The league has gone through after the incidents surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers’ game against the Houston Rockets. Rockets players Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green have been suspended for two games. Chris Paul and James Harden were not punished. Blake Griffin from the Clippers was also not prosecuted.
This was announced by the League in a statement. Green and Ariza were punished for confronting an opposing player in the opponent’s cabin. This happened after the game. The league conducted more than 20 surveys on the incident involving managers, coaches, players and staff at the Staples Center. It turned out that Ariza and Green visited the cabin of the Clippers directly after the game in order to deliver a hostile, verbal confrontation with numerous Clippers players.
“Going into the other team’s cabin after such a game is inexcusable,”NBA Vice President Kiki VanDeWeghe told ESPN.”It was provocative and a dangerous situation as well.”
It was also investigated against James Harden and Chris Paul, who had followed Green and Ariza. However, they have tried to defuse the situation and for this reason they have not been prosecuted any further.
“We interviewed a lot of people. They were mediators,”explained VanDeWeghe,”they wanted to get their fellow players out of the booth. Several people from both sides confirmed that. That’s why they got no punishment.”
Ariza and Green will miss the next two games of the rockets. At the same time, both players are not paid. Ariza loses about $84,000, Green $15,600. Houston has to renounce against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors.
There was already some excitement during the game when Rockets coach Mike D’ Antoni discussed a possible Goaltending with the referees. Clippers-Forward Blake Griffin approached him and contacted him. D’ Antoni accused Griffin of beating him after the game.
“We also looked at this scene from all possible perspectives,”said VanDeWeghe,”At the end of the day the contact was minimal. Griffin and D’ Antoni received technical fouls during the game. The Clippers Forward was ejected a little later when he ran into Ariza.