Beard: Expect Isaiah Stewart to bear brunt of punishment from dustup with LeBron James

Detroit News

Detroit — In the aftermath of Sunday night’s altercation between LeBron James and the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart, the focus shifts how the NBA league office will handle the situation and whether either player — or both — will get a suspension for the incident.

It was an ugly episode, to be sure, but it doesn’t rise to the level of “Malice at the Palace” from Nov. 19, 2004, as some were quick to refer to in the hours afterward. This wasn’t a fight where James and Stewart were face-to-face combatants with fists raised and no barriers between them.

In fact, that was one of the understated — and fortunate — outcomes of the entire incident, that fans didn’t get involved. Mason, the public-address announcer, helped keep things under control by reminding fans not to go near the court, not to throw anything and to remain calm. Security guards near the courtside area were diligent in maintaining order and ensuring that the only extracurricular action was on the court.

James, for his part, looked to throw an elbow and a closed fist, both near Stewart’s face. Initially, James wasn’t called for any foul and Stewart was whistled for a loose-ball foul. After video review, the officials assessed James a flagrant-2 foul, which warranted the ejection, and Stewart got two technical fouls for “multiple unsportsmanlike acts during the altercation,” according Scott Foster, the crew chief of the officiating crew.

Because James is who he is, the incident will be skewed a certain way. It will be hard for many observers to see him through a lens other than as an ambassador for the league and for the sport.

Stewart doesn’t have quite the same exalted image. He was running around the court in a heated rage and had to be restrained by multiple coaches, teammates and security guards, in his attempt to get closer to James.

Pistons coach Dwane Casey didn’t see the need for further suspension for Stewart for his involvement.

“He shouldn’t be facing anything (from the league). Not getting off the court in time … the league will have to decide that, but the man got eight stitches — or whatever the number of stitches is — across his forehead and I don’t even know if he knew who had hit him,” Casey said Sunday. “He was upset and blood running down his face. I don’t see any ramifications from the league from that standpoint, except from just not leaving the court in time, maybe. I thought that’s why he got ejected out of the game, so to me, that’s enough punishment.”

The optics likely won’t work in Stewart’s favor, either. He’s had run-ins with Blake Griffin, in addition to other players, both this season and last season and in just his second year, Stewart is developing a reputation as something of a hothead.

Stewart never threw a punch, but in his rage, he had to — almost unsuccessfully — be restrained by a throng of people. That’s the part where the NBA probably will try to suspend him for some games. Even when he seemed to be calmed down and things were getting under control, Stewart charged again at James, and then he charged once more on his way out of the arena to the tunnel heading to the locker room.

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Pistons guard Cory Joseph wasn’t assessed a technical foul, and according to Foster, he helped prevent the situation from potentially becoming more volatile.

“After Isaiah Stewart left the court, Cory was anticipating he may come around the back of house and enter the Laker bench from the opposite side,” Foster said in the pool report. “So, (Joseph) was going to intercept him. I actually told Cory that would be good.”

James isn’t blameless in this incident. Though his elbow and apparent closed fist may not have been intentional, those optics have to be taken in concert with everything else. As teammate Anthony Davis and coach Frank Vogel were quick to point out, James doesn’t have a history of being a dirty player.

He’ll get the benefit of the doubt, and if he’s suspended — though it’s probably even-money that he won’t be — a game or two seems warranted, but unlikely.

Stewart’s situation is a little more complicated to unravel. Will the league look at his involvement as merely reacting to the inciting incident or will he get a heavier punishment because of the optics?

The other layer to this scenario is that the Pistons and Lakers will play in Los Angeles on Sunday. It would seem unlikely that both players are available to play in that game, one way or another.

Heat at Pistons

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

TV/radio: BSD/97.1 FM

Outlook: The Pistons (4-12) are coming off an emotional loss to the Lakers on Sunday and the Heat (11-6) have won four of their last five games behind All-Stars Jimmy Butler (25.1 points) and Kyle Lowry (12 points, 7.6 assists).

Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard

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