The league has already made it clear that there are various issues that will be discussed regarding the league. The two issues brought up so far are the potential for more use of instant replay, after the obvious three pointer that wasn’t waived off at the end of the 3rd quarter between the Orlando Magic and the Detroit Piston. The other issue, fouling off the ball. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs have gotten away with it for so many years, including Shaq’s entire tenure in LA and now the post season with Shaq playing for the Suns.

I strongly believe there is another issue to consider though. I wrote an article a while back about the referees inconsistencies in calling games. The flagrant foul has long been a call that has bothered me.

The following is the rule directly as it appears in the text of the NBA rule book:

Section IV–Flagrant Foul
a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul–penalty (1) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.
PENALTY: (1) Two free throws shall be attempted and the ball awarded to the offended team on either side of the court at the free throw line extended. (2) If the offended player is injured and unable to attempt his free throws, the opposing coach will select any player from the bench to attempt the free throws. (3) This substitute may not be replaced until the ball is legally touched by a player on the court. (EXCEPTION: Rule 3–Section V–e.) (4) The injured player may not return to the game. (5) A player will be ejected if he commits two flagrant fouls in the same game.
b. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpret-ed to be unnecessary and excessive, a flagrant foul–penalty (2) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.
PENALTY: (1) Two free throws shall be attempted and the ball awarded to the offended team on either side of the court at the free throw line extended. (2) If the offended player is injured and unable to attempt his free throws, his coach will select a substitute and any player from the team is eligible to attempt the free throws. (3) This substitute may not be replaced until the ball is legally touched by a player on the court. EXCEPTION: Rule 3–Section V–e. (4) The injured player may return to the game at any time after the free throws are attempted. (5) This is an unsports-manlike act and the offender is ejected.
c. A flagrant foul may be assessed whether the ball is dead or alive.

Now allow me to review how this reflects on yesterday’s play of Ronny Turiaf fouling Ronnie Price during Game 4 of the West semifinals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz. Turiaf was awarded a flagrant foul–penalty (2) which is defined as, “contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpret-ed to be unnecessary and excessive.” Was the foul unneccesary, no. Was the foul excessive, no. SO HOW WAS IT A FLAGRANT 2? The foul was a body foul and there was absolutely no contact to the head of Price. The only contact came from the body and a bit on the arms of Price. Let’s also not forget that Price was the one running into him, it’s not Turiaf’s fault that he’s seven inches taller than Price.

The impact of Price hitting the floor was quite bad as he has a small body and was out of control. Although the foul came after the officials had already blown the whistle, if Ronny just turned around and let Price continue on, it would’ve been an “+1″ and potentially a three point play. Who let’s things like that happen in the playoffs. Unnecessary and excessive are very clear words. The way that this foul was interpreted by the officials, even after reviewing the video of it, is that Ronny Turiaf did not need to foul Price in this situation, and that his foul was extreme and over the top. WHAT A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT.

Let’s suppose for a moment that it was a flagrant foul. If the flagrant (2) foul is deemed as “unsportsmanlike conduct” than said player is to be ejected. Was Ronny Turiaf’s play unsportsmanlike? NO. ESPN later reported with the following:

Price, who finished with four points, two assists and a block in Utah’s 123-115 overtime victory, said he didn’t think Turiaf was trying to hurt him.

“Those kind of plays happen in the playoffs,” said Price, who needed four stitches to close the cut.

With all this said Mr. Commissioner, I have added another item to your list this summer. Perhaps it is finally the time that this league avoid transforming into the WNBA and the guys that are paid millions of dollars a year finally start playing like men. Go meet with the referees and explain to them that you can’t throw guys out simply because the tried to stop a lay up in a playoff game that is so tight. It just doesn’t make sense, speaking of which, does this have anything to do with Tim Donaghy? Was that him sitting on the sideline taking bets from the Mormons?

PS. Also to come in the future. penalties for flopping… Matt Harpring really drives me crazy!!!

HYPE IT UP!!

This entry was posted on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 4:54 pm and is filed under NBA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.