rhetorical question from a spurs guy...

okay, so last year, horry purposefully hip-checks nash and sends him sprawling to the floor.  as a result, horry, bowen and the Spurs are branded as dirty lapdogs.

okay, so this year, o'neal purposefully hip-checks parker and sends him sprawling to the floor.

where's the outrage?

Parker initiated the contact for one. It is like if you take off running into a wall. I do not blame the wall. Nash got in the way of a clean block and he is actually the one who took the brunt of the contact.

If Shaq tried to hurt Parker, Parker would not immediately get up and make free throws.

Horry on the other hand was coming at Nash at an angle and put him into the scorer's table.

But if Shaq wasn't interested in dinging up Parker, why did his trip of Tony Parker at the end look intentional? How about Bell's overly hard foul when all he needed was a touch foul since the game was all but over?

Its called physical play, Suns fans can call them dirty all they want, but I bet you are thrilled your team is starting to use them. Even after whining about it for almost a year.

Funny how the NBA actually rewards Bowen with reconition on All Defense teams. These are people that know and understnad the game. Sour grapes is what I think when I hear fans cry about "dirty" play. The fact is basketball is an aggressive game. Just look back to when Shaq-Fu was not 112 years old and would "bull rush" guys out of the lane by dropping his shoulder. That was unstoppable, aggrssive, and NOT DIRTY play!!!!

I know I am gonna here a million excuses and more crying from the Suns faithful, but enough already. These are the rules of the game so wear a skirt if you need to play without contact. Meanwhile, the "boring" tough nosed defense of the San Antonio will continue to enjoy their 4 World Championships that were won within the confines of the NBA rules book. Enough crying!!!!