Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrapper1
If you really believe that, then you have to say that it also shows everything that is wrong with basketball at ALL levels, which might be true. I don't know. But teams at ALL levels strategically foul at the end of games for a few different reasons.
I'm not sure why this shows what's wrong with the NBA.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canuckrefguy
No different than a high school game where one team is trying to stop the clock and commits a foul.
Would you have passed on the contact in a HS or college game?
If they were trying to prevent a 3-pt shot and put the guy on the line for FT's - it's a smart play, one that we see at every level.
I agree with the NBA saying there should have been a call. Perhaps it should have been Flagrant-1 (intentional), but still should have been a whistle.
My $0.02
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I take issue with the NBA mentality. They really believe that this tactic is okay. I say that it is nothing more than cheating. The team is attempting to gain an advantage by doing something illegal.
Let me point out that the NBA is the same league that doesn't allow a secondary defender to stand in the area under the basket. That has been deemed to not be legitimate defense.
How about a rule change that any deliberate foul in the final 24 seconds (That's one shot clock period.), results in three FTs for the opponent. It doesn't matter whether the fouled player was in the act of shooting or not. It's an automatic three FTs. That would stamp out this silliness. It's simply not legitimate defense.
HS and NCAA have both clearly stated that "wrapping-up" and opponent is an intentional personal foul. It's not a basketball play. It's a tackle.
However, look at what the coaches are teaching and the players are discussing at the NBA level.
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Updated: May 10, 2009, 6:41 PM ET
Rivers instructs Celts how to foul
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com
ORLANDO, Fla. -- On the morning after one of the more controversial nights of the NBA playoffs, Doc Rivers sent a message to his team: If we have a foul to give, make sure you commit it the right way.
In other words, not the Wright way.
The controversial ending to Saturday night's Nuggets-Mavericks game was one of the primary topics of discussion at the Celtics' morning shootaround Sunday, with
the teaching emphasis on having players use both arms to wrap up an opposing player on the perimeter to ensure the referee whistles the foul.
"The
wrap-up also takes longer than raking a guy across the arms, and
it reduces the chance that he can get off an attempt and get three foul shots," Rivers said.
In the Nuggets-Mavs game,
Antoine Wright appeared to
intentionally foul Denver's
Carmelo Anthony twice when Dallas had a foul to give, and the NBA took the highly unusual action of issuing a statement after the game saying the referees had not made the correct call.
Among the Celtics' players, the lingering impression was that Wright was as much at fault as anyone because he did not commit the foul in the proper manner -- especially when he had the perfect opportunity at the moment when Anthony bobbled the ball before regaining control and sinking the game-winning shot.
Other than
the lecture on proper fouling techniques, Rivers said the Celtics concentrated on cutting down the Magic's ability to use dribble penetration play to initiate their offense.
The defending champion Celtics trail the best-of-seven series 2-1 heading into tonight's Game 4. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Boston.
"People think we're going away, and we're not. We are who we are. We're a group of fighters," Rivers said.
Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN.com.