Does anyone have an extended gif that shows the reaction, when LeBron stands there for a little while afterward? The video on the first page cuts it off every time, from every angle.
This was a good block especially the situation, the game, etc. But, was this much noise made about Nate Robinson's block on LBJ?
Love the play, but it's true Splitter was having control problems and might have bricked it anyway. You can see his fingers come off the ball long before he meets Lebron's swat. So Lebron has amazing timing and strength, but he was essentially just knocking the ball away from a lose to nonexistent grip. If Splitter had better or bigger hands, or a good grip, he might have pushed lebron's arm back a bit. Good job, Lebron, in any case. Really fun play to watch, if you're not Splitter that is.
Love the people trying to down play this block. Splitter had gone full Shawn Kemp mode and the hand of God seemed to come out of no where and stop him and the ball in their tracks. The dunk could have invigorated the the entire team, your relatively unknown center throws one down on the greatest basketball player in the world, and then you realize hey we just came back from 18 down in the 4th qtr in an earlier series. Instead the block is a turnover that turns into a 3 for Miami. This was on the biggest stage of all, not second round of the playoffs or regular season. Either way it doesn't mean much unless the Heat win it all, just like Tonys heroics in the first game.
Love the people who can actually type that Tiago Splitter has anything like a "Shawn Kemp mode." I actually think of Splitter more as a Daryl Dawkins type of center, but I'm nitpicking. Not downplaying anything. It was an absolutely incredible block in the NBA finals, the greatest possible stage. That's a fact. It was technically a small forward blocking a center who had incredible momentum to the basket. That's a fact. It was also a block in a blow-out game against a mediocre player who didn't have a good grip on the ball (unless fingers coming off the ball while in flight looks like a good grip to somebody -- not me). Those are also facts. but whatever. I know in modern parlance you have to be on someone's jock or otherwise a "haterz!1!!!" Meh. analysis =/= hate. Am enjoying the replay and laughing at Splitter, who is not exactly one of my faves. I did however find a video of Splitter dunking in a previous game. Not bad actually. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TtJawsitMsA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
This block will go down as one of if not the greatest in postseason history, regardless of the outcome of this series. Can't take that away from him with qualifiers, so quit down playing.
It was an amazing block, best I can recall watching live. It won't mean anything to LeBron and the Heat if they do not get a ring this season. LeBron strives to be the GOAT, he needs more rings to get there, not amazing blocks in Finals series loses. Enough with this Splitter was loosing the ball bs too, are you saying he would have missed the dunk if LeBron wasn't there? Splitters arm was cocked and he was ready to throw down with some force he just meet an immovable object. "The block wasn't that good because splitter is white and was fumbling the ball" yeah... alright... and you are saying you are not a hater?
That block totally drove the Heat, from a mere 19 point lead to a 19 point victory only 8 minutes later. Awesome. new caption: Lebron's block was the greatest block of all time, of all time....
The Tayshaun Prince block was a great one and it beat the Pacers. I hated it, but I respect it. A very good play is a very good play. But an all-time great play would be one that affects the game, wouldn't it? It is to me anyway.
Well, depending on who wins the series we have 2 iconic plays to show. The Tony Parker buzzer beater and the Lebron block. The loser's play will be fast forgotten.
Whatever dude.... His grip takes nothing away from that play. Lebron man handled that block. Splitter coulda had that b**** superglued to his hand and that was still gonna turn out ugly for him. Daryl Dawkins type of player??? Are you joking? Dawkins would have broken Lebron's arm.
Right? I had my pants off and everything, just like Sactown and most of the other respondents to this thread.
