Anybody want to sue the spurs, Bowen, stack house, Horry, the NBA and all of San Antonio?

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Bah I don't want to hear Warriors crying. You have green who's a talented player but a cheap shot thug too.

 

[Cheesebeef]

And the 4th reason he went down earlier in the game adn even though he got hurt landing on a teammate, the Spurs were accusing the Warriors of dirty play on that one too.

Brown said he asked the refs after 2 of the SA ones that went uncalled in game 1 and both times the ref told him the difference is Steph/Durant didn't land on the guys foot. Yes they extended their foot but since he didn't land on it, it's not a foul, let alone a flagrant foul. Browns' point was you're supposed to consider intent with flagrant fouls, you can get a Flagrant for swinging an elbow, even if you don't make contact.

In game 2 Aldridge on that one play was almost trying to hit Durant in the face with a bluff, and then moved his foot twice to make sure he got it under Durant. KD still avoided it but the shot was a brick entirely because he was worried about Aldridge. That should have been a flagrant, again no contact but the intent was obvious.

They were discussing that on ESPN yesterday and the guys said the same thing, Aldridge didn't do an exaggerated closeout and I started laughing, he acted like he was doing the hokey pokey, left foot in, left foot out, left foot and shake it all about.

That's my fear if the Warriors take game 3, the Spurs are going to be hell bent on vengeance and more guys will do what Aldridge did over and over in game 2 and someone's going to get hurt or ejected for retaliating.

I'm sure the Warriors were aware Kawhi was hurt, I don't think they tried to take him out.

BS. Zaza has become notorious for cheap fouls trying to hurt guys or get them suspended, like he did with KG back in the 2008 playoffs. And they were getting their asses absolutely kicked by Kawai who was destroying them on the offensive end and shutting KD down. And Zaza KNEW Leonard's ankle was a problem dating back to the last series AND they saw he injured it earlier in the game.

You can't legitimately argue that Zaza didn't INTENTIONALLY step into his space there and knowing what EVERYONE knew about the state of his ankle, arguing that Zaza didn't have the idea of hurting Leonard there is nothing but homerism, plain and simple.

 

[Hoop Head]

Zaza is a dirty player, always has been. But almost every team has at least one player his equal or worse when it comes to dirty.

I hate to bring race into this and I'm not suggesting it's racism in any way but race and nationality, IMO, have a lot to do with why so many have taken a shot at Zaza. There would be some slight protection for him (from the sports analysts at least) if he were black, or if he were at least American or even if he were from one of the more "accepted" European nations but as it is, he's a fair target.

European players are often labeled soft, Zaza isn't, so I think that plays a part. Also compare him to Kelly Olynyk. Olynyk is dirtier, with his arm drags, but it's not given near the attention that Zaza has received, even when it cost the Cavs Kevin Love for the entire 2015 postseason.

 

[leclerc]

I hope the Spurs do something stupid forcing the league to do something about Zaza, Kelly and dirty plays/players. Don't let them get away with it. Knock the head off Curry. Clean up the league. Let them play hard and come down on flopping and dirty plays.

 

[Cheesebeef]

European players are often labeled soft, Zaza isn't, so I think that plays a part. Also compare him to Kelly Olynyk. Olynyk is dirtier, with his arm drags, but it's not given near the attention that Zaza has received, even when it cost the Cavs Kevin Love for the entire 2015 postseason.

That's because Olynyk never played another game after the one where he arm barred Love because that was the last game of a sweep. The story moved on because the series moved on, as opposed to this happening in Game 1 of the Conference Finals and it continuing to hamper the Spurs while Zaza keeps playing.

Also, that was the first time olynyk did something like that on the biggest stage and didn't have an entire carreer's worth of cheap shots to lean back on.

 

[Dan H]

It's moot whether Zaza is a dirty player or not. Pop would still be a hypocrite if Kawai had been kneecapped by a choirboy.

The Spurs feasted on rough, riding-the-line of legal play, with guys who were flat-out dirty. That's undeniable. Pop never said word one about when it was winning him championships.

