NBA '08 Playoff Thread

Yeah, he wasn't in the act of shooting. At worst, it would've been a tie game.

It all depends on your viewpoint, really. In the truest definition of a foul, yes, Barry was fouled. But, how many times (even on threads here) do people say refs should let the players decide the outcome.
When they showed the replay, it the guys on the TNT crew (Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson) all agreed that it was a good no-call because Barry tried to shy away from the contact and didn't sell it. In fact, if you look at the replay, Barry doesn't even lose his balance on the contact.

 

As Phil just said, Fisher's shot looked like it hit the rim from that below-the-rim angle, which would have meant the Spurs would have had to foul with 5 seconds left.

This was very similar to the end of Game 3 of the Finals last year when Bowen actually tried fouling LeBron - and succeeded - on a last-second three, but it wasn't called. Bowen was trying to keep the 3 from being shot but it wasn't called there either.

 

So, in other words, don't flop ... unless you actually want a call to be made. Then you have to flop.

 

Fischer's ball definitely hit the rim. So I have no problem with the end result of things. And San Antonio did shoot 26 free throws to LA's 19. But I'm sure all that will be ignored by the grumpy Spurs fans as they claim conspiracy.

 

Flopping on offense works at the end of games more than flopping on defense works during it.

 

Well, FWIW, Popovich pretty much defused everything in the postgamer, from what I could see. Said it wasn't a foul and he had no problem with the no-call.

 

I just saw that, and it's one more reason why, as much as I loathe most of the Spurs, I continue to have a soft spot for Pop.

 

Yeah, the only thing I can find to hate about the Spurs (other than they whine a little TOO much) is that they're always good.
I have respect that they don't ever lean on excuses as a crutch. They've been an impressive dynasty and I hope the Lakers are able to close them out Thursday night.

 

I'm a little confused so forgive me if I'm wrong, but are you saying that Fisher was trying to foul in that situation? Because there's no way that was the case. Up 2, why would you want to put an automatic FT shooter on the line? Plus Fisher actually just made a really dumb play leaving his feet; not the way you'd try to foul a guy.

As much as I hate flopping, Barry has to there. Like the TNT guys said, it's a foul if he sells it. How many times do see a guy pump fake and then just launch himself into the defender (if you've been watching Det-Bos you've seen guys like Pierce, Billups and Hamilton do it repeatedly) to get the call. That's all Barry needed to do. Whether he got fouled, he had to know he wasn't going to get a good look when he was in that spot. Go all-out for the call in that situation.

 

I worded it incorrectly. No, I wasn't saying that's what Fisher was trying to do. Obviously he wasn't trying to foul when they don't have any to give. Was just saying the play itself was very similar as far as how it played out in the final second; LeBron was almost in the same position as Berry, a controversial no-call made, also involving the Spurs but from the other end of the play, etc.

 

So, what do you guys think of the Lakers-Spurs series?
Can the Spurs win two in L.A.?
I'd offer my opinion, but I said L.A. in 5 or 6 earlier and you all chastised me. And, you were probably right cuz I am a Lakers fanboi.
So, I wanted some honest opinions.

 

Right about now, I'm thinking that Lakers-Celtics series so many people dreamed about when the playoffs began is going to happen. I like the Lakers' chances with three games to close out the Spurs, and I've never been completely sold that the Pistons could make the finals. I never liked seeing the Celtics and Lakers in the finals growing up, but oddly enough, that's what I would like to see here.