Burnt by the Commish, the Suns' playoff hopes are fading

I'm ready to blame NBA Commish David Stern personally for the Suns' exit from the playoffs. As if you haven't read it everywhere else, the NBA stuck to its rule on players leaving the bench during an on-court scuffle.

I understand the rule. I understand the precedent. And I definitely understand the logic.

I also am fully aware of the NBA's continuous problem controlling its' on-floor scuffling problem and the egg shells Stern walks on everytime he tries to make a decision about suspensions. The NBA deals with the racism question everyday, something few other professional leagues around here deal with.

And yet, Stern missed the suspension that would've made Wednesday's Game Five fair.

Tim Duncan, the NBA's Most Boring Player, left the bench after "Cisco" Elson took a spill in Game Four. Cisco swung around the rim after an emphatic, meaningless dunk and straddled the shoulders of a Suns player. He plummeted to the floor face first. The Spurs' bench freaked out.

And Duncan walked on the floor.

Suspension?

No. Of course not.

So the Spurs got another favor from the NBA, even after Bruce Bowen's repeated attempts to murder several NBA stars, Manu Ginobili's unbelievably annoying flops reminiscent of Reggie Miller and Gregg Popovich's unending reign as the NBA's ugliest human being (yeah, he just edged out the prettiest non-human, Rocky the Mountain Lion, the Nuggets' mascot, in the most recent rankings).

Seriously, have you watched Ginobili? You move within one foot of the guy and he bounces around on the floor like a fish gasping for air.

But still, the Spurs beat out Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Shawn Marion and your 2002-2003 Thomas Jefferson High School Wildcats.

Gasp. It must've been really tough! Watching Kurt Thomas guard Duncan is like watching your 60-year-old dad try to prove he can still beat you at something. Lots of agonizing demolition.

I like the Suns in Game Six. And Game Seven. Not for any big, logical reason. I like them because I want them to win more than anything I've wanted recently, and that includes several tempting sightings of Krispy Kreme products.

Will you watch the Pistons-Cavs series?

Didn't think so.

How about Jazz-Spurs?

Still nothing.

But would you watch any series involving the Suns for the rest of the playoffs?

Point made.

So let's hope the unfair decision by Stern doesn't cost the Suns another playoff series. Unfortunately, I have a feeling it will.

Um, go Jazz?