Now one of his guys is hurt and he wants to cry? I. Don't. Care. His chickens have come home to roost.

 

[Hoop Head]

That's because Olynyk never played another game after the one where he arm barred Love because that was the last game of a sweep. The story moved on because the series moved on, as opposed to this happening in Game 1 of the Conference Finals and it continuing to hamper the Spurs while Zaza keeps playing.

Also, that was the first time olynyk did something like that on the biggest stage and didn't have an entire carreer's worth of cheap shots to lean back on.

Sweep or not, that very well could have cost the Cavs the title that year, we'll never know. Love still missed the next 3 rounds due to injury so the story wasn't over just because Olynyk was sent home. The story may have moved on but I know it was brought up a few times during the Cavs/Warriors series that year but it wasn't stated specifically that Olynyk injured him just that Love got injured. That was definitely a dirty play then and it was probably dirtier than what Zaza has done this year. Like Steve said, an American player seems to get more leeway with the talking heads and Olynyk is proof of that. Both are big white centers, one is from Georgia and one is from Canada. I didn't even know Olynyk was Canadian until I looked it up just now, Canadians are treated virtually the same as Americans when it comes to "celebrity bubble" they occupy, except maybe they're viewed as more polite. So of course the pundits weren't as rough on him, despite repeated offenses.

That wasn't the last time Olynyk has done that either, he's done it a few times this year, although not causing serious injury, but he has done it probably a half dozen times so far. He also got dirty with Kelly Oubre and then stepped behind the ref when Oubre went to confront him, making Oubre bump into the official and getting him a suspension. Olynyk wasn't blamed for the dirty play leading up to the confrontation or how he ducked behind the ref causing Oubre to walk right into him. Sure, Oubre isn't the star that Kawhi is but it seems people have forgotten that Kawhi was hobbled coming into this series. It's not like Zaza was the one who initially injured him. Kawhi missed the deciding game 6 against the Rockets because his ankle was that bad plus he was questionable for game 1 against the Warriors anyways.

 

[Hoop Head]

It's moot whether Zaza is a dirty player or not. Pop would still be a hypocrite if Kawai had been kneecapped by a choirboy.

The Spurs feasted on rough, riding-the-line of legal play, with guys who were flat-out dirty. That's undeniable. Pop never said word one about when it was winning him championships.

Now one of his guys is hurt and he wants to cry? I. Don't. Care. His chickens have come home to roost.

Thought I'd throw in some words from Pop regarding Horry hip-checking Nash into the scorers table, which is almost worse than that foul was...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/sports/basketball/16suns.html

"Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich staunchly defended Horry, who is averaging 6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds.

“It was just an end-of-game foul,” Popovich said Tuesday before the ruling was announced. He paused before adding, “and Steve fell down.”

“I didn’t think it was such a big deal,” Popovich said.

After reading that I'm kind of glad the Spurs are in the position they're in. I feel bad for Kawhi because he seems like a standup guy but Popovich has brought this onto himself.

 

[Russ Smith]

BS. Zaza has become notorious for cheap fouls trying to hurt guys or get them suspended, like he did with KG back in the 2008 playoffs. And they were getting their asses absolutely kicked by Kawai who was destroying them on the offensive end and shutting KD down. And Zaza KNEW Leonard's ankle was a problem dating back to the last series AND they saw he injured it earlier in the game.

You can't legitimately argue that Zaza didn't INTENTIONALLY step into his space there and knowing what EVERYONE knew about the state of his ankle, arguing that Zaza didn't have the idea of hurting Leonard there is nothing but homerism, plain and simple.

Right but the only difference between what he did and what Aldridge and others on the Spurs did is Leonard landed on his foot and got hurt. Flagrant fouls are supposed to be about intent not outcome, if you're not making a legit basketball play, or trying to do something thats dangerous, it's a flagrant. they gave Zaza a flagrant, I haven't argued that point. My point is SA has gotten away with a half dozen flagrants since