Pistons scuffle involving Mo Wagner
Mo ran Killian Hayes into the Pistons bench, some shoving ensued, and then Hayes took a cheap shot at the back of Wagner's head knocking him unconscious.
I dont know how to embed.
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1608271456026382337?s=20&t=B56BOcX-eDG1S1_WgTL_WQ
December 28th, 2022 at 10:59 PM ^
I hate everything about this.
December 28th, 2022 at 9:45 PM ^
That cheap shot was some straight up bullshit!
December 28th, 2022 at 9:47 PM ^
Which cheap shot?
Hayes will definitely get suspended for that punch but Mo pulled some bitch shit throwing Killian into that bench.
December 28th, 2022 at 9:53 PM ^
Come on, dude. A shoulder bump is one thing, and Killian sold it, sure, deserves the foul. Shots to the back of the head can be life-threatening.
December 28th, 2022 at 9:54 PM ^
“Throwing” isn’t what that was. It was an unnecessary shoulder bump with a player at full speed who didn’t have enough runway to slow himself down due to the proximity of the bench. Unnecessary, and borderline suspension worthy. But like, he didn’t two hand shove him or anything.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:06 PM ^
What Hayes did was worse, but that "bump" could have seriously injured Hayed who was running full speed and went crashing into the bench. In that situation, it wasn't a harmless bump. Both should get suspended, with Hayes getting a larger one.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:12 PM ^
And "bumps" to the back of the head can end someone's life. A nearly crazed reaction to something far less serious, IMHO.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:48 PM ^
It's pretty difficult to keep oneself under control after nearly being injured in an unnecessary use of force, don't you think?
I don't think I'd punch him in the back of the head but I would have shoved him for sure and gotten in his face. No question. Killian is playing for his livelihood out there. If he gets injured it might be his last season in Detroit, possibly in the NBA. Pretty high stakes for a young kid to cope with after being fouled in such a reckless and stupid way.
Killian and Wagner both get suspended. I would imagine Killian's is longer, but Mo's behavior was inexcusable too. Don't let the Maize and Blue glasses get in the way of common decency.
December 29th, 2022 at 12:04 AM ^
I love Mo. Easily one of my top 5 favorite players in U of M hoops history.
Folks around here seen to forget the the man has made a career out of doing irritating little bullshit like this. I'm okay with it. Shit happens on the court. But sometimes you're going to pay a price for playing that way.
I'm less okay with Hayes throwing the punch but I understand it. He's having a breakout season and there's a chance he could have been hurt.
Moral of of the story: sometimes shit happens on the court. We can grumble about it but everyone will forget about it in the next 2 days.
December 29th, 2022 at 12:17 AM ^
Darker Blue I usually agree with you but you are so very, very wrong here. This has nothing to do with Mo. I don’t care what university he attended. In every combat sport, hitting someone in the back of the head is illegal. Because it’s insanely dangerous. Mo bumped Hayes and I’m not saying Hayes shouldn’t have reacted but that’s the one area you can not go for. Not even in UFC or other combat sports is that allowed. Shots to the back of the head in combat sports usually come with a 1 year plus ban. It’s a very serious offense. You can not hit someone in the back of the head. That’s literal assault.
December 29th, 2022 at 11:25 AM ^
Sure, unfortunate injuries can happen by getting popped in the head, but if it was 'insanely dangerous' MMA would be wearing headgear at the very least.
December 29th, 2022 at 7:12 AM ^
The push was dirty but the punch to the back of his head was gutless.
December 29th, 2022 at 9:00 AM ^
Mo was out of line and gave some extra on that bump. No problem with Hayes and his teammates getting in Mo's face, he earned that. But punching in the back of the head is a huge violation. I would be shocked if he does not get at least 15 games. Mo might get one or two.
I get adrenaline, heat of the moment type stuff, but just can't do it. The league has to come down hard.
December 29th, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
15 games isnt going to happen. Brandon Ingram got 4 games for punching Chris Paul in the back of the head 4 years ago. 5 games top for Hayes. Since he hit a non league star it may just be 2-3.
December 29th, 2022 at 8:45 AM ^
Crazed? Perhaps, but wwyd?
- Your adrenaline is on full blast.
- Someone just intentionally ran you into the sideline where a potentionally devastating injury could have occurred.
I love MO, but that was uncalled for and was the catalyst of any subsequent reaction. Don't let your Michigan homerism blind you to that.
