tough when you're in the heat of the battle. That's what the game is sometimes."</p>
<p>"We back each other up here," added Garnett. "It's probably one of the most memorable physical games. This game had a lot of physicality parts to it to begin the game first off. It will probably go un-noted, but if you watch the game, it's obvious. If you were present at the game, you saw them. But that's the way [Brooklyn] plays, this is their style, that's what they're trying to establish about themselves and as a team, we have to adjust to it."</p>
<p>The league will review the incident in the coming days, with a decision on a suspension and/or fine likely to come at some point on Thursday, and the possibility is that Boston will be without Rondo for at least a game or two.</p>
<p>"It's what it is, man," Garnett said about losing Rondo. "Obviously, we are [worried], but it is what it is. You have to protect each other, and we consider ourself family around here, and that's just the way it is.</p>
<p>Garnett would later say, "This is what it is. This ain't the Girl Scouts. This ain't the Boy Scouts. This is the NBA. It's what it is. There's going to be a physical part of it, and everybody's going to have to adjust to it or you're not going to be able to be here. Period. Point blank."</p>
<p>Nets players had their own opinions of the foul, as well, and they echoed the sentiments about having their teammates' backs.</p>
<p>"That's what family and brotherhood is all about, that was probably the biggest thing I've seen so far," said <span>Andray Blatche</span>. "We all had each other's backs out there on that court. ... I'm not surprised at all. When that happened I saw Rondo going at Humph I knew everybody was about to have his back."</p>
<p>"Just protect yourself at times," added Nets guard <span>Joe Johnson</span>. "We were in a situation where we had our brother ou there battling and he had to protect himself. From that aspect, like I said, it's pretty understandable. We're not a team that's going to be pushed around or back down from anybody. I was proud of our guys tonight and the way we fought."</p>
<p>Oh, and in case anyone cares, the Nets wound up beating the Celtics, 95-83.</p>
<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com" target="_blank">Celtics Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/11/28/3704954/celtics-nets-fight-rajon-rondo-kris-humphries-gerald-wallace-ejectionGethin Coolbaugh2012-11-28T22:07:12-05:002012-11-28T22:07:12-05:00Nets hold on for 95-83 road victory
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<p>It was a fierce defensive struggle at the TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday evening, featuring the first bench-clearing brawl of the season. Unfortunately for the 17,000-plus fans that packed into the arena, the home-standing <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> by a score of 95-83. </p>
<p>The game began with some back-and-forth with quite a few lead changes before the Nets began to pull away late in the first quarter. A hot-shooting second frame would help Brooklyn take a 13-point lead into halftime. Veteran guard <span>Jerry Stackhouse</span> would provide a spark for the offense, coming off the bench to hit three consecutive three-pointers midway through the second quarter. </p>
<p>The aforementioned brawl would break out with just less than thirty seconds to play in the first half when <span>Kevin Garnett</span> took a hard foul in the midst of a shooting attempt from Nets' forward <span>Kris Humphries</span>. Point guard <span>Rajon Rondo</span> would take serious exception to this, immediately attacking Humphries underneath the basket. After referees had finally pulled everyone out of the scrum, they announced three ejections. Rondo, Humphries and Brooklyn small forward <span>Gerald Wallace</span> would all be forced to hit the showers early and will likely be facing some form of supplementary discipline from the NBA. Losing Rondo for any extended period of time would be a huge loss for a Celtics team struggling to stay afloat here early in the season. </p>
<p>Kevin Garnett led the C's with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while <span>Brandon Bass</span> added 16 points of his own. Nets' shooting guard and former Celtic <span>Joe Johnson</span> led all scorers with 18 while adding 5 assists and three boards. </p>
<p>Brooklyn bench players Stackhouse and <span>Andray Blatche</span> were the two true stars of the game, combining for 34 points, 14 rebounds and two assists. </p>
<p>The Celtics and Nets will meet again on Christmas Day at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York. </p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/11/28/3704668/celtics-vs-nets-final-score-brooklyn-holds-on-for-95-83-win-in-bostonBenjamin Woodward2012-11-28T21:07:57-05:002012-11-28T21:07:57-05:00VIDEO: Celtics, Nets brawl; Rajon Rondo ejected
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b><span>Rajon Rondo</span> was sent to the showers late in the second quarter after he and <span>Kris Humphries</span> became tangled up under the basket, resulting in an all-out brawl between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> during Wednesday night's game inside TD Garden.</p>
<p>After Humphries fouled Garnett hard, Rondo took issue and shoved Humphries. <span>Jason Terry</span> came over and started shoving Humphries as well, and players from both sides joined the fight. <span>Gerald Wallace</span>, who just received a technical foul on the other end before the play, also got mixed up with <span>Kevin Garnett</span>.</p>
<p>Officials stopped the game for several minutes to sort out the issue. Once they did, Rondo was ejected along with Humphries and Wallace. The ejection ended Rondo's assist streak, which he had built up to 37 games entering the game.</p>
<p>Watch the video of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfsCWY6WpDU" target="_blank">Celtics and Nets fight</a> below from YouTube.</p>
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<p>Celtics G Rajon Rondo and Nets F Kris Humphries get into shoving match after foul of Kevin Garnett (via <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=tfsCWY6WpDU">watchnba2012</a>)</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/11/28/3704504/celtics-nets-fight-brawl-video-rajon-rondo-kris-humphries-gerald-wallaceGethin Coolbaugh2012-11-28T20:53:10-05:002012-11-28T20:53:10-05:00Celtics and Nets brawl; Rondo, others are ejected
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<p>An all-out brawl broke out between the Celtics and Nets on Wednesday night that resulted in the ejection of several players, including Rajon Rondo -- ending his assist streak.</p> <p><b>BOSTON - </b>It was shades of the infamous fight between the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Pistons</a> and <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Pacers</a> of 2005 when an all out brawl broke lose between the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Celtics</a> and <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brooklyn Nets</a> minutes before halftime during Wednesday night's game at TD Garden.</p>
<p>The fight started after <span>Kris Humphries</span> fouled <span>Kevin Garnett</span>, which caused Humphries and Rondo to get tangled up. It appeared that Rondo shoved Humphries, and that escalated into an all out fight between the two teams that spilled into the third row under the Celtics' baseline.</p>
<p>After tempers settled and officials reviewed the play, Rondo, Humphries and <span>Gerald Wallace</span> -- who was also involved in the altercation -- were tossed. The ejection ended Rondo's lofty streak of 37 games with 10 or more assists. Rondo finished the game with six points, three assists and two steals.</p>
<p>Suspensions and fines for both sides will almost certainly follow in coming days.</p>
<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.celticsblog.com">Celtics Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/11/28/3704444/celtics-nets-brawl-rajon-rondo-kris-humphries-gerald-wallace-2012-nba-newsGethin Coolbaugh