I have to say that all season long I have made it a priority to NEVER turn off the TV until the game is over, no matter how much we're losing or winning by. Tonight, as soon as Artest was ejected for a run-of-the-mill foul, I turned off the TV, slammed my laptop shut, and immediately left my apartment to clear my head and have some fun. Disgusting.
Combine that with these, and you can see it was just a hard foul with no follow-through or malicious intent. What these pics don't show, though, is that he got the ball before the arm. That's what really makes this a non-flagrant action. This should be completely rescinded to a PF, but you know that won't happen. If they don't at least reduce it to F1...
the only reason the refs gave was they thought ron hit pau's head. now the pics clearly show they're wrong, they'd make it a regular personal.
To be fair: 1) Vujabitch foul on Von was really offensive foul by Von. Von clearly jumped into Vujabitch (who was trying to avoid the contact). 2) Vujabitch foul on Battier and made him bleed...incidental contact. He hit the ball first. 3) Kobe elbow to Ron, Kobe got lucky he missed Ron's throat by inches. Even Kobe would have been suspended 1-2 games if he had hit Ron in the throat or head. 4) Fisher got what he deserved, but like I said that hurts the Rockets if Fisher isn't there. See AB in Game 3. 5) Ron's Flagrant 2 in Game 3 was due to several things: a) 3 players fouled Pau at one time b) There is no need for a hard foul in the last minute of the game. We should just have conceded that basket. c) The game was already out of reach I'm glad that Ron was ejected because he might have done something worse to REALLY get suspended or the Lakers bring in mBenga to deck Artest so they both get suspended. Lakers don't need mBenga, we need Ron.
Uh, bigger picture is, and a few people have mentioned this...it is NOT ok for OFFICIALS to TAKE SOMEONE OUT of a GAME (which a flagrant 2 does) for a FOUL that is at most a good hard foul (or flagrant 1 if you like sissy ball). You can't affect the outcome of a game like that for a ridiculous call. It meant nothing here because the game was already over but it sets a bad precedent for doing it in the future, and it may not come at the end of the game next time...it may come in the middle.
I missed the game last night but am waiting for the vids to come up. if the pictures are fair representation of what happened last night, the NBA may have lost a long time fan in me. the rockets can't win the series playing 8on5. the refs are rediculous.
This is what the refs explained to Ron. They only called the Flagrant 2 because it was the end of the game and Gasol landed awkwardly. If it was in the middle of the game, he would have just gotten a Flagrant 1. Refs were just diffusing the situation in a game that was already over. That's why Ron was so "cool" about the flagrant 2...they actually took the time to explain it to him fully.
I also think it helps US that Ron got ejected and rescinded to Flagrant 1. The refs will give him MUCH Mroe slack in Game 4
