VIDEO: Paul George and Rasual Butler may be facing suspension
The Indiana Pacers' season will be on the line Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks, and speculation is swirling that All-Star swingman Paul George may not be able to take part in the action.
During the second quarter of the Pacers' Game 6 win over the Hawks, guard George Hill got into a small scuffle with Hawks forward Mike Scott right in front of the Pacers bench. George, and forward Rasual Butler both took steps onto the floor from the bench, an act that led to suspensions in the past.
Former NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson believes at least one of the two Pacers players may be facing suspension.
During George Hill @mikescott altercation @Paul_George24 @RasualButler45 leave bench. George still in vicinity, Butler is not=1 gm susp
— Stu Jackson (@StuJackson32) May 2, 2014
The rules states “during an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be suspended, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $50,000.”
The league is historically very strict in enforcing the rule, famously suspending Phoenix Suns players Amar'e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw in the 2007 playoffs for Game 5 of their second-round series against the Spurs.
It would be a harsh blow the Pacers' chances, and the video leaves a lot of room for discretion.
Do George and Butler leave the vicinity of the bench? That's up to the league office to decide.