http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4429517

NEW YORK -- The NBA has suspended Denver's J.R. Smith and Phoenix's Jason Richardson after both were recently convicted of driving offenses.

Smith will sit out the Nuggets' first seven games for pleading guilty to reckless driving in New Jersey. Richardson will miss two games after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving in Arizona.

Both suspensions imposed Friday are without pay. The NBA said Smith's was also for his poor driving record. Smith was involved in an accident in 2007 that caused the death of a passenger in his car.

"The commissioner's office has made it clear that it wants to set the highest standard of personal conduct for its athletes," Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien said in a statement. "We will support J.R. as he continues to deal with the tragic accident he was involved with two years ago and the consequences of his painful mistake. Being that this is strictly a league decision, we will have no further comment."

Smith, who finished runner-up to Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry for the NBA's Sixth Man award last season, is expected to move into the Nuggets' starting lineup with the departure of Dahntay Jones to the Indiana Pacers in free agency.

Should be 10 games for any player getting a drunk driving. A 2nd gets you 41 games.

quote:

Originally posted by Jodie "Freek" Meeks:
Smith, who finished runner-up to Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry for the NBA's Sixth Man award last season, is expected to move into the Nuggets' starting lineup with the departure of Dahntay Jones to the Indiana Pacers in free agency.

I'd start Afflalo. Jones started last year because they wanted a good defender starting at SG. Allow Smith to keep wreaking havoc as an offensive spark off the bench.

It would be a nice twist if Afflalo earns the starting role throughout the season as a result of Smith getting suspended. And Smith ends up back in the same role he was behind Jones, behind Afflalo. Blown opportunities.

Can't see it happening. Granted, Smith still played 30 minutes a night where Jones may as well be coming off the bench with the time he got. Same thing here most likely.

quote:

Originally posted by Swettz:
Can't see it happening. Granted, Smith still played 30 minutes a night where Jones may as well be coming off the bench with the time he got. Same thing here most likely.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Just give Afflalo the role that Jones' used to fill. Smith stays off the bench, but plays more minutes than Afflalo.

quote:

Originally posted by Swettz:
It would be a nice twist if Afflalo earns the starting role throughout the season as a result of Smith getting suspended. And Smith ends up back in the same role he was behind Jones, behind Afflalo. Blown opportunities.

Can't see it happening. Granted, Smith still played 30 minutes a night where Jones may as well be coming off the bench with the time he got. Same thing here most likely.

jones starting over smith wasn't a punishment. just a way for the nuggets to have some firepower off the bench. jones only played the first 7 minutes of each half. i can see denver doing the same thing with afflalo. in fact, i think it'd be pretty dumb if they didn't. denver's bench scoring is extremely weak now that kleiza is gone

Has JR been suspended before?

I seem to remember he has.

quote:

Originally posted by BYNUM POWER:
jones starting over smith wasn't a punishment. just a way for the nuggets to have some firepower off the bench. jones only played the first 7 minutes of each half. i can see denver doing the same thing with afflalo. in fact, i think it'd be pretty dumb if they didn't. denver's bench scoring is extremely weak now that kleiza is gone

Well, I never said it was a punishment in either case, just that it would be a blown opportunity for Smith to prove that him starting would work, where now Denver has an opportunity to get comfortable with Afflalo in the starting lineup first. Who knows how that whole thing will play out in the long run though. JR may end up starting when he gets back anyway.

It's all about status with some of these idiots. AI couldn't come off the bench in any circumstance, even though he probably still would have found 30+ minutes a game with us...

Haven't been paying too much attention, but according to Afflalo's profile, he hasn't started a game for Denver until tonight, which also happened to be the night that JR returned. I guess they were going with Anthony Carter, but then had to figure who the odd man out would be. I'm guessing Afflalo did more to impress than Anthony Carter, as he got the starting role and the minutes that JR didn't get.

All the same though, JR came off the bench behind Afflalo, and the minutes are exactly as we discussed. Afflalo had a good game, JR did not. This can be attributed to rust I'm sure, but I just find it interesting is all. Worth bumping the thread and paying attention to.

AA has been playing pretty well in Denver.

And just think if they killed someone the judge would give them probation & a fine.