# NBA 2018-2019 Season **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 19, 2018, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212 "2018-10-19T15:09:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/481 "2019-06-07T15:31:14Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Buddy in front row who shoved Lowry and then twice told him to go fuck himself is a GS investor and member of the team’s executive board and has been banned from the NBA for a year, fined $300,000, and will most likely have to sell his shares before next season’s start. This fan/investor/owner/whatever guy is definitely an asshole and deserved to be removed from the game and banned for a year. I’d even be cool with a lifetime ban and definitely agree he should sell his shares. But a $300k fine? That’s pretty damn steep. I mean I gotta say, for that kind of money I would expect a full blown punch in the face or something. Probably this dude can afford it, but still, that’s a lot of money. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/482 "2019-06-07T16:42:31Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > But a $300k fine? That’s pretty damn steep. I mean I gotta say, for that kind of money I would expect a full blown punch in the face or something. Probably this dude can afford it, but still, that’s a lot of money. Then you’re really not going to like that the fine was actually $500K. But without knowing how big an investor he is and how rich he is, I can’t say if that’s overly steep or just enough to make it hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/483 "2019-06-07T18:06:22Z")
He’s a billionaire. His stake in the Warriors alone is worth more than $200 million. He can probably pay it off by rooting around in his couch for spare change. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/484 "2019-06-07T18:27:00Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > He’s a billionaire. His stake in the Warriors alone is worth more than $200 million. He can probably pay it off by rooting around in his couch for spare change. [$2.3 billion dollars](https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Who-is-Mark-Stevens-the-Warriors-owner-who-13950952.php) net worth. And you could bet that if _Lowry_ had shoved a fan he’d be getting a proportionately higher fine relative to Lowry’s own net worth. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/485 "2019-06-07T18:48:14Z")
Earlier in the year Utah banned a fan for life for saying racist things directed at Russell Westbrook. A lifetime ban for admittedly horrific racism, but only a year for actual physical contact, by someone who should know better? My guess is that if the guy hadn’t been a part owner of the team, he’d be banned from NBA games for life. It’s a bullshit double standard, but ones many Americans seem to be okay with. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/486 "2019-06-07T19:05:53Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Earlier in the year Utah banned a fan for life for saying racist things directed at Russell Westbrook. > > A lifetime ban for admittedly horrific racism, but only a year for actual physical contact, by someone who should know better? My guess is that if the guy hadn’t been a part owner of the team, he’d be banned from NBA games for life. > > It’s a bullshit double standard, but ones many Americans seem to be okay with. It’s not just Americans, but it works that way in many countries. The Haves vs the Have Nots. It’s human nature, really. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/487 "2019-06-07T19:41:11Z")
When I saw the video of the shove, I was pretty surprised as what a light thing it was. The way people reacted - I didn’t see it in real time - I thought he’d stood up and really SHOVED Lowry. The punishment they’ve meted out is quite enough. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/488 "2019-06-07T20:28:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > When I saw the video of the shove, I was pretty surprised as what a light thing it was. The way people reacted - I didn’t see it in real time - I thought he’d stood up and really SHOVED Lowry. > > The punishment they’ve meted out is quite enough. Good to know, thanks. I didn’t see it, but with what you said I’ll look for a video. I was responding more to the bullshit double standard comment and not to if the punishment was too light for the offense. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/489 "2019-06-07T20:48:18Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Then you’re really not going to like that the fine was actually $500K. > > But without knowing how big an investor he is and how rich he is, I can’t say if that’s overly steep or just enough to make it hurt. Pfft, hey not my money. But like RickJay, I had heard and read about the incident before I saw footage and frankly, although I agree it was bad and he should be punished severely, the shove was much weaker than I was expecting. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/490 "2019-06-07T20:58:17Z")
Saw the vid just now. Like others, I’d heard about it beforehand, on news radio. The shove was light, certainly, but Mark Stevens the shover instigated it. He went out of his way to reach over and shove Kyle Lowry, and he reportedly included a few epithets – F bombs is what I heard on the news. This has no place in basketball by any team owner. The guy is a punk and a jerk. I know little about him (I did read his [Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Stevens_(venture_capitalist))) but will speculate that he’s a rich punk who thinks he can do what he wants because he feels like an important person. Stevens is a jerk. And a chicken shit stupid ass – notice how he flinched away from Lowry right after shoving him? If that happened on a street court, Lowry might well have kicked the shit out of Stevens, and deservedly so. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/491 "2019-06-08T00:35:33Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > The Raps have already shot over 50% in two out of these last three play-off games, **which has no bearing whatsoever on the absence of Durant and Thompson**. Heh, I couldn’t be wronger than wrong as wrong (like, really fucking wrong): in games one and two, Thompson guarded Leonard 44 times, who put up four shots, and if Durant can be effective covering LeBron, then he’d probably would’ve come in handy on D as well. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/492 "2019-06-08T01:52:31Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Earlier in the year Utah banned a fan for life for saying racist things directed at Russell Westbrook. > > A lifetime ban for admittedly horrific racism, but only a year for actual physical contact, by someone who should know better? My guess is that if the guy hadn’t been a part owner of the team, he’d be banned from NBA games for life. > > It’s a bullshit double standard, but ones many Americans seem to be okay with. > [@Bullitt](#): > > It’s not just Americans, but it works that way in many countries. The Haves vs the Have Nots. It’s human nature, really. > [@RickJay](#): > > When I saw the video of the shove, I was pretty surprised as what a light thing it was. The way people reacted - I didn’t see it in real time - I thought he’d stood up and really SHOVED Lowry. > > The punishment they’ve meted out is quite enough. In light of the fact that a) this guy is an owner and 2) the precedent has been set for years, I disagree and think the punishment meted out is not enough. People are seeing this now through the lens of equality and fairness: [Equal treatment means more than just a suspension](https://apnews.com/c12307a124f849fda088e5c55e31d3fa). > [@Tim Dahlberg](#): > > “A guy like that, showing his true class, he shouldn’t be a part of our league,” Lowry said. “There’s just no place for that.” > > A lot of other people agree, including the very players who most nights ply their craft on a 94-by-50 foot piece of hardwood surrounded by thousands of fans crammed in as closely as can be. > > They’re on display like in no other sport, close enough for fans to chat with them and close enough to touch. But that doesn’t mean cursing at them, and it doesn’t mean shoving them when they happen to come your way. > > The average fan understands that, for the most part. That’s a big reason why there haven’t been more incidents over the years. > > The fact a billionaire investor in the team couldn’t figure it out is baffling at best, sheer arrogance at worst. Fortunately, though, there is a solution. > > Make the suspension indefinite. Force Stevens to sell his stake in the Warriors. > > Make a statement with a punishment everyone will understand. So the NBA really does have a chance to show the country that wrong is wrong and will not be tolerated… or they can show the country that enough money can buy you out of anything. It’s up to the NBA. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/493 "2019-06-08T03:03:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > When I saw the video of the shove, I was pretty surprised as what a light thing it was. The way people reacted - I didn’t see it in real time - I thought he’d stood up and really SHOVED Lowry. > > The punishment they’ve meted out is quite enough. Doesn’t matter. You can heckle players, but you can’t lay hands on them. And the same goes the other direction. Putting hands on someone is assault, regardless of whether it’s a shove, a push, or whatever. Lowry would be within his rights to have the man arrested, if he wished. You’re right about the punishment. So now the Raptors took two from GS at home and it’s 3-1. I think this one is all but over. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/494 "2019-06-08T03:09:27Z")
Oops, spoke too soon. I thought the game was over, but it’s in the 4th quarter with 9 minutes left. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/495 "2019-06-08T03:33:55Z")
Nice job Raps, time to wrap it up at home court next week. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/496 "2019-06-08T03:49:44Z")
Woot! ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/497 "2019-06-08T04:39:58Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > I remember in 2016 I didn’t believe they’d really lose to Cleveland until the very end of game 7, and I can picture something similar here. It could be an even game tomorrow night, with everyone expecting the Warriors to go on one of their runs, but it doesn’t happen and suddenly everyone realizing they might just be done for. I’m going to count this as a correct prediction. It went like I was picturing, and just like I said, I didn’t really believe the Raps would win until about 2 minutes were left :D. What I said before about the Warriors not taking the Raptors seriously wasn’t phrased well. Psychologically I think it was in the back of their minds during game 3 that Klay was being saved for the rest of the series. I think it’s hard not to let that sap your determination a little bit. Tonight, however, it sure looked like they just got beat. I wonder if resting Klay gave Steph such a big workload that it affected him tonight. Easy to say that in hindsight. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/498 "2019-06-08T05:06:00Z")
I was on the edge of my seat for the first three quarters as I had placed a small wager on the Raptors, and was watching the game with my dad who is a huge Warriors fan which added an additional element of friendly competition. The Raptors were consistently on the spot with their passing game; even while the Warriors’ defense consistently stonewalled them in the first half, I could not help but admire the execution of their plays as they shuffled the ball around. Then in the second half they started to push harder down the court, and that combined with the consistent stream of three-pointers was able to close the gap. The Warriors were unable to use all the fouls to their advantage, as well, and Curry seriously ran out of steam. The crowd, initially animated to the max, gradually became deflated as the doom of defeat wafted through the arena. I came away with a great admiration for VanVleet. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/499 "2019-06-08T11:31:43Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > When I saw the video of the shove, I was pretty surprised as what a light thing it was. The way people reacted - I didn’t see it in real time - I thought he’d stood up and really SHOVED Lowry. > > The punishment they’ve meted out is quite enough. I have to agree. There’s no question he shoved Lowry, which was highly inappropriate, but like RickJay, the initial reports made it seem far worse than it actually was. It was almost more like an instantaneous reaction than a premeditated act. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212/500 "2019-06-08T13:21:37Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Mississauga is its own city, not part of Toronto. It is, however, immediately adjacent to Toronto (to the west) and so in a human geographical sense it’s part of the Toronto sprawl. > > It’s a very big city, with well over three quarters of a million people; I am pretty sure it’s the largest city in either Canada or the US that effectively serves as a suburb of a larger city. The center of the city is a huge mall, which should give you a flavor of what the city’s like. > > I am sure there is a geopolitical reason for this, but Toronto’s suburban satellites are few in number and huge in population, as compared to U.S. cities, which tend to have a much, much larger number of small cities. In additional to Mississauga, Toronto is also orbited by Brampton, with over half a million people, Markham with over 350,000, Vaughan over 300,000, and a few around 200,000 like Oakville, Burlington, and Oshawa. By comparison it feels like Chicago or Boston are surrounded by a hundred little cities between 50 and 100 thousand people, if not smaller. That makes it much more like Los Angeles. Apart fro LA proper there are 13 other cities in LA County with populations in excess of 100,000. The largest is Long Beach which is just under 500,000. That doesn’t count the adjacent Orange County whose population is over 3,000,000. This is where Anaheim is located, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-2018-2019-season/823212.md?page=26)