Once again in this game, LeBron James was hammered by an opponent. This time it was the Celtics' James Posey, who yanked James to the ground after being left in his wake on a drive to the hoop in the first half. Call it a clothesline, call it horse-collaring, call it what you want, it was as unnecessary as it was dangerous. Posey was beaten; James was on his way. Rather than live with it, Posey grabbed James and sent him to the hardwood. "OK, you're actually a lot better than me, but take THAT!"It's become standard practice in today's NBA. Mind you, while the league is populated with some of the best athletes in the world, it does not exhibit the best brand of basketball from a fan's perspective. That resides at the collegiate level, where, for example, help defense is allowed without resulting in fouls being granted to dribblers plowing their way to the hoop; pushing, shoving and hacking are treated as rules violations; traveling is a no-no; a charging foul is a charging foul; and "continuation" is treated as the stupid concept it really is.
But this is the NBA. Referees' decisions are often as perplexing as they are brilliant. Home teams get calls, visitors don't, and everybody knows it. (One imagines there are clauses to that effect in the NBA Rule Book, presuming one exists.) In Saturday's game, not only was it puzzling to see Posey plead his case with the officials -- this after his imitation of an NFL linebacker taking down a receiver exposed over the middle -- it was startling to hear ABC's broadcast team of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy debate whether it was a flagrant foul or not. Jackson called it a "hard playoff foul."
In what universe are basketball players taught to grab people and throw them down? Is there a DVD series I don't know about that teaches mugging as defense? (Come to think of it, there may be a marketing opportunity there for Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn or Maurice Lucas.) Young players are taught to play defense with their feet and beat their opponent to a spot. In the NBA, players simply stand still and then whack people once they're beat. It's bush.
In what universe are basketball players taught to grab people and throw them down? Is there a DVD series I don't know about that teaches mugging as defense? (Come to think of it, there may be a marketing opportunity there for Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn or Maurice Lucas.) Young players are taught to play defense with their feet and beat their opponent to a spot. In the NBA, players simply stand still and then whack people once they're beat. It's bush.
Mind you, the Celtics are playing team defense, and aren't, as a rule, resorting to the tactics employed by the Washington Wizards in Round One. But Posey's move was shocking. James is 6-8, 260. Guys like that don't go down easily. LeBron hit the ground like a calf on the wrong end of a rodeo cowboy's rope.
The only way to stop it -- not that David Stern and the NBA seem particularly concerned about that -- is to eject players who do what Posey did then suspend them for a game. Minus that, guys like James are sitting ducks.
Players are resorting to this with James for two reasons: 1.) They know his outside shot is inconsistent, and 2.) they know they can't stop him from going to the basket. It's why he led the league in scoring. It's why he's so good, for crying out loud! If he's not hitting jumpers -- and thus far in this series he hasn't been -- then defenders will be tempted to pound him every time he goes to the hoop. In the permissive world of the NBA Playoffs, it's allowed, so why not?
This isn't just a LeBron James thing. Basketball is supposed to be a game of skill, of athleticism, of artistry. For the purist, it's what makes the game great. It's what makes a James, or a Kobe Bryant, or a Magic, Bird or Jordan so enthralling to watch.
Taking that away by allowing muggings on a near-nightly basis only serves to minimize the beauty of the sport.
The only way to stop it -- not that David Stern and the NBA seem particularly concerned about that -- is to eject players who do what Posey did then suspend them for a game. Minus that, guys like James are sitting ducks.
Players are resorting to this with James for two reasons: 1.) They know his outside shot is inconsistent, and 2.) they know they can't stop him from going to the basket. It's why he led the league in scoring. It's why he's so good, for crying out loud! If he's not hitting jumpers -- and thus far in this series he hasn't been -- then defenders will be tempted to pound him every time he goes to the hoop. In the permissive world of the NBA Playoffs, it's allowed, so why not?
This isn't just a LeBron James thing. Basketball is supposed to be a game of skill, of athleticism, of artistry. For the purist, it's what makes the game great. It's what makes a James, or a Kobe Bryant, or a Magic, Bird or Jordan so enthralling to watch.
Taking that away by allowing muggings on a near-nightly basis only serves to minimize the beauty of the sport.