Edit: Just saw that I said pretty much the same thing as Darker Blue. Also, Hayes' retaliation was dangerous and will have necessary consequences, but it was a reaction to Mo's ridiculous instigation. I swear... some of you with current or former Michigan athletes are like parents defending their children.
December 29th, 2022 at 10:21 AM ^
I don't have a problem with someone getting in the face of a person who took a cheap shot that could have injured them. What you cannot do, under any circumstances, is punch someone in the back of the head like that. As some have pointed out, those types of shots are incredibly dangerous (as evidenced by him being knocked out), and even potentially fatal. That is just stupid and reckless and has no place in any game. At a time when all leagues are trying to do away with any and all head shots even during play, the league will have to come down on him hard. And if Mo gets some games too, that is fine.
December 29th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
I guarantee you that 10 seconds before Hayes swung, he wasn't thinking "I'm going to hit this guy in the back of the head." He was pissed (deservedly so) and he threw a punch. Happens all the time in sports after dirty plays such as Mo's. In this case, Mo happened to be turned around.
Hayes will likely get a suspension as he should, but Mo's punishment shouldn't be any lighter.
December 29th, 2022 at 8:12 AM ^
Hayes sold the bump big time. Dude belongs on the soccer pitch with how he sold it. I can also guarantee he doesn't react like that if he didn't have his teammates to dive into and protect him
December 28th, 2022 at 10:49 PM ^
It's a non-basketball play, definitely worthy of a flagrant and possibly an ejection/short suspension.
Hayes should get a long suspension.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:15 PM ^
Appeared to me that Mo was trying to block Hayes from getting to the loose ball. Not a cheap shot or bitch shit by Mo IMO.
December 29th, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
Completely agree. For all of those calling it a cheap shot by Mo, would you have the same take if this was in the middle of the court? Mo is making a basketball play to maintain position on a loose ball. This ends up being super dangerous because of its proximity to the sideline and the bench--which is caused by the NBA's interest in packing stadiums and bringing the fans as close to the court as possible without regard for player safety. How many times do we see players flying over the bench or into fans when chasing a loose ball. Blame the NBA for the fact that this safety risk continues.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:35 PM ^
I love Mo, unbelievable kid. But he is definitely an agitator on the court and that was a cheap shot by him. No excuse for what Killian did and he should be suspended for a minimum of 10 games imo.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:42 PM ^
Agree with you Darker. That was a weak shove by Mo… That could’ve hurt Hayes bad…mess around and find out what happens. People negging you would be upvoting if it was the other way around… can’t take off the homer glasses.
December 28th, 2022 at 11:32 PM ^
Wait a sec youd be cool with Mo elbow blasting someone to the back of their brain? None of us would. Weak take.
December 29th, 2022 at 12:09 AM ^
Mo shouldn’t have shoved the guy like he was playing hockey… Not ok with Hayes hitting Mo. my point was the fact that people have the home colored glasses on when Mo clearly instigated the issue. You cool with Mo checking Hayes? Nice deflection.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:41 AM ^
Wow I must be missing something. Your kid bumps some kid out of bounds and he gets a forearm shiver to the back of the brain stem and dads like “fuck around and find out”. Maybe cheapshots to the back of the head are alright for you.
Mo shouldve got tee’d up for sure but ive seen 1000 basketball plays like that. Twice a night in the 90s. You arent going to convince most people here a cheapshot to the back of the skull makes it even steven.
December 28th, 2022 at 11:42 PM ^
I remember the vast majority of this board being very not cool with Juwan Howard's slap against Wisconsin despite that coach shoving one of our players down. A vocal number felt and probably still feel like he should've been fired. I personally felt like the Big Ten penalty was kinda weak and he should've been suspended for the postseason too. If you're going to make sweeping comments about a hypothetical board attitude, at least don't contradict events that literally happened on the board less than a year ago.
December 29th, 2022 at 12:13 AM ^
I don’t remember the vast majority… I remember a few but many felt like Wisky coached had it comin*. I think the negs on Darker Blues comment made my point. Spare me the revisionist history.
December 28th, 2022 at 11:15 PM ^
He literally turned his back to him and he hits him in the back. Dunno what to tell you.
December 29th, 2022 at 9:41 AM ^
That's not at all what I saw. But going with your take, who STARTS A FIGHT and then "turns his back" on the person he just assaulted? That wouldn't even make sense.
December 29th, 2022 at 8:39 AM ^
Guys get bumped like that all the time in basketball. It should be a foul but Hayes punching a guy from behind while his teammate held him up is bullshit.
December 29th, 2022 at 8:52 AM ^
That was part of the game action
December 29th, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
Amazing how reason and common sense can be frowned upon when people can't be objective. If Mo were a bucknut, every one would agree with you. Smh. I love Mo but he started a fight with a senseless "cheap shot". How is that controversial? Smh. If this were football, that would have gotten a flag. That's how inexplicably bad a bball play this was. Basketball is not a contact sport.
December 29th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
Good lord. Mo is clearly in the wrong here. He took a cheap shot hard enough to send a guy flying head first into the bench. And you’re mad at the guy for fighting back? Sometimes I really hate fans.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:26 PM ^
Pistons and on-court bullshit. Somethings never change. Team has been irrelevant except for inciting fights for who knows how long.
Mo did a hard foul; flagrant? Sure. But to retaliate with a rabbit punch? Gtfo. Suspend Hayes for the rest of the season.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
You guys are hilarious…Killian will be back in 2-3 games. Stop this “suspend him for the rest of the season” bullshit. Dudes have done far worse and not been gone for the year.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:58 PM ^
Punk bitch move by Hayes. He should have an extended vacation for that.
December 28th, 2022 at 9:53 PM ^
Cheap shot by Moe but the retaliation was cheaper. I'm sure there will be lots of inconsequential suspensions to follow.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:00 PM ^
Moe definitely looked dazed, where is it reported he lost consciousness?
When I first opened the ESPN report on it, it said
Orlando's Franz Wagner was ejected for a flagrant foul, while Detroit's Killian Hayes and Hamidou Diallo were ejected for their actions during the ensuing scuffle in front of the Pistons bench.
And I was so confused, Franz with a flagrant? Watched the video and its clearly Moe and that made more sense.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:20 PM ^
I didn’t realize he went out when I saw the short replay earlier. Did not see it live. But this extended replay from the Orlando telecast shows him stagger back to his bench following the melee. It looks like he was out for about 10 seconds and being held up by 2 individuals on the Pistons bench. https://twitter.com/clutchpointsapp/status/1608270526140796928?s=46&t=AGsgzRFgKMKnXmVYru3ONw
December 28th, 2022 at 11:57 PM ^
Didn't see that angle before, does sound right now.
Even more so now, reminds me of the Todd Bertuzzi incident, if folks remember that (minus the part where Bertuzzi took the guy to the ground, Moe's lucky someone was there to catch him) - a sucker punch from behind, seemingly not as forceful as most punches to the face, but recipient knocked out.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:23 PM ^
the shot to mo didn't look that hard, looked like the full force missed. but watching mo he falls forward and his head hits the guy who was holding him, who then lets him down into two trainers' (coaches?) hands and unless mo was selling it, did look like he was out. to the two piston trainers' credit they have mo and basically are guarding him while the rest of the bru-ha-ha unfolds.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:54 PM ^
Watch the first link at the top. The 2nd replay is more overhead and you can see after the hit, mo falls forward onto 2 Pistons trainers and his eyes are closed and he didn't move during the rest of the brawl.
December 29th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
Mo didn’t commit a “standard flagrant foul.” What he did was extremely dangerous and also intentional. He deserved to get punched.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:33 PM ^
By your standards I would say you deserve to be punched.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:00 PM ^
Mo committed a standard type of technical foul. Hayes throwing a forearm to the the back of a players head who was tied up is a bitch move. Just like Draymond and MSU football players, bitch moves.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:15 PM ^
I wouldn’t call that a standard type of technical foul. It was dirty and dangerous, period.
The reaction was even worse though. Both can be and in this case are absolutely true.
December 28th, 2022 at 10:21 PM ^
The NBA.. classy as ever…
December 28th, 2022 at 11:00 PM ^
Yes and all the other leagues are so proper and no fights ever break out in any other professional sport. This sort of thing has never happened in the NFL, MLB, any college level sport, and definitely not the NHL! Certainly not the NHL where everyone is very classy, fights are definitely not allowed to happen on a regular basis, guys are not labeled as "enforcers" or "goons" purely for their aggressiveness on the ice, and everybody gives each other big hugs at the end of the game while singing Kumbaya...
Get out of here man. Ridiculous thing to say.