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Originally posted by rwest
I agree that the Centers and Power Forwards are in a position to foul out more often than other players. Also, star playes do make better decisions, generally speaking. But thats not why Shaquille doesn't foul out more often than he does. Its the all mighty dollar. The fans want to see Shaquille play. If Shaq played HS ball the way he plays in the NBA he'd foul out in the first period. He constantly drops his shoulder to knock the defender off the block.
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Like Chuck said, do you have any proof of that? I do not see Shaq drop his shoulder, no more than I see people hanging all over him. I see Allen Iverson go to the basket, take a lot of contact and no foul is called. Iverson gets beat up often and no fouls are called many times he goes to the hoop.
Quote:
Originally posted by rwest
You mentioned Michael Jordan. Do you remember game 6 against the Utah Jazz in the championship several years ago? Utah is up by 1, if I remember correctly. Michael is being guarded by Bryant Russell. He clearly pushes off and drains the game winning jumper. In NCAA and HS that would have been a foul. No basket, going the other way. But not in the NBA because it is Michael Jordan. Don't get me wrong. I believe he was the best to play the game in his era. And as a person I think Michael is a stand-up guy. I just know that the stars get preferential treatment because they put fans in the seats and money in peoples pockets.
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I had to watch that play several times, from several different angles on super slow motion to even come to that conclusion. Part of the problem is that Bryan Russell bit on a fake and his momentum was going away from MJ. It is not like MJ took him out of the play, he was already there. Did he push him, probably? The officials had one look at it and they did not have the benefit of slow motion. You said the officials consciously decided to make that choice not to call something on MJ. That is total crap. I guess when you decide to not call a foul in any of your games. If you officiate you have the same decision making process in that split second.
Would it have not made since for the Lakers to win the Championship last year? Not only did they get beat, they got beat in 5 games. The one game the Lakers did win, it took a last second shot by Kobe Bryant to win a game at home. The rest of the series Bryant, Phil and Shaq were constantly complaining. While the non-superstar Pistons kicked the crap out of the Lakers in games that were not even close. What happen to that conspiracy?
Quote:
Originally posted by rwest
I also agree with you that the officials call it the way they do because they are told to. They are doing there job. They don't make up their own calls. If they did, they wouldn't be in the NBA for very long. Nor would I, even I every made it, because I would call that foul on Shaq or Michael. I only wish the NBA would go back to calling the game the way the current rule book indicates. I'm sure the rules don't allow for Shaq's lowering his shoulder to make room on the baseline.
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I am sure any official that calls a game has to make decisions in a split second manner. Basketball is a contact sport. Contact is going to take place. Any good official is going to consider advantage/disadvantage. And yes when defenders are hanging off of a ball handler, I might allow a little contact from him as well. I guess you are just perfect.
Peace