Garnett called 'dirty player', may face NBA action

In the first round game between Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett made 15 points and gave nine rebounds. However,

he was ejected from the game after a skirmish began when he elbowed Quentin Richardson. Game refrees watched the video replay

of the incident and gave Garnett two technical fouls.

Tim Frank NBA league spokesman stated that the incident was being reviewed and any disciplinary action would be decided on.

This did not stop Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls Center from commenting on the situation on Sunday. The player stated that Kevin

Garnett was a "dirty player" who constantly elbows players. He said,"He's always swinging elbows, man. I'm hurting right now

because of an elbow he threw. It's unbelievable. He's a dirty player. It's one thing to be competitive and compete and all

that. But don't be a dirty player, man. He's a dirty player."

The incident began when Paul Pierce from the Celtics fell on the sideline, clutching his shoulder and Garnett went over to

him to find out what happened. Heated words were exchanged between Pierce and Quentin Richardson on the Heat side and

Richardson reportedly turned to Garnett too. Several players rushed to the scene and Jamaal Magloire caught Garnett's right

shoulder when he reportedly swung his left elbow to Richardson. Richardson was struck by the elbow on either his neck or jaw.

Quentin Richardson stated, "He (Pierce) started to talk to me, so I talked back. I don't like them, and they know it.

Sometimes he [Pierce] falls like he's about to be out for the season, and then he gets right up. That's all I said."

In a press conference later, Kevin Garnett gave his opinion on the matter, calling Richardson's conduct as disrespectful. He

said, "You make your bed, you have to lay in it. It just is what it is. If I see any of my teammates down, I want to make

sure that they are all right. So if I have to deal with it, then that's what it is."

NBA officials have many options over how to deal with this matter. They could call the elbow incident a Flagrant foul, which

may not lead to his suspension as Garnett did not istigate the incident. Most believe that he may suspended for the next game

at most.

The NBA has a strict policy now against elbow incidents and had suspended Dwight Howard for such an incident last year.

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