Will be a fine and move on - everything always looks worse in slow motion and this didn't even look that bad.

I believe the NBL are keen to show they mean business and will not tolerate this type of behaviour.

They have came down hard and have suspended Knight for one game to be served in game 3 of the Perth-Cairns series.

Does anyone have a link with a better angle?

Looks like it's happening at the 7s mark on the video on the Perth now link but it's impossible to work out without a different angle and some zoom.

the more I see it the more I think this is a bad call...doesn't look intentional at all from that video anyway.

why would he be faking a pass before he'd even stepped out of bounds?

It will be about time he got suspended as he is a grub but this will be the same as Hire the other week when he received two weeks then got nothing on appeal.

Johnson should move to the NT coast so he can be with all the other salties. Boo Hoo.

Why do they keep doing this?

Nomatter what you think of the incident, Knight, or the Wildcats, as soon as they stick "intentional" in there, they have lost.
Even supposing that unlike Hire it somehow survives the first challenge it would be begging for the Wildcats to go to court for an injunction.

If they said "it was stupid and we think Knight is a dirty player so we are going to suspend him" theres probably nothing you could do to argue. Instead they have hung themselves on "intentional." That is much too objective and they would need more evidence or different vision to substantiate that.

All those arguing about what exactly he is doing may be missing the point. Surely the only question now is whether hitting Trice in the head was intentional?

I remember an AFL case when Daniel Kerr punched a player in the nuts and had the charge reduced because the tribunal accepted that he was trying to punch the player on his injured quad and therefore striking the gonads was not intentional.

So surely even if Knight was deliberately trying to intimidate Trice, how do you prove that he intended to strike?

Not saying I like it or am happy with Knight's behavior only asking how they prove intention?

Possibly.
I guess they look tough, but then he ends up with a suspended sentence.

Like the AFL where you could almost murder somebody and never get suspended for the GF.

Suck shit to the big dumb flog.
lol

Won't make a lick of difference to the Wildcats chances.

the site listed above has not used the angle from the baseline camera which gives the full view and pretty clearly shows knight making quite a strong movement to extend both arms to make the ball contact Trice's face.

i've only seen that 3 second vision at the very end of some other video link, which i never bookmarked.

Deal with it after the finals... and add on a flop charge as well. :)

Looked deliberate on the tape tbh. But a suspension is laughable and a 2 game one hysterical. It was dumb and deserves a fine, trice tried to sell it (which is fair enough) and the ref missed it. Wonder if it would have got the same post game reaction if the ref called a tech.

Here's the baseline angle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzJc46e1WQo&feature=youtu.be&t=47

thats the vision. Thanks

not much doubt about it, Knight chins the ball and then extends both arms out to the contact and then brings both arms back to step out of court and then pass.

He may well have just be intending to be an intimidating smart Ar$e, or just "fake" hitting Trice, but theres no doubt that the action was intentional, and that there was contact, he can always argue that the contact was unintentional, but i don't know if that's much of a defense to the report when the action was both intentional and illegal - even without contact.

A very interesting situation .

Just use some common sense, people. It was clearly intentional, unnecessary and not in the spirit of the game.

If it takes suspending Knight a match or two to teach him (and hopefully others) not to pull shit like this, then its a sound decision.

Just play the game, cut out the BS.

"It's not about whether the action was intentional, it's whether the result (contacting Trice) was intentional."

Want to apply that reasoning to Conklin and Martins broken jaw , where i suppose you were absolutely in support of Conklin not getting any suspension or fine and celebrated the decision ?

comparing the two the only difference seems to be

1) the severity of the outcome, and

2) the fact that Conklin did not know Marin was coming up to him ( and to quote the tribunal chairman Tony Nolan CQ " that although there was heavy contact, he was not satisfied the contact was intentional, reckless or negligent") .... while Knight appears to know exactly where Trice was and deliberately targeted his movement towards trice ?

I don't know exactly how many levels the NBL table has, but it goes on the level of intent and the level of impact.
I would have said that Conklin's hit was "reckless" but severe impact. Does that qualify for a suspension under their system?
I'd rate Knight's intent similarly unless there is a further step between reckless and intentional. However the impact was minimal.

What he was doing I can't really imagine, but its hard to prove he intended to strike Trice.

Will the NBL release the result before the SF1 result is known?

Here is the tribunal procedure and penalty tables.

Regardless of how much force is being used or actual intent, it's just plain dumb to put yourself in that position at this time of the year. Tribunal has been inconsistent with findings, so don't give them anything to think about.

Why even do that when the game is over ?

So intentionally tripping a player by grabbing their leg is only a fine? Even though in a sport like afl that play would have been an automatic one or two weeks.

Yet here they think Knights act is worthy of 2 weeks suspension. Put down the crack pipe nbl.

Fine him and move on, heck fine him 1000 but move on

Anyone got video of the alleged Jacobsen strike that was only fine worthy ? Could easily a real comparison point

"he touched Trice in the face with the ball. Intentional or not, it is not worthy of a suspension."

No he forcefully pushed the ball into the guys temple, hence why it is being considered a 2 game suspension. Why Perth fans are failing to see the obvious I don't know. It was a dangerous and dog act.

"Anyone got video of the alleged Jacobsen strike that was only fine worthy ? Could easily a real comparison point"

It is in the "Ogilvy and Jacobsen fined by NBL" thread. Funny that, who would have thought it would have been in there.

Brunson he should be imprisoned for his act shouldn't he?

Facts are:

Forceful contact = Yes
Contact to a dangerous location = Yes
Dog act = Yes

You guys can exaggerate it as much as you like but the facts are why the NBL are looking to suspend him for 2 games. If you can't face reality that is your problem.

"Minimal force to the head does not constitute something dangerous."

Medium level force to the temple does constitute something dangerous hence 2 game suspension.

What a flop by Trice, fine him instead before he goes back.

Flop artist alert

*thumbs up* ;)

In temple, omg what a narrative.

If you want to start suspending people for that then suspend for all dangerous acts, like grabbing onto someone's arm when they go up for a open court dunk. The potential for injury is tenfold.

Did the Cairns playing think it was Mitchell who threw the ball and hit the ref in the back after the game get reported?

"You keep saying medium level when he barely touched him. With a basketball. Which is full of air. Not pointy or sharp, and does not pack the same "punch" as a body part."

How about I throw a basketball at your head and then you tell me it doesn't have much impact because "it is full of air", "Not pointy or sharp".

"Why are you the only one talking about the temple?"

I'm not. If he hit him in the forehead I doubt the NBL would have considered a suspension. Any type of impact to the temple is dangerous.

"If you want to start suspending people for that then suspend for all dangerous acts, like grabbing onto someone's arm when they go up for a open court dunk. The potential for injury is tenfold."

I totally agree that they should be suspended for that. Brad Hill would agree.

You guys can exaggerate it as much as you like but the facts are why the NBL are looking to suspend him for 2 games.

An Unduly Rough Play charge carries a base penalty of a two-game suspension, however, the Game Review Panel has deemed the penalty excessive and as such the case has been referred directly to the Independent Tribunal.

Knight to get a fine, Trice to get an Oscar.

The hearing is 4pm WST today.

Knight receives a fine and suspended sentence

Consistent at least. anonytrolls saying it's 'weak' coz it's Perth but are silent on AJ getting only a fine and Terangi earlier in the season. Get over it, Trice got straight up coz it was such soft contact.

Why are you anon's surprised???

This was always going to be the outcome.

You wanted cats melts, didn't get it so have your own mini melt in return

If you don't put a name to your post you are just another anonytroll and your opinions are heaped together and treated the same

Two game suspension, suspended until the end of next season.

Will be required to send a written apology to Travis Trice.

May also face detention and a phone call to his mother.

Oooooo, those year 5 mimic comebacks really hurt. I'm worried you'll follow up with an 'I know you are but what am I'.
AJs leg grab was as bad as Knights ball to Trice's face, NBL got it right as they were consistent, I'd expect them (NBL) to start next season being a lot more harsh

Agree, The Australian Cricket team got Homework...that worked out well

I agree with the fine aspect of this penalty but to make Knight write an apology letter is just plain childish!! If the league wants to be taken seriously in the Australian sporting landscape then instances such as this can't be treated like a spat at a primary school between to grade 3 students. An apology letter, I genuinely thought it was a gag when I read it on twitter.

In the end of the day, I think the correct decision was made to not suspend Knight but to fine him for stupidity if nothing else.

Even started a topic about it which was deleted by the mods

This is amazing. And by amazing, I mean highly embarrassing to the league.

I would have thought this was a readily foreseeable outcome?

He put the ball out there, don't know why, and it hit/touched Trice in the face. Fine is appropriate.
Stupid act, and 1,000 bucks is enough to sting without having a major impact.

Not sure where the written apology comes in? Maybe it was something the Wildcats' lawyer suggested in mitigation.

I'm genuinely embarrassed by the apology letter.

This in my mind settles it once and for all. In 2016/17, the NBL is still a clueless joke. How the fcuk can they expect to be taken seriously?

What a total disgrace.

Hate Knight. Ultimate flog. But he shouldn't have been suspended for that crap.

PMSL @ Trevor G.


Roared laughing then. Cheers.

The letter is serious, yes.

The letter is real but it is miles from being serious. FFS

Why do so many people assume this letter was part of the tribunal outcome?

It is quite clearly part of the wildcats management decision on the situation.
It is a "you will do this for your own stupidity and do it publicly, you will do it... because we told you so. Also we have told everyone you are doing it already,

This is the official NBL Media release:

On Wednesday 22nd February, the NBL's Independent Tribunal heard a case involving Matthew Knight from the Perth Wildcats.

Tony Nolan QC, sitting as the Single Member Tribunal, heard that player Matthew Knight plead guilty to the offence of Unduly Rough Play, classified as intentional, high contact and medium impact.

The case referred to the tribunal was in relation to an incident that occurred with approximately 34 seconds remaining in the fourth period of the Swisse NBL Finals game between Perth Wildcats and Cairns Taipans on Monday 20th February at Perth Arena.

The Tribunal reviewed the incident and heard evidence from Knight as well as reviewing all available video footage. Knight and his council conceded that the conduct was "stupid".

Mr Nolan found the charge proven and imposed the penalty of two games. Such penalty is suspended until the end of the 2017/18 NBL season.

Knight was also fined $1,000 and ordered to provide Travis Trice of the Cairns Taipans a written apology.

Knight will be available to play in the first Grand Final game on Sunday the 26th February.

Mr Nolan stated that this case was exceptional and ordinarily a suspension will be imposed for any charge involving intentional behaviour.

NBL = lame

Why do so many people assume this letter was part of the tribunal outcome?

It is quite clearly part of the wildcats management decision on the situation.

Knight was also fined $1,000 and ordered to provide Travis Trice of the Cairns Taipans a written apology.

Knight pleads guilty and gets nothing.WOW.What a waste of time and unless it's a Conklin style elbow you will never get suspended in the nbl and wasn't Knight looking at a two game suspension so with a guilty plea should of got one game.I knew this would be like Hire the other week.

What's he writing just Sorry mate or Sorry mate i didn't mean it or does it have to be a minimum of fifty words.

wasn't Knight looking at a two game suspension so with a guilty plea should of got one game.

An Unduly Rough Play charge carries a base penalty of a two-game suspension, however, the Game Review Panel has deemed the penalty excessive and as such the case has been referred directly to the Independent Tribunal.

It was a dirty play and Knight deserves whatever he gets.
When watching live (on nbl.tv app) I saw Trice go after Knight.
I saw what Knight did on the news the next day.

Did anyone think it warranted a suspension?

He brushed Trice's face with the ball

What about Ogilvie with the leg tackle? That had the potential for much more damage

Knight is a total dick.
For being a flog and jeopardising his teams chance at another title he deserved max penalty. Unfortunately, IMO, the incident in question doesn't warrant a suspension.

Not worthy of a two game suspension (suspended).

Also not worthy of an apology letter (I assume to be written in crayon).

Three completely botched reviews in one week, that has to be a new NBL record.

I've watched the replay several times and I'm not so sure he even makes contact with the head. It looks like he only brushes the shoulder. Trice takes a flop like a sniper shot him from the crowd.

"For being a flog and jeopardising his teams chance at another title he deserved max penalty. "

Thats not how any of this works

END QUOTE

You've missed the point...but that isn't surprising.

Are you a ref Steve,didnt see a thing hey?

"Mr Nolan stated that this case was exceptional and ordinarily a suspension will be imposed for any charge involving intentional behaviour."

No wish to keep flogging this, still I find the outcome puzzling.
I can't comprehend how they deem it intentional
But if it was then he should have been suspended. We can't have the NBL saying he's guilty and then arbitrarily waiving the penalty because its GF time. May as well just ask the AFL to take over running basketball.

Its obvious the action to extend the arms was deliberate. Why did he do that?
If they are satisfied that he intended to hit Trice in the face, then I'm sorry as much as I like Knight he should be suspended.

No not a ref @ Thunder Jam but have done in the past. Watched the replay over a few times as I said. Looked like the shoulder to me. Not sure what being a ref or not has to do with my eyesight. Plus it was a replay watched over a few times. The ref on game day missed it so still not sure of your point.

Didn't deserve a suspension?
Ok what do you base this observation, and do treat the situation impartially as if teams were neutral.

What that means is don't give me fictional opinionated crap just the facts thank you.
I don't care if u are a Perth fan, so am I.
But I am a bigger fan of the game itself.

Ok I base my observation on having broken down over 12,000 hours of basketball footage in my lifetime. Many leagues around the world. Pause slow mo in VCR days even.

This means I see a little bit more than most inexperienced observers within a snippet of a play. 35 years of experience does that. Psychologists call it a phenomenon known as "expert perception".

On nbl tv live I saw Trice go after Knighy in a manner which is very out of character for any player let alone Trice. Alas where there is smoke there is fire, I knew logically there had to have a reason for it, it's not on the game footage.

Fast forward the news the next night and they showed a different angle. Knight has basically taken possession of the ball with 2 hands almost tucking under his chin.
He has then started a motion similar to the two hand pass straight into Trices face whilst still holding the hall. Ouch!

In 35 years it ranks right up there on the shit list- it was a bullshit and he deserves to go down for it.

He lost my respect on this I didn't he was this dirty.
When it happened was even worse, very late in the game the wildcats were up big and in no danger of losing. No need for it at all!

Losing with class is important for any self respecting athlete.
Winning with class is even more important.
He reveals his character here.

But then again Dean Smith is an all time favourite of mine and I still wave his flags- read The Carolina Way for an education on the ettiquette of basketball.

Did u know he invented the quick team huddle before the free throw and demanded in the 1960's that his players acknowledge when they score from a team-mates great assist. Coach K today will not touch a player who doesn't do this- its selfishness.

So that's my level of thinking, my love and respect for this great game of ours.

RIP Coach Smith The Dean of Coaches