HoopsHype.com Rumors

Eric Patten: VDN on Matt Barnes suspension: "I was surprised, because he got ejected from the game...But you have to abide by the league" Twitter @EricPatten

Los Angeles Clippers, Matt Barnes 

Yes, that deserved a suspension — you go at a guy’s neck, you get ejected and suspended for a game. The league officially suspended the Clippers Matt Barnes one game for his flagrant foul II on Gregg Stiemsma of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Barnes will sit out the Clippers game Friday night against Toronto. The incident happened with 8:26 left in the second quarter. Barnes ran into a screen set by Stiemsma and took offense at… I don’t know what. That looked like a pretty standard NBA high screen. But Barnes went at his neck and the second he did you knew he would get suspended. NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Matt Barnes 

Eric Patten: Matt Barnes ejected for flagrant-2, shoving Greg Stiemsma around the neck Twitter @EricPatten

Matt Barnes, Greg Stiemsma 

Matt Barnes: Congrats to @kingjames on being the youngest to 20k Twitter @Matt_Barnes22

Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Matt Barnes 

According to an NBA executive, one of the main reasons the Clippers have won so many in a row is "Matt Barnes is playing out of his mind." When told of the comments, Barnes' response included a slam of ex-Lakers coach, Mike Brown. "I've been working hard these past few summers. Last year, playing with the Lakers, I was told when I could shoot. If I made mistakes, I'd come out of the game," said Barnes. "This year [Coach] Vinny [Del Negro] has installed a lot of trust in me. He lets me go out there and play my game. If I mess up, he still sticks with me and that goes a long way with any player." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Matt Barnes, Mike Brown 

Dan Woike: Matt Barnes credited his play to VDN having confidence in him. Said he felt like he'd get pulled if he missed a shot last year w/ Lakers Twitter @DanWoikeSports

Los Angeles Lakers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Matt Barnes 

Dan Woike: Matt Barnes had the worst Christmas sweater in the #Clipper locker room. CP3 had the idea. Twitter @DanWoikeSports

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Matt Barnes 

These are good times for Clippers forward Matt Barnes. He's playing on a winning team and he's playing a significant role off the bench. His 25.2 minutes per game is the third highest of his nine-year career. He's averaging 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. "So far, behind that Golden State season, this is the most fun I've had with the collective group of guys like this," said Barnes, who played with the Warriors in 2006-07 and 2007-08. "And we're playing good basketball. So that's a bonus." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Matt Barnes 

Coach Vinny Del Negro said he's not surprised by Barnes' play. "What I'm most pleased with is that something is going to happen out there when he's out there on the court," Del Negro said. "He fills up the stat line. He gives us a lot of intangibles that sometimes don't show up on the stat sheet." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Matt Barnes 

Matt Barnes: This is some bull$h!# it's 745 & I still can't fall asleep, hv practice in 3hrs. Twitter @Matt_Barnes22

Los Angeles Clippers, Matt Barnes 

Matt Barnes: Happy Halloween, get home safe. S/O @SnoopLion bwayne6 & my young boy trey. #clips instagr.am/p/Re24yGrzaE/ Twitter @Matt_Barnes22

Los Angeles Clippers, Matt Barnes, Snoop Dogg 

Arash Markazi: Matt Barnes won't be playing tonight but he'll be hosting a Halloween party across the street. pic.twitter.com/Pg52XwS0 Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Matt Barnes 

Los Angeles Clippers backup forward Matt Barnes was suspended by the NBA for the season opener Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. The suspension without pay comes after Barnes pleaded no contest to a charge of resisting, delaying or obstructing arrest stemming from an unlicensed driving incident in July. The driving charge was dropped because he had a valid license. "My suspension handed down by the NBA 2day is a #JOKE, but best of luck 2 my team 2maro vs a tough Memphis team," Barnes tweeted Tuesday. USA Today

Los Angeles Clippers, Law, Matt Barnes 

The NBA suspended Los Angeles Clippers small forward Matt Barnes for a game, without pay, for pleading “nolo contendre” for a mishap in Manhattan Beach. Barnes didn’t fight charges in California state court that include “resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer in the discharge of his duties.” Formerly with the Los Angeles Lakers, Barnes rejoined the Clippers this summer as a free agent. The Clippers gave Barnes his first NBA opportunity during the 2003/04 season. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Clippers, Law, Matt Barnes 

Back in July Matt Barnes was picked up by an officer near his home in Manhattan Beach on outstanding traffic claims of $26,000 in unpaid fines and driving without a license. (Barnes was not driving at the time of his arrest.) The arrest escalated enough that the police charged him with resisting arrest. As part of a plea deal, Barnes pled no contest and the charges were reduced to misdemeanors. He was put on probation and must complete 30 hours of community service and three months of counseling. This kind of suspension is pretty common for the league following any arrest. NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Law, Matt Barnes 

Barnes is averaging 12.4 points in five games — tied for fourth-best on the team — on 48.9% shooting. He's averaging 6.4 rebounds, third-best on the team. "He's in the right spot," Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said. "He runs the court. He guards four positions, basically. He's a very good slasher. He's a very good rebounder. So, I've been real pleased with Matt and just his activity overall." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Matt Barnes 

Barnes had spent the last two seasons with the Lakers but wasn't invited back, something Paul said he was unaware of. So after a pickup game, Paul suggested Barnes come play for the Clippers. "I've told everybody this: I hate playing against Matt," Paul said. "But I knew him on my team, I would love it. He's passionate on defense, just like I am. "I always say this about the NBA: You've got to respect everybody, but never fear them. Matt don't fear nobody. From the best player in the NBA to the worst, he don't fear nobody. We need that and I love it." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Matt Barnes 

L.A. Clippers star Matt Barnes is apologizing for calling the cop who arrested him a fa**ot and a pu**y. In case you're really bad at "Wheel of Fortune," one word is derogatory toward gays ... the other toward women. Barnes tells TMZ, "I would like to apologize for the unfortunate language I used. I know that certain words are extremely hurtful." TMZ.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Law, Matt Barnes 

Video from a July arrest shows Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes directing a gay slur toward police officers. Barnes, who signed with the Clippers during the offseason after playing two seasons with the Lakers, was arrested in July when a Manhattan Beach, Calif., police officer attempted to take him into custody on an outstanding warrant for driving with a suspended license. Barnes pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of unlicensed driving and resisting arrest in September. USA Today

Los Angeles Clippers, Law, Matt Barnes 

L.A. Clippers player Matt Barnes has cut a plea deal and in the process scored a big victory ... because prosecutors rejected the felony, agreeing the case was nothing more than a low-level misdemeanor ... TMZ has learned. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Law, Matt Barnes