You know we're in an interesting NBA state of mind, when Matt Barnes compares himself to J.R. Smith and thinks he would have gotten a rawer deal if in the same predicament.
Upon learning Monday's news of the NBA suspending Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith for two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals after delivering a back-handed knockout punch to Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder on Sunday, Barnes took to his Twitter to blast the league.
The Los Angeles Clippers small forward suggested that had he swung his arm back recklessly like that and connected with a closed fist, he would have gotten way more than a two-game suspension.
Barnes goes as far as to say the league "picks and chooses" who would get a more severe punishment, calling their guidelines a "joke."
Not a knock on Jr cause he's the homie, but I get 1game for pushing someone! Let me take a swing w/a closed fist. NBA picks & chooses #joke
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 27, 2015
We both have a history, so come up with another excuse!! — Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 27, 2015
Dnt get me wrong I wanna see Jr help his team, specially considering it's the playoffs. I'm using him as an example its not directed at him
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 27, 2015
Interesting thoughts. Barnes and Smith have definitely had their fair share of on-court incidents—which is probably why Barnes chose J.R. to compare himself to in the first place—but is there any validity in him suggesting that he would have gotten suspended longer?
For what it's worth, Smith did issue an apology.
A photo posted by JR Smith (@teamswish) on Apr 27, 2015 at 5:05pm PDT
It'd be something else if Smith told Barnes to not use him as an example.
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