The 2006 NBA Playoffs thread

[Anil]

I think you're going too far when you say it's "unethical". Why is it unethical when it's a legitimate tactic of the game? If Shaq doesn't want to see that ploy, THEN START MAKING FREE THROWS. A team needs to use whatever advantage it can get. Would I prefer that Dallas was strong enough to not use Hack-a-Shaq? Yes. But they're not and it's a legitimate tactic. There is one point I would agree with you on. It's WHEN Dallas started using the Hack-a-Shaq. It made no sense to foul him in OT when the Heat weren't in the penalty yet. That was just wasting fouls for no reason.

true...shaq's free throws are becoming a joke in these finals....29.5%...ridiculous! it's like his vision is starting to become blurred at that distance or something??!! can't blame the mavs for "hacking" him at every opportunity and putting him on the line...why doesn't a thorough professional and a great champion like him go to the practice court and try to improve on that is beyond me...it's not like it's an impossible task or anything, lesser players are doing it with far greater ease....

 

[Sanz]

Shaq is as professional a Basketball Player as they come. If it were in his control, he would have fixed it. It seems to me that Free throw shooting doesn't come naturally to some players, Shaq is not the only one, Great Players like Wilt Chamberline, Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace etc have had problems with it. Infact Ben Wallace is the worst FT shooter in the History on NBA. Even a guy like Bruce Bowen who is a pretty good shooter, struggles with FT shooting.

Anyways, although I think it's a negative tactic, I dont have any problem with teams using it. IMO it reflects more on their inability to defend Shaq and I have seen in over teh years, it doesn't work majority of the time. Teams that have beaten Shaq's team (e.g. Spurs/ Pistons Vs. Lakers) didn't need Hack-a-Shaq.

 

[Sanz]

C: I disagree with M&M's analysis here, but that (non)call didn't really bother me that much.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2006/news/story?id=2492756

DALLAS -- The NBA said Tuesday that there was no backcourt violation on the play that led to Dwyane Wade's winning free throws in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

After the Miami Heat's 101-100 overtime victory over Dallas on Sunday night, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said an assistant coach showed him a tape that led his team to believe that Wade should have been called for a turnover when he caught an inbounds pass to begin the possession.

"My understanding from the rule book is, if you are going to catch the ball in the backcourt, you have to be in the backcourt to catch it," Cuban said.

Not true, according to Rule 4, Section VI, which deals with frontcourt/backcourt.

Replays showed that Wade leaped near midcourt to catch the ball in the air, landing with possession in the backcourt.

Part of the rule states that, "frontcourt/backcourt status is not attained until a player with the ball has established a positive position in either half during a throw-in in the last 2 minutes of the fourth period and/or any overtime period."

Because Wade was in the air when he caught the ball, league spokesman Tim Frank said his position wasn't determined until he landed. And since another rule allows for the ball to be thrown into the backcourt at that time, there was no violation.

 

[Fusion]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2006/news/story?id=2492756

DALLAS -- The NBA said Tuesday that there was no backcourt violation on the play that led to Dwyane Wade's winning free throws in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

After the Miami Heat's 101-100 overtime victory over Dallas on Sunday night, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said an assistant coach showed him a tape that led his team to believe that Wade should have been called for a turnover when he caught an inbounds pass to begin the possession.

"My understanding from the rule book is, if you are going to catch the ball in the backcourt, you have to be in the backcourt to catch it," Cuban said.

Not true, according to Rule 4, Section VI, which deals with frontcourt/backcourt.

Replays showed that Wade leaped near midcourt to catch the ball in the air, landing with possession in the backcourt.

Part of the rule states that, "frontcourt/backcourt status is not attained until a player with the ball has established a positive position in either half during a throw-in in the last 2 minutes of the fourth period and/or any overtime period."

Because Wade was in the air when he caught the ball, league spokesman Tim Frank said his position wasn't determined until he landed. And since another rule allows for the ball to be thrown into the backcourt at that time, there was no violation.

Ok it's legal to catch the ball in the back court but not when you are established in the front court. It is the same as being out of bounds and having to establish yourself back in bounds before you touch the ball. The half court line is there for a reason just as the out of bounds line. Until you establish yourself in the back court by your feet touching the floor you are still considered in the front court. The rule is that in the air your position is defined as where you last touched the ground. If that does not apply here, are you saying that a player could jump from out of bounds and in air receive an inbounds pass ? I simply disagree with NBA's interpretation of this play. I am no expert of course, so I'm probably wrong. But once again, I didn't have that much of a beef with that call. I'm still riled up about the Wade foul call.

 

[Fusion]

Cuban gets fined $250 K for Game 5. Dirk got fined $5K. Avery is also expected to be fined. I think all 3 were justified in their anger, just not the way they displayed it. Anyway, if there was ever a time the Mavs could develop a "bunker" mentality, this is it. I hope they channel their anger into the court and pull off the improbable.

 

[Sanz]

I like Coach Johnson, big fan of his. But Common, Nobody can justify Avery's rant against the reporter. He repeatedly attacked the Reporter so much that made him him fumble in his speech. I hope Coach gets fined big time for his outburst against the guy. And this one I saw on MSN Video, you gotta watch it to know how bad he was with the guy.



What was your impression of Wade's drive to the basket when he got the free throws?

You tell me. What was your impression?

Unfortunately nobody cares about my impression.

No, you tell everybody here. You tell us. What was your impression?

My impression was he got two free throws out of it.

No, that's all right. That's a political answer. So let me ask you the question again. What was your impression on that play? We're waiting.

Did he get fouled?

I'm asking you the question. What was your impression?

I don't know what to say. What do you want me to say?

No, I want you to give everybody an honest answer. We have people from Israel and Minnesota, Chicago, all over, Dallas, Germany.

 

[Sanz]

I'm still riled up about the Wade foul call.

That Wade call wouldn't even been called had the timeout was awarded to Dallas after the 2nd Free Throw. All this talk about Wade violating the backcourt, Wade not being fouled etc are a way to provoke fans and very ir-responsible behavior by Mr. Cuban. If Mr. Cuban is so interested in making the officiating better then he should speak up at all times rather than making a hue and cry on occasions when his team is at the receiving end.

Didn't Dirk get a similar call against SA (in 3/4 game) ? Why didn't Cuban speak then ?

Sorry, I think Mark is speaking purely as a businessman whose sole interest is to make more money out of his franchise. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13444089/ - Read the above link to find out, Mark speaks only when his team is at the receiving end.

 

[Sanz]

That said, I still think MAvs are going to win the title.

 

[Fusion]

I like Coach Johnson, big fan of his. But Common, Nobody can justify Avery's rant against the reporter. He repeatedly attacked the Reporter so much that made him him fumble in his speech. I hope Coach gets fined big time for his outburst against the guy. And this one I saw on MSN Video, you gotta watch it to know how bad he was with the guy.



What was your impression of Wade's drive to the basket when he got the free throws?

You tell me. What was your impression?

Unfortunately nobody cares about my impression.

No, you tell everybody here. You tell us. What was your impression?

My impression was he got two free throws out of it.

No, that's all right. That's a political answer. So let me ask you the question again. What was your impression on that play? We're waiting.

Did he get fouled?

I'm asking you the question. What was your impression?

I don't know what to say. What do you want me to say?

No, I want you to give everybody an honest answer. We have people from Israel and Minnesota, Chicago, all over, Dallas, Germany.

I saw the video. The reporter is Eddie Sefco of the Dallas Morning News. He's the lead reporter for the DMN covering the Mavs. Avery knows him very well as he covers the team every day. While I do not condone Avery approach, I highly doubt Avery would've taken that stance with a "random" reporter he didn't know. I think he thought Mr. Sefco was a familiar face and let his guard/best behavior down and engaged in that questioning. Incidently, what do you think of the reporter trying to bait Avery into saying something against the refs?? Look it didn't reflect great on Avery, who's usually a class act, but I do think the fact that Avery knew the reporter makes it a little less harsh.

 

[Fusion]

That Wade call wouldn't even been called had the timeout was awarded to Dallas after the 2nd Free Throw. All this talk about Wade violating the backcourt, Wade not being fouled etc are a way to provoke fans and very ir-responsible behavior by Mr. Cuban. If Mr. Cuban is so interested in making the officiating better then he should speak up at all times rather than making a hue and cry on occasions when his team is at the receiving end.

Didn't Dirk get a similar call against SA (in 3/4 game) ? Why didn't Cuban speak then ?

Sorry, I think Mark is speaking purely as a businessman whose sole interest is to make more money out of his franchise. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13444089/ - Read the above link to find out, Mark speaks only when his team is at the receiving end.

Yeah during the season Cuban keeps tracks of all questionable calls against the Mavs. But he has brought accountability where there was none before. Did you know that AFTER Cuban started keeping video records of the officiating and started drawing up charts etc, the NBA STARTED TO DO THE SAME?? Why wasn't the NBA interested in evaluating its officials before Cuban got involved? The local radio station here had the former head of the NBA referees' association (Mathis) and he said Cuban deserves a lot of credit for bringing accountability and better training techniques as it relates to the refs. This is one of the head NBA refs talking, so judge the source. I have said before that I intensely dislike Cuban's antics, as they bring embarrasment to the team. But that doesn't make him wrong. His MESSAGE is right, it's just the way he preaches it that's wrong.

 

[Fusion]

That said, I still think MAvs are going to win the title.

Sanz, you are one of the very few. If it happens, your lunch is on me!!

 

[Buddhmaster]

Dallas and Nowitzki on fire early in the first quarter

 

[Fusion]

Congrats to the Heat. Champions of the NBA. This is the last post you'll see from me for a while as I recover from deep depression.

 

[Buddhmaster]

Wade had a great first half, missed the second though.

 

[Sanz]

Sanz, you are one of the very few. If it happens, your lunch is on me!!

Well I guess, I owe you the Lunch then. Mavs started well only to give it all away. In anycase I see a great future for this Dallas team and I hope they win the Championship next year.

I started following Miami Heat only after Wade was drafted in 2003 and then started rooting for them since Shaq got there. I am so happy for two guys - Gary Payton and Mourning. These guys deserved to win a championship.

 

[Sanz]

Miami Heat - DWade is the future of NBA. Pistons wont make to the conf finals. Ginobli cant carry Spurs on his shoudlers alone, Duncan is a choker, Dallas will win the Western Conf and finally beaten by the Big Fella aka Shaq-a-Laqa-Boom Boom boy from east.

*rant over*

*Ahem* Someone predicted this before the playoffs started.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Duncan's a choker?

It's the Mavs that choked. Miami weren't even that good a team.

 

[Dravid]

Refrees cause the game again. I forgot who took the last shot, I think it was Jason Terry..but but I remember Gary Payton pulling his jersey when he was going upwards into the shooting motion to shoot that three. If the refs were alive on that play, that is a shooting foul since he got the ball out of his hand, thus being rewarded in three free throws. So yes I hate the @$%^&% refs. In my opinion this series had more mistakes by the ref then the entire playoffs

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Refrees cause the game again. I forgot who took the last shot, I think it was Jason Terry..but but I remember Gary Payton pulling his jersey when he was going upwards into the shooting motion to shoot that three.

At least he didn't pull on his dreadlocks. [/World Cup reference]

 

[Sanz]

Refrees cause the game again. I forgot who took the last shot, I think it was Jason Terry..but but I remember Gary Payton pulling his jersey when he was going upwards into the shooting motion to shoot that three. If the refs were alive on that play, that is a shooting foul since he got the ball out of his hand, thus being rewarded in three free throws. So yes I hate the @$%^&% refs. In my opinion this series had more mistakes by the ref then the entire playoffs

Yeah Yeah Yeah, If nothing else works, blame the refs.