Report: Mike Dunleavy will not be suspended for his flagrant foul

The Chicago Bulls forward was called for a flagrant-1 for hitting Michael Carter-Williams in the neck during the teams series clinching Game 6 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

It made sense during the Chicago Bulls 120-66 shellacking of the Milwaukee Bucks that tempers would flare on both sides. The Bucks were clearly frustrated with their lack of offensive production an their inability to hold onto the ball, and it showed.

Of course it also doesn’t help that Mike Dunleavy is shoving Michael Carter-Williams in the neck.

It would not be absurd to think that in light of the recent two-game suspension for J.R. Smith for a similar smack, Dunleavy would also be suspended for his treachery. But that will not be the case according to Adrian Wojnarowski.

From Yahoo! Sports:

"Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy has escaped a suspension for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, league sources told Yahoo Sports.More from Chicago BullsNBA Rumors: Warriors, Lakers among contenders for key free agent3 players Bulls can sign with Disabled Player ExceptionNBA free agency: The 3 biggest losers in this offseason so farThe new NBA flopping rules explained5 players Sixers could acquire in Harden deal to stay competitiveDunleavy will be in the starting lineup on Monday for Chicago’s Game 1 meeting with Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals."

So, whereas the Cleveland Cavaliers will be without both Smith and Kevin Love because of violent, overeager play, the Chicago Bulls will still have Dunleavy on the floor despite the same thing. Sure, Smith has a history whereas Dunleavy mostly does not, but the foul created the same situation, which was a violent game.

Clearly, the NBA needs to be harder on flagrant fouls such as this, particularly when they come in the playoffs. Of course referees need to be looser in the postseason with what they call in terms of non-flagrant personal fouls. They do not put the players in in any injury danger, so not calling them would allow for the game to move faster and not be decided by the referees. But at the same time, the decision to not suspend Dunleavy gives the Bulls an advantage that they shouldn’t have.

The Bulls and the Cavaliers tip off Monday, and while the Cavs seemingly entered into the series as the clear-cut favorites to win, now they may be quickly eliminated by a strong Bulls team.

Perhaps this is an overrating of the impact that Dunleavy has on the Bulls, but having him on the court gives the Bulls someone other than Jimmy Butler who can compete with the wings of the Cavaliers. Without that presence, even for a game or two, the Bulls would more easily fall into a 2-0 hole.

But – the Bulls aren’t going to have to worry about that at all.

[H/T: Yahoo! Sports]