NBA Playoffs 2014: Memphis Grizzlies Suffer Zach Randolph Suspension In Game 7! Did OKC Thunder Get A Big Assist From The League?

The best two words in basketball: Game Seven. This weekend we'll have five! Count 'em-five Game Sevens! But did the NBA steal the 'thunder' from one of them?

Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers already scrapped a Game 7 when his spectacular three point shot at the buzzer sent the Houston Rockets to the fishing boat (gone fishin' is a running joke to refer to those who are eliminated). Now the NBA has suspended a key player from the Memphis Grizzlies just when they are about to face the Oklahoma City Thunder at the latter's home court.

Zach Randolph is the Thunder's leading scorer for this series, and he was suspended for punching OKC's Steven Adams in the jaw.

Ken Berger of CBS broke down the entire situation. He quoted the rule, firsthand: "Here's the point to which I will argue, and it might be the only point that matters: If you make contact with an opposing player's head with a closed fist -- and it's intentional, or not in the course of making a basketball play -- then a one-game suspension is what you should expect. (See Bryant, Kobe v. Ginobili, Manu, circa 2007.)"

The contention is that the punch is not really that strong. But the intention was clear and that there was a clenched fist that connected to Steven Adams face. Berger explores that, too.

"On one hand (no pun intended) I could see how someone would say that the word 'punch' in both cases was too strong. And in the case of Randolph, who is supposed to be playing the deciding game of a fantastic playoff series on Saturday, the NBA's official news release on the suspension could've been reworded."

That's correct. The definition of 'punch' is the foundation of this ruling.

"Here's the problem: Once you start trying to redefine what Randolph did, one of two things has to happen. Either it was a shove or a push or a strike, and thus not worthy of a suspension, or it was what it was. What is it called when someone hits you in the head with a closed fist, no matter how weak or uncoordinated it was? It's called a punch. And that's why the NBA suspended Randolph."

The fans of Memphis are not complaining about that. They would have felt the same if a player of their team was punched. They would ask for his suspension as per league rules.

It is Zach Randolph's fault. He is aware of his position with the team, he is also aware that Game 7 follows Game 6.

It was a shame to lose Z-Bo for this important game that would have been a worthy ending to a hard-fought series. There are proposals to forego suspensions in Game 7 situations-but what will they do? Will they carry over the suspension if the team loses? What if the punched player got hurt and would be unable to play-he'll be watching his aggressor in the game?

It's not an assist to OKC or anyone. It's simply the correct implementation of the rules.