The way Smart flopped on the last play makes me think this was a flop job as well. No way a flagrant IMO
Yea it was...While Smart didnt get the brunt of the elbow...the chin music was enough warranting that flagrant.
It was a flagrant because harden himself said it was and the refs made the right call. I know he's being PC but got to side with the offender here.
A flagrant if the refs are going to keep it consistent with other inadvertent elbows but not intentional. Flagrant calls these days are weak imo and the reviews definitely slow down the game especially with how long they take.
I didn't like it but it was the right call. Should have been offensive foul on the last missed layup by Boston also by I Thomas
Agreed 100%. It was definitely Harden's triceps that connected with Smart before the FLOP occurred. It was absolutely an offensive foul but the flagrant/common foul line is very blurred in these types of situations. I was surprised they changed it to a flagrant at such a pivotal moment in the game.
I agreed with the call...and then to drive me even crazier Harden raised his elbows AGAIN when he grabbed the final rebound the clinch it SMDH
Exactly. Had Horford made that easy layup, there will be more posters here be labeled as Harden haters also. Truth / Facts do not change, its just a matter whether you want to open your eyes or not.
It was not. Sooner or later you can't even play the game of basketball without every movement being a flagrant. What sissified league.
Well, Harden says it was a good call. Close thread. "I shouldn't (have) thrown an elbow," Harden said. "The refs made a good call." http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/Rockets-hang-on-to-beat-Celtics-10709978.php
Didn't think it was a flagrant, offensive foul yes, but Smart flailing back was the reason they called it a flagrant. Harden was being fouled and extended the ball away from the defenders and to create space, I don't think it should be a flagrant unless he was trying to elbow Smart, which it didn't seem like he was.
Based on the rules it is. Harden is protecting the ball then Smart comes over and he turns around and his elbow meets his face. The move Harden made is a legit basketball move to protect the ball. When you do that move and elbow someone in the face it becomes a foul. That's fine. It should remain a foul IF the player did not see that player. You can't judge intent. Harden does not have eyes on the back of his head, so he does not see Smart move his head towards his elbow.
They also reviewed Isiah's take down of Montrezl and Horford's traveling and both were suppose to go Houston's way, but were not called by the officials.
