NBA suspends Haslem for Game 2
The Associated Press

April 24, 2006, 11:38 AM CDT

MIAMI -- Miami forward Udonis Haslem will miss Monday's playoff game against the Bulls, serving a one-game suspension for throwing his mouthpiece toward referee Joey Crawford in the series opener.

Haslem will sit out Game 2 of the Heat's first-round series with the Bulls on Monday night. The NBA announced the sanction after the Heat's morning shootaround practice.

Haslem was unavailable for comment. Heat coach Pat Riley also declined comment after the morning practice, saying he was waiting for the NBA to publicly announce its decision.

"He's really down," said Jason Levien, Haslem's agent. "I think he really feels like he let the team down. He's disappointed in the league's call, but he's accepting of it. ... He'll be on pins and needles tonight, because if the Heat don't win he'll take that very personally."

Levien said Haslem learned of the decision around the time that Miami's morning practice ended.

Haslem was ejected with 4:11 left in the opening half of the Heat's 111-106 win in Game 1 on Saturday night. He wound up on the floor after jostling with three Bulls for an offensive rebound, and -- apparently incensed over no foul being called -- reached for his mouthpiece and threw it in Crawford's direction.

Crawford immediately signaled Haslem's ejection. Haslem apologized after the game, yet insisted that he was throwing the piece of plastic at the ground -- not with the intent of hitting Crawford.

While there now is clarity over Haslem's status, that of another Miami big man -- Alonzo Mourning -- remains unknown.

Mourning has missed Miami's last 15 games since tearing a calf muscle in an 82-73 loss at Detroit on March 22. He has been rehabilitating and said last week that the muscle was healed, but his strength and conditioning level weren't were they needed to be for him to return.

Mourning's status will be decided at game time, Riley said.

_________________
"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

This is big. Haslem is out, Mourning may suit up but is still hurt, Wade is banged up. Gotta take it to ‘em tonight. The Bulls need a big game from Nocioni to exploit Haslem’s absence. If Luol Deng decides to show up, that would be helpful, too.

_________________
"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

It hurts for sure!

Game 1 did little to change my thoughts/opinions on the series, but one thing I’d like to add after watching Sweetney & Nocioni get erased by Shaq a few times:

- You can not draw fouls on Shaq once you’ve given up your dribble and you’re already in the paint. Shaq’s not going to fall for the head fake (or the banana in the tailpipe). He’s too smart and he’s mentally conditioned not to bite on that crap. The times they got Shaq to foul were when:

A) Sweetney posted up outside of the paint, about 8-12 feet away from the hoop, spun either towards the baseline or the middle of the paint and beat Shaq to the hole. Diesel swatted him anyway, but at least Sweets drew a foul.

B) Shaq is forced to help on the other side. This is even more critical with Haslem being suspended. Nocioni and Deng should be able to take Antoine Walker to the hole all night. Yes, Shaq is going to kill your ass once you get there, but if you go strong, you’re going to draw a few foul calls.

_________________
"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."