Poll: Duncan Blocked or Fouled Harden (Offiical NBA HD)?

Looked at it again this morning because I thought to myself..... If Harden beat Leonard, and Duncan committed to help defense, and the block came with two seconds left, where was Howard? He was at the rim. Where he was supposed to be. With Tony Parker covering him. Woulda, coulda, shoulda, but the dish was there imo.

 

I was so mad at first...but seeing the replays...great block by Tim. I also have to commend Harden for understanding that a play at the rim is such a high percentage shot. Especially when his shot isnt going down. I am quite happy he attacked the rim. Wish he tried lobbing that pass to Dwight, he really had that alley

 

The fix comes when NBA players make free throws. Then teams will stop. just like a full court press is legal in the NBA. Why don't teams do it though? Because it gets beaten.

 

Just once I want to look at FTs missed and not shake my damn head.

 

near unwatchable is an understatement, it was unwatchable, maybe the single worst game of any teams all year

 

There's a reason why the Rocket broadcast didn't replay that thing in slow motion a million times. I watched the post game and they barely showed it the first 10 minutes and I tuned away.

The only reason people thought it was a foul is because worrell and team went nuts, going so far as to say Harden was "hammered."

Put it this way, that was no more a foul than when Harden bumped Ginobili the possession before and forced the turnover. That's the same bump foul call Harden makes a living off of.

 

Who cares you guys act if the rockets would have one harden had to make two free throws and they had to win in overtime!...harden played like a joke the entire game and can now say goodbye to mvp

 

I would have been fine if it went either way. It wouldn't have come to that if we could make free throws.

 

Hate to say it, but it was a phenomenal defensive play by Tim.

It's not just that he got the ball -- it was that he was able to wait before committing and still get there in time to make the play. If Duncan comes out a split second earlier, the lob to Howard is there. But Tim waited long enough to where the pass to Dwight would've been extremely difficult, and Harden had already made up his mind to attack.

If I have any quibble with the rest of the Rockets on that play, it's with the spacing. Really wish Ariza had stayed out a little higher after inbounding it, because when he went almost to the left corner... that brought both Green and Ginobili (Brewer's guy) into the picture. Harden likes going left, but the step-back wasn't really an option on that play because both Green and Ginobili are occupying the space. Leonard is long enough to where Harden stopping and going straight up wasn't feasible -- he'd have blocked it from behind. Harden had to make something happen on the move, but given where the defenders were, he didn't have a ton of options.

In hindsight, once Ginobili committed, the most efficient play would've been a flip to Brewer for what would've been a teardrop from 5 feet away to win the game. But at the same time, if it doesn't go in, people would be screaming from the rooftops about "HOW CAN HARDEN NOT BE THE ONE TO SHOOT?!? and such. Tough call.

 

Harden should have taken it strong and gone over the top of Duncan.

Frustrating to watch, but Duncan is a HOF player and certainly played like one last night.

Rockets need to push for that 5th seed.

Playing the Spurs right now would be suicidal to our playoff chances.

Would much rather play the Warriors in the second round.

 

I didn't get to see the game but seeing the video I agree it was a foul. That said in a lot of situations like this the ref is going to swallow the whistle and allow the players to decide it. Unless it is something really egregious.

 

Watching the game, I immediately thought it was a foul. Right after the game was over, I replayed the play several times and still thought it was a foul, and also thought it was an amazing play by TD to make the play so close that the refs swallowed their whistles. Damn close. A foul that should have been called, in my humble opinion, but a great effort by both players. It shouldn't have come down to that play. Easily the most hidious game to watch this season, at least for me. I don't know which was worse. Our turnovers, or Pop zeroing in on the guy he instinctly thought was going to miss his free throws and making this game damn near unwatchable.

What was clear to me is that we're in deep trouble. We've lost key pieces of our depth, Beverley and Donatas. The Spurs gave a clinic for the rest of the league on how to beat us. Sure, if so and so did this, or so and so did that, we would have won. Well, we didn't, and it wasn't because we had an off night. We faced a team that operates like a Swiss watch, and played like a Timex with a bad battery. Normally, I'm a very optimistic guy when it comes to the Rockets. I'm not very optimistic about our playoffs chances now.


I wish someone would spoiler their gigantic image on this page. Kudos to the OP for making this a public poll.

 

We lost who cares if it was clean. Next game.

 

Teams that shoot well and can get great shots each possession are going to beat us doing this.

Spurs

The Rockets have shown that they can compete with them, but once they start employing the tactics, the game shifts.

 

Well, he actually did. Look at how the ball spins backwards, and starts rolling down Harden's arm after Timmy gets his hand on it.

Also, look at Harden's left arm trying to clear space. That was one hell of a defensive stop by Duncan.

http://i.imgur.com/6lWzVye.gifv

 

That still pic is a bad shot. Doesn't show that Harden powered through ans was still elevating over that weak 2 inch vertical fingernail attempt of a block. And only couldn't get that shot off because the hack of the arm around the elbow area. I'm a fanatic I have tivo and I've watched that play like for twenty minutes last night.
Anyways we need to clean up are Turnovers
The Spurs are scared of us, have to use gimmick tactics to stand a chance.
The Rockets are not scared of the Spurs. There is no formula to beat us. That hack a crap doesn't work.
Go Rockets!!!!!!!

 

#disgusted

 

This is a true "either way" scenario.

Very tough situation for the referee and quite honestly a case can be made for both sides.

Any Clutchfan who is arguing vehemently FOR Duncan is just going for moral superiority. There has been a lot of that going around recently.

Very tough way to lose, but I accept it.

 

Good block, sucks for us