This article was compiled from: The Athletic
By Sam Vecenie and Jon Krawczynski
原标题：Will Nikola Jokić be suspended after his run-in with Suns owner Mat Ishbia? What we expect the NBA to do
On May 8, Beijing time, the Suns defeated the Nuggets 129-124 to tie the series 2-2. A big focus after the game is whether the league will impose additional penalties or even a ban on Jokic. The game has been over for more than 4 hours, and "Jokic" is still the first hot search in the United States! If Jokic is suspended, the scales of the series will surely tilt. Sam Vecenie and Jon Krawczynski discuss their views on the incident based on NBA rules and the history of league rulings on such incidents.
Event review
In the Western Conference semifinals, in the second quarter of the Suns vs Nuggets G4 game, Jokic was whistled for a technical foul for physical contact with Suns owner Ishbeia.
After Okogie rushed into the crowd, the ball bounced into Ishbeia's hands. Ishbia caught the ball and the fans helped Okogi stand up. Jokic tried to snatch the ball from Ishbea, who was reluctant to give it to him. After the ball was freed, Jokic's arm touched Ishbia, who fell into a chair. A fan was taken away for reaching out to push Jokic, and Suns officials said the fan was placed elsewhere to de-escalate the situation.
What was the initial reaction to this?
Vecenie: Why did Ishbia enter Jokic's personal space? The video looks like Ishbia touches Jokic's hip/back, and then Jokic's forearm nudges Ishbeia. I know this has been hotly debated on the internet, meaning it could get even more confusing.
To recap, Jokic looked at the referee on the sidelines. He said it was the Nuggets' possession of the ball, and Jokic tried to get the ball as quickly as possible to launch a fast attack because he saw Okogie still down in the crowd. Ishbea, who is not only the owner of the Suns but also a former basketball player at the University of Michigan, realized this and decided to take the ball a little longer, hoping to buy Okogie time to return to defense. This led to Jokic trying to steal the ball from Ishbia. In my opinion, it was Ishbea's actions that caused this, he interfered with the game and should be expelled in his own stadium.
The Suns owner has played in the NCAA game
Krawczynski: I watched the video about eight times, and every time I watched it, I asked each party in the video: What is he doing?
What is Jokic doing? Okay, he wants to start a fast attack, which is smart. But the unsmart part is that you're trying to get the ball out of someone's hands like you're grabbing a rebound with Ayton, calm down, my brother. Jokic was definitely supposed to be the MVP first or near the top option, but he made a stupid decision. This action is not malicious or dangerous, but it is not necessary. Jokic said after the game: "The referee told me I pushed the fan with my elbow. But this fan put his hand on me first, and I thought the league was supposed to protect us, but maybe I was wrong. ”
What is Ishpeare doing? His fake fall looks somewhat comical. I don't agree with Vecenie, I don't think he was deliberately holding the ball to keep Jokic from attacking, I think he was just an instinctive reaction as a former player, which was that when the opponent came to grab the ball, I hugged it. He was an NBA owner, but he was also a former player.
What is that fan doing? Are you going to push the shoulders of a 6-foot-11, 290-pound Serbian center to help the Suns boss? He deserved to be sent away. Fans are not allowed to touch players.
Do you think Jokic should be suspended?
Vecenie: Absolutely not. Banning Jokic would be a clear overreaction. From a fan perspective, having Jokic suspended would have a huge impact on this series, and no one really wants to see that happen. The league should want the best players to come on in the moments that matter, we shouldn't see them pushing and shoving fans, but we also can't let the crowds interrupt the game.
In this case, I think Ishbia's fault is greater than Jokic's. I'm more in favor of the Suns being banned from watching games than Jokic being banned.
Krawczynski: There should be no ban. Executives in the Union Office certainly do not think about this. Now the series is tied 2-2 and the match will move to Denver. Jokic is the Nuggets' most important player, and having him suspended could change the outcome of the series.
In addition, the conflict, although there was physical contact, lasted about 8 seconds before and after. Everyone was safe and sound, it didn't cause a bigger reaction from the fans or the players. It was a quick-ending conflict and I guess Ishbia wouldn't want to see Jokic suspended either.
The most important thing is that it is a confrontation between a superstar and a team owner. If Jokic is banned for this matter, the league will face accusations of favoring the Suns, a question that is harder to avoid than Jokic pushing a regular fan.
Tony Brazes, the veteran referee on duty, only gave Jokic a technical foul, which shows that in his opinion, it is a small matter.
Do you think the league will ban Jokic?
Vecenie: I'm sure the league won't suspend him. The NBA does have regulations. "Any coach, player or trainer who intentionally enters the audience during a game will be automatically expelled from the field and notified to Basketball Operations via email... The first row of seats is considered the beginning of the stands. ”
Because Ishbia stood up, took a step and entered Jokic's personal space after conceding the ball. Jokic didn't actually walk into the first row of the stands, and this is not a case of "getting into the stands", at least in my opinion.
I would be very surprised if the league chose to ban Jokic, and it would only make the league discredited. So even though the league is on high alert for players and fans, I still don't think there will be a suspension.
Ishbia touched Jokic first, and he provoked the incident and slowed down the game. If Jokic is suspended, it's definitely a ridiculous decision.
Krawczynski: I also don't think the NBA will ban Jokic. But the league does keep a long-term eye on incidents like this, as they are particularly sensitive to physical contact with players and fans. Since the Auburn Hill Palace massacre, the Alliance has been tensing this nerve.
Therefore, when the vast majority of people believe that such a conflict is not worth mentioning, there is no harm, there is no foul, the league will still take the matter with the most serious attitude. If Jokic is banned in the crucial battle of King Mountain, it only shows that the league is sending a message that any kind of contact with fans is completely unacceptable. I don't think the coalition needs to take action to make that message clear, but I wouldn't be shocked if coalition officials decide to do so.