Is he going to set a record for ejections in a series?
Initially, this ejection looked very questionable. It looked like the refs saw Gasol fall and made the Flagrant two call based on that. The commentators themselves expressed serious doubt.
But watch the video and look at Ron Artest's off-arm, the left arm. His right arm is going after the ball (though in a wild swing, which have been called flagrant) and gets some ball with his right hand. But Ron's left arm delivers a shove to Gasol's right shoulder that has nothing to do with making a play on the ball.
You have to watch a few times because of the tangle of bodies. But Artest wasn't just going for the ball or trying to make a play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwtQpIjbHYU
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Lakers / Rockets Game 2 Note: Kobe's Elbow
I love how nobody cares to examine what happened right before the elbow was thrown (and Kobe did intentionally throw it out, though not necessarily at Ron's neck - Ron is taller than Kobe, he would have expected it to hit Ron in the chest). If you did look, you would have seen Ron Artest put his hand on the back of Kobe's neck and bend him forward. Both actions were wrong, but I wanted to point out the one nobody is talking about.
The video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irtnkEmubqY
The video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irtnkEmubqY
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Another Gut-Check Game: Nuggets @ Dallas (Game 3)
The series moves to Dallas, with the home team facing an 0-3 hole, something only overcome once or twice in NBA history.
You could almost call it a must-win game for Dallas, but it is, at the very least, a gut-check for the Mavericks. Show up, or get ready for the off-season.
You could almost call it a must-win game for Dallas, but it is, at the very least, a gut-check for the Mavericks. Show up, or get ready for the off-season.
Lakers / Rockets Game 2
My Thoughts:
1. This is the best Kobe play-off performance I have seen in the last two years. He may have had other, statistically better games, but this was him at his lethal best. How many times can he do it, in this series and in the play-offs?
2. When did Ron-Ron turn into Ray Allen?!?
3. Fisher's shoulder-charge on Scola was a cheap shot. Moving picks are a serious problem in the NBA, and Scola's sometimes very questionable picks obviously got Fisher's blood boiling. But there is no excuse for that shot.
4. I don't think Artest was going to hit Kobe, but was merely trying to intimidate him. Unfortunately for Artest, he intimidated the refs and they tossed him. After the Fisher incident, they weren't going to wait for another. Also, Artest did initiate contact with Kobe. In a vacuum, that wouldn't get you ejected. But Artest has started fights with fans. He has a well earned reputation for crazy.
5. I think Artest's actions showed Kobe that he's in his head. I expect Kobe to try to push Artest further, as Artest is the linch pin of his team.
6. Fisher wasn't ejected but I think he won't play in game 3. Artest was ejected, but he'll be back in game 3. And I do think the Lakers may be better off without Fisher.
7. Gasol gave Yao fits, getting him in foul trouble and out of the game. If this continues, the series is over.
8. This series is probably going seven games, and I don't know anymore who is going to win it...
1. This is the best Kobe play-off performance I have seen in the last two years. He may have had other, statistically better games, but this was him at his lethal best. How many times can he do it, in this series and in the play-offs?
2. When did Ron-Ron turn into Ray Allen?!?
3. Fisher's shoulder-charge on Scola was a cheap shot. Moving picks are a serious problem in the NBA, and Scola's sometimes very questionable picks obviously got Fisher's blood boiling. But there is no excuse for that shot.
4. I don't think Artest was going to hit Kobe, but was merely trying to intimidate him. Unfortunately for Artest, he intimidated the refs and they tossed him. After the Fisher incident, they weren't going to wait for another. Also, Artest did initiate contact with Kobe. In a vacuum, that wouldn't get you ejected. But Artest has started fights with fans. He has a well earned reputation for crazy.
5. I think Artest's actions showed Kobe that he's in his head. I expect Kobe to try to push Artest further, as Artest is the linch pin of his team.
6. Fisher wasn't ejected but I think he won't play in game 3. Artest was ejected, but he'll be back in game 3. And I do think the Lakers may be better off without Fisher.
7. Gasol gave Yao fits, getting him in foul trouble and out of the game. If this continues, the series is over.
8. This series is probably going seven games, and I don't know anymore who is going to win it...
Phrase of the Day: "Gut-Check Game"
A gut check game is a non-elimination play-off game in which a team must show up in a big way or it is clear the series is over. They don't have to actually win (that would be a "Must-Win Game", but they must demonstrate their strong desire to win (if they have one).
The Boston and LA games tonight were gut-check games. Each team had lost their series opener, at home, forfeiting home court advantage. A second loss would mean going on the road for two games down 0-2. The reality is that such a series deficit has been overcome before. But the response of a team facing such a situation is indicative of their will to win (and their capability to). As it turned out, both teams came through, showing intensity and determination in victory.
"Must-Win Games" are a type of gut-check game. But there are also games like these, which are neither must-win nor elimination but are very telling of a team's capability to win a series.
The Boston and LA games tonight were gut-check games. Each team had lost their series opener, at home, forfeiting home court advantage. A second loss would mean going on the road for two games down 0-2. The reality is that such a series deficit has been overcome before. But the response of a team facing such a situation is indicative of their will to win (and their capability to). As it turned out, both teams came through, showing intensity and determination in victory.
"Must-Win Games" are a type of gut-check game. But there are also games like these, which are neither must-win nor elimination but are very telling of a team's capability to win a series.
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