Mavericks - Thunder
 

Okay, I haven't seen the play, but it's all the talk on M&M this morning. I've got two questions.

Was the Chandler technical foul (later rescinded) for dead ball contact?

Does the NBA have a rule similar to the NFHS rule against "faking being fouled?"

I would assume so, as a basket had just been scored and the throw-in hadn't started yet. I don't know about the "faking being fouled".

Gotcha. Funny I was able to piece that together from:

"They should have just called a foul, not a technical"

and

"They need to institute some rule against 'embellishment.'"

Harden scored on a drive to the basket. Chandler grabbed the ball out of the net. Harden turned to run down court and ran into Chandler. Neither player would move to let the other on get past. As they are bumping around, Chandler raises the ball over his head - with his elbows out - and his elbow.forearm pops Harden in the cheek area. Harden then goes into his best European soccer player impression, throws his head back and slams himself to the floor, writhing in agony...officials call a T on Chandler.

It was really ridiculous watching the replays...but I can completely understand why the ref called the T at the time - he didn't have the benefit of watching it on replay.

But it does bring up another reason why I find the NBA to be more and more unwatchable. Every single time someone drives to the basket, they throw themselves to the ground trying to get a call...when they actually do get bumped a little and get the call, they roll around and writhe around in agony, until it's time to shoot their free throws, then they pop right up and are miraculously cured of all damage. I can't stand it...

Funny, M&M made it sound like there wasn't even any contact at all.

Yes, the technical foul was for dead ball contact.

There is no specific NBA rule against "faking being fouled" and I don't really see the need for such a rule at the pro level.

Here's (a somewhat annoying version of) the video:

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hVnMbfrNKqs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Thanks, I just assumed they had a version of our (NFHS) rule on "flopping." Interesting.

I don't really think it's needed at the pro level. One, we don't even use that rule that often at the NF level, two if you want to "fake being fouled," more often than not, you'll be on the floor where you'll be looking up at someone dunking on you or a three pointer going up because someone had to rotate and help you out or you're putting up a junk shot and the defense is grabbing the rebound and off on a fastbreak.

I don't think there was. If there was, it was exceedingly minimal.

Wow, since I am also a soccer referee, I would have wanted to issue a yellow card for simulation/embellishing in an effort to deceive the Referee.