Carmelo Will Not Appeal Suspension, but J.R Smith Will [David Stefanini]

Carmelo Anthony will not appeal his 15 game suspension, but J.R Smith will. Honestly I think bout players are correct in their decision. Carmelo Anthony, if he was a non superstar, would have received a much larger suspension. J.R Smith, if he was a superstar, would have received a much less suspension.

J.R Smith's suspension is a little harsh, considering what everyone else got. Mardy Collins, who started the whole thing by trying to kill Smith only gets six games. Smith get's close lined by Collins, then has Nate Robinson jump into his face and start threatening him. What does the NBA want Smith to do? Maybe they want him to say, sure Robinson hit me, sure Collins take off my neck. I am in no way saying Smith reacted in an appropriate manner however he should not have gotten less than Collins. Robinson is running around the court trying to fight everyone.

I feel either Smith should have gotten a less suspension; or Collins and Robinson should have had a bigger suspension.

NBA Brawl Suspensions [J. Mark English]

From Breitbart:

NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony was suspended for 15 games Monday and six other players were penalized as commissioner David Stern came down hard on both teams after the Nuggets and Knicks brawled at Madison Square Garden.

Nate Robinson and J.R. Smith each got 10 games, and four other players also were suspended. Stern fined each organization $500,000. But there was no separate penalty for Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, who had warned Anthony not to go into the lane before the mayhem started Saturday night.

"The NBA and its players represent a game of extraordinary skill, athleticism and grace, and, for good or bad, set an example for the entire basketball world, on and off the court," Stern said in a statement.

Mardy Collins, whose hard foul on Smith sparked the fighting, was suspended six games and Knicks teammate Jared Jeffries will miss four. Also, the Knicks' Jerome James and Denver's Nene were both penalized one game for leaving the bench area during the chaos.

Ten players were ejected after the fight, which started with 1:15 left in Denver's 123-100 victory. It was the NBA's scariest scene since the brawl between Pacers players and Pistons fans in Detroit two years ago.