MYSA: Bryant hit by NBA for swipe

[ponky]

Well, I was more focused on Kobe's forearm antics. He popped Dirk if you don't remember with his "unnatura"l forearm motions. I guess it just varies on how you sell the call. Manu's flopping was usually just annoying (if you're the opposing team). Obviously Kobe's "fraudalent" antics weren't anything special, he's one of dozens of players who wise up on how to sell a foul. He just happened to have Manu's head at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sucks for him. And the Lakers. But the players will adjust. Manu did. Mostly because of the equal chances of causing injury to himself.

Yeah I remember that pop on Dirk but whatever, happens. Manu's flopping usually is just annoying but it has resulted in unnecessary injury as well, Barbosa and like you said, it's bad for Manu as well. I don't agree with the suspension but I hope it does lessen all the flailing, I hate it, even when Dirk does it. For me, it's about past my bedtime, I'm usually in bed by 5 AM! Have a great day!

[Cry Havoc]

Yeah, Phil's such an ass. What's wrong with him? I never really get why he comes off so badly in his comments. It's like he's blind to his own statements.

Doubt he cares. He's used to bullying officials around. He's used to having his players unequivocally ge the benefit of nearly every call. Shaq and Jordan -- two players who would probably each be in the top 5 in NBA history for favorable officiating in their careers. Phil is probably shocked that Kobe doesn't get -as many-, although he still gets a few here and there.

Phil strikes me as the type of coach who's almost in a bubble. He's focused on his team and convinced he's just going to do and say whatever he wants and people will back down.

I'd like to see the league slap a nice 6 digit fine on him, shut him up a bit. If that doesn't calm him down, toss him for a couple games. The league really doesn't need his mind games, especially after the Finals last year.

[RonMexico]

Can't sleep - back to msg board for some tidbits.

Thoughts: #1 - Kobe getting suspended might be in line with this possible league policy of penalizing floppers. That was a perfectly-timed and extremely clean block and Kobe's flail was just part of the degenerative nature of rewarding players for flailing antics in recent years (D-Wade, Dirk, Kobe, Manu included). I have to think that this suspension was probably to send a message because of the severity of the hit. Stu Jackson hit it on the head when he called it an "unnatural act" because it is not part of the normal shooting motion for a player to jacknife his body like that and throw his arm horizontally.

#2 - Phil Jackson needs to stop with this "world is against us" routine out there. Pop is probably the opposing coach in the league I have the most respect for (it could be me or him, but I feel his personality has changed a lot since 2002 - he seems to scream less on the sidelines and he's adopted the casual shirt with sport coat wardrobe), but I just can't stand Phil's aloof and holier-than-thou at ude anymore. I loved how Jack McCallum described him as having a chair that is higher than the rest of the bench "officially because of his hip problems, but most likely because he feels he deserves to sit higher like a king on this throne." His quote: "a non-basketball player probably made this decision" is just asinine.

[picnroll]

I think we can lay to rest the theory floated by many that Bryant was simply fishing for a foul. Even Ginobili who virtually never calls out an opponent, Melo, Artest, etc. was basically saying that that forearm went way beyond a flail for contact. Anyone who watched the replay with two eyes open could see that. No way you throw a forearm down hard and way to the back and expect to be getting a call. Kobe was pissed and react instinctively to get even. Compe ivenes gone wild.

[timvp]

I think we can lay to rest the theory floated by many that Bryant was simply fishing for a foul. Even Ginobili who virtually never calls out an opponent, Melo, Artest, etc. was basically saying that that forearm went way beyond a flail for contact. Anyone who watched the replay with two eyes open could see that. No way you throw a forearm down hard and way to the back and expect to be getting a call. Kobe was pissed and react instinctively to get even. Compe ivenes gone wild.

So you think Kobe got mad that his shot was blocked and punched Manu in the face?



It's clear as day to me that Kobe was trying to draw the foul.

[whottt]

There's no doubt that Manu took a wicked elbow, but I just don't see that Kobe was intentionally trying to hit Manu in the face...and he did show concern once he saw Manu on the ground.

[ArgSpursFan]

So you think Kobe got mad that his shot was blocked and punched Manu in the face?



It's clear as day to me that Kobe was trying to draw the foul.

I think he got mad.I don´t think he tried to hurt him,but it was still a faul.

[King]

If you guys could pass on the trick behind playing in slow motion, I'd love to hear it. Because everyone in the NBA plays in real time. And I don't think that Kobe had the thought process of 'turning to punch Manu in the face to get even' or 'maybe if I punch him, I'll knock the ball loose and get another chance at a shot' all before he landed a jump.

And it's hilarious to me that people say that Kobe was intentionally trying to hurt Manu on a play that looked anything but intentional - but argue to the death that Bruce is just playing tough defense when he goes underneath a player in the air.

[picnroll]

So you think Kobe got mad that his shot was blocked and punched Manu in the face?



It's clear as day to me that Kobe was trying to draw the foul.

You and not Pop, Manu, Stu Jackson. I never saw somebody fising for a foul by hammering a forearm 45 degrees back and down. He got pissed that it was blocked and reacted in anger. You never saw that happen on the court.

[picnroll]

If you guys could pass on the trick behind playing in slow motion, I'd love to hear it. Because everyone in the NBA plays in real time. And I don't think that Kobe had the thought process of 'turning to punch Manu in the face to get even' or 'maybe if I punch him, I'll knock the ball loose and get another chance at a shot' all before he landed a jump.

And it's hilarious to me that people say that Kobe was intentionally trying to hurt Manu on a play that looked anything but intentional - but argue to the death that Bruce is just playing tough defense when he goes underneath a player in the air.

There's a youtube replay on LG that has it in slow motion for the visually impaired (timvp).

[Kori Ellis]

You and not Pop, Manu, Stu Jackson. I never saw somebody fising for a foul by hammering a forearm 45 degrees back and down. He got pissed that it was blocked and reacted in anger. You never saw that happen on the court.

"It's probably just a natural movement for a shooter coming down," Popovich said. "I doubt Kobe would do that. That's not his style."

[whottt]

The comments about Artest not apologizing are funny...Manu knocked the living out of Artest, and Artest was clearly retaliating. @ Ron didn't apologize.

[King]

There's a youtube replay on LG that has it in slow motion for the visula impaired (timvp).

I understand how to watch a video that's been slowed down. But, a lot of you are thinking there was some grand malicious thought process that went behind Kobe's hitting Manu. When the point from where the shot is blocked to when Manu is hit actually probably took less than a half second.

[boutons_]

Kobe most often after a shot like to pose and preen and taunt with his arm in the air.

It was a pressured shot, he wasn't really squared up and balanced. I can't see how the violence of his arm swing was only a reflex to regain his balance. I'm sure he knew whoever had blocked his shot was right next to/behind him.

"unnatural" was a good term

but "draw a foul" doesn't fit.

I'm going with malice Suspension deserved.

Kobe blew his only appearance to showboat in MSG this season.

.

[picnroll]

"It's probably just a natural movement for a shooter coming down," Popovich said. "I doubt Kobe would do that. That's not his style."

Ludden
Popovich initially said after Sunday's game he thought Bryant's action was a "natural movement for a shooter coming down." But that was before he saw a replay of the incident.
Seems pretty clear to me along with Manu's statement of the three things he knew. Pretty clear Manu isn't giving Kobe a pass after seeing the replay.

[Kori Ellis]

Bottomline is that they are trying to cut down on two things .. flailing/flopping and shots to the head.

This was both.

Now let's see what happens when the next person is hit above the shoulders or hit hard elsewhere on a flop/flail.

If they call it consistently, I have no problem with it.

But I doubt they will.

[Kori Ellis]

Ludden
Popovich initially said after Sunday's game he thought Bryant's action was a "natural movement for a shooter coming down." But that was before he saw a replay of the incident.
Seems pretty clear to me along with Manu's statement of the three things he knew. Pretty clear Manu isn't giving Kobe a pass after seeing the replay.

It was reported yesterday that when the league called Manu, he said he thought the play was an accident and that Kobe shouldn't be suspended. *shrug*

[picnroll]

Bottomline is that they are trying to cut down on two things .. flailing/flopping and shots to the head.

This was both.

Now let's see what happens when the next person is hit above the shoulders or hit hard elsewhere on a flop/flail.

If they call it consistently, I have no problem with it.

But I doubt they will.

I think the key is "unnatural act". To me they're implying it was intentional and intentional with more than just fishing for a foul intent. I doubt your average Dirk flail for a foul, even if it makes contact with a head, will draw a suspension. Evwen the one that Laker fans have ed about where Manu hit Artest was a natural running, arm pumping motion. A strangely thrown elbow/forearm to a guy standing behind you will.

[Kori Ellis]

I doubt you average Dirk flail for a foul, even if it makes contact with a head, will draw a suspension.

If it's an elbow that's hits above the shoulders, it's supposed to be an automatic ejection.

According to recent articles, they don't consider flailing and flopping a "natural act" either. They are trying to cut back on it.

[picnroll]

If it's an elbow that's hits above the shoulders, it's supposed to be an automatic ejection.

According to recent articles, they don't consider flailing and flopping a "natural act" either. They are trying to cut back on it.

Cool. Thre goes the Mavs playoff chances.

[whottt]

, it's a good thing Manu never flops or uses his elbows to clear space...otherwise I could see this rule having a signifigant impact on the Spurs.

[picnroll]

Actually in case you hadn't noticed Manu's been flopping and flailing a lot less of late.

[whottt]

Compared to who?

[picnroll]

Dirk

[Sportcamper]

Is it true that the Motion Picture Academy is creating a new category for performance in flopping in honor of Manu Ginobili...