[2007 NBA Finals] Cleveland Cavaliers vs San Antonio Spurs

Delaney swallows whistle to allow LeBron to shoot, Bowen's hands are completely off him before he begins his shooting motion, LeBron then wants that no-call to become game-deciding charity. Uh....no. Lots of credit to Delaney for doing the right thing and allowing the players to determine the outcome.

Don't play for the cheap foul - play for the win. If there was a whistle, it should have been for two.

It sure is. The 60s/70s Celtics were a dynasty, but you never hear about the 80s Celtics being referred to as a dynasty. If you want to call it an "era" okay, but saying we're in a Spurs dynasty dating to 1999 is a farce, since there was a legit dynasty 2000-2002. A dynasty isn't off and on. You are on top (not just up there) for a series of years. Without a single back-to-back, the Spurs aren't a dynasty. Maybe there should be a name for it (it is something how good they've been), but I can't think of one.

Evan

 

Oh yeah, I found his post game interviews to be brutal as well. Brutally HONEST. Hey, the truth hurts sometimes but I tend to forget that a lot of Rockets' fans don't want the truth - they want fantasy (this is a legitimate CHAMPIONSHIP team). And the owner certainly doesn't want to deal with the truth as witnessed by his off season moves so we all get to pretend now. Not to worry. I'm sure Uncle Les has decreed that Adelman is to blow sunshine and roses up everyone's ass next season so you should be freed from dealing with the "pain" of truth. That way you will feel better watching San Antonio go for another championship next year. Maybe we can blame that on JVG as well...

 

I see lil contact by bowen, the dribble, bowen fouling, lebron about to dribble with his left hand but the ball never left his hand and shoots.

 

First, your video is not available.

Second, I have taped the game.

Third, if you dont see the dribble, u better see the optometerist and have a new pair of eyeglasses.

 

Apparently you have never seen a continuation play. Letting the players determine the outcome is one thing, but Lebron was clearly hacked on this play. Game deciding charity? Riiight...

 

Man, that's exactly what I see, and people still try to argue it's a 3 shoot foul. And there was a dribble between the foul. How can someone claim there's continuation!?

 

EVERYBODY gets away with murder as the officiating is simply horrible. That offensive foul called on Ginnobli was bogus as well. The game was there for the Cavs to win and they did not take it. Simple as that.

No, the problem that Stern & the NBA face is that the players coming in simply aren't that skilled or mature. I blame a lot of this on all of the kids leaving college early or skipping college and coming into the league directly from high school. There simply aren't a lot of players who come into the league after maturing and honing their skills in college and it shows in the lack of fundamental basketball knowledge and understanding of how to play the game. This, to me, is the primary difference between the players of today when compared to the players of old. Whereas before guys came into the league more or less ready to play pro ball, now they are coming into the league expecting to somehow develop as time goes on and many of them simply get lost in the equation. It also explains why the foreign players are coming to dominate now because they are fundamentally better prepared for the pro game.

And as for the so-called Horry foul costing Phoenix the series, give it a rest. All Amare & Andrew had to do was stay on the bench and they wouldn't have forced the imposition of the rule. I listened to Stern on the Dan Patrick show and the rule is clear. There was no ambiguity to it whatsoever. You'll notice that none of the Spurs charged the court. In reality though, there's simply no guarantee that the Suns would have won that series even if the suspensions didn't happen given the fact that the Spurs were the superior defensive team. And as we are seeing, it's been the superior defensive team that winning the Finals.

 

this should work.

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mRI9a0R__Cc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mRI9a0R__Cc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

 

regardless if its 3 free throws or 2, lebron shouldve been at the line. It was a foul by bowen and it looked intentional.

so lebron would then make the 1st and miss the 2nd to give them another opportunity for a putback. And considering they outrebounded the spurs on both sides there would seem to be a better chance for a putback than lebron hoisting a 30 ftr.

However it shouldve never came down to the end. Lebron was very passive the whole game until the end. They didn't cease the opportunity in the 1st qtr where they couldve easily built up a double digit lead as the spurs played horrible.

But how many times have we heard that and it still comes down to a controversial play at the end.

The NBA needs to have instant replay in the last minute of the 4th and ot in order to correct human mistakes.

 

the dribble is at the 00:21 mark.

If u have the whole game, u can see a close up of the play before Bowen and LBJ run out to the 3 point line, Bowen clearly tried to grab LBJ before the ball bounce to the floor in that one dribble. And dont even think the refeere didnt see it, he's right beside. the refeere let them play on because it's a 2 shoot foul.

 

Oh, I'm well aware of the league's typical 10 sec rule in regards to continuation. It's fairly ridiculous. File that away with the 5 allowable steps on the way to a dunk traveling loophole. The NBA does not often act as a good model for how to officiate a basketball game. I say this having worked for 4 years as one.

Saying LeBron was "hacked" is laughable. At no point during the entire act of shooting does Bowen touch him, let alone affect his shot. When Bowen did touch him while he was dribbling, it was just enough to count in two-hand-touch football leagues.

Try to imagine that play unfolding in a pick up game. Who in the world would ever try and call foul? Yes, it's not streetball we're talking about here, but I find it awfully ridiculous that people take a history NBA Superstar (BS) calls and feel they are in the rule books. LJ's 4-pt play with the Knicks was ridiculous and a bad call. What happened last night was the right call.

Maybe this went against typical NBA play-calling, but Delaney won't be criticized by anyone in the league or ref offices, he'll be praised. Fantastic no-call/no-call.

Evan

 

It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks and Adelman qualifies as an old dog. We'll see, but I doubt he will be roses and sunshine all season when the microphone is in his face. He isn't that kind of guy. If we hit a tough skid mid-season and Adelman is snappy and grumpy for a few days in a row, I want to see the reaction here.

 

I don't think any sensible fan will have a problem with that. What bugged a lot of people about Van Grumpy was that he seemed to be in a pissy mood no matter what. Seriously, he didn't even seem happy after that 50-point drubbing of Philly.

 

The officials have sucked all series, period. I thought bad calls went against both teams, but more went against the Cavs. I don't know what officials are doing anymore. With all the offensive fouls when people are flopping around, but no personal foul for attempting to grab someone by the arm.

 

Brent Barry said, "It's the first time Bruce really tried to foul and didnt get the call." LMAO!

 

something needs to be done with the officiating..its been sucky this whole season..to the point where its pathetic..either have 5 officials instead of 3..or allow slow motion replay...or just hire better officials..cuz i'll admit..some of the calls they make are pretty impressive.but most of the time..it seems that they are watching a different game out there.

 

Solid. It's the lure of guaranteed 1st round money when it's available. Guaranteed contracts and the youth movement have hurt the NBA product. It's why, IMO, the league is so dependent on it's top 15-20 most popular stars (not necessarily the best players) to carry the league. Right now, the NBA is very fortunate to have an abundance of marketable stars or it's popularity in the U.S. would be sinking even faster.

 

bowen is still fouling him(has hand draped on the arm) as he makes that last dribble, if they call it at that point, he doesn't take another dribble and goes up with it. If so, it's 3 shots to tie the game. If they call it as early as they could, yes it would have been 2 shots but there's no guarantee when the foul gets called.