RealGM

Supposedly the Rockets were fined "a small amount" for tampering. Apparently the rockets.com website had posted some statistical analysis of future free agents. I can understand the Hawks fine, but this seems pretty nitpicky. In the future, all Rockets' employees should just answer interview questions with, "No comment due to league tampering rules."

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/93628 ... ree-agency
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2 ... tampering/

"The stories on the Rockets’ website did not cite potential destinations for any free agents and offered no analysis of the team’s interest in any specific player. The stories, since removed, offered statistical analysis of about 70 NBA players."

This writer reinforces my point. This is how post game conferences are going to be next year:

"Coach, how are you going to stop [opposing player]?"
"Sorry, I can't talk about other players due to league rules."

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... tampering/

"But I could probably find examples of every team tampering, and therein lies the problem. The NBA’s tampering rules are so broad, it could be argue coaches violate them every time they talk about an opposing player during a post-game press conference. This gives the NBA leeway to fine and pardon teams as it pleases, and such a lack of consistency allows the league too large of an opportunity to play favorites."

local houston 610 radio just said earlier from jonathan feigen that the hawks went way over the line which caused Stern to put his foot down and thus the rockets got fined too eventhough all they did was list the free agents on their site with weaknesses and strengths...stern wanted to make sure this doesn't happen in the future...fining several teams sends a clear message...

i say the hawks should pay our fine!! or else we send dog shiet to ferry's house

It was silly to fine the Rockets, but Stern will be Stern! At the end of the day this is a non-story for Houston.

seriously?

Welcome, ballboy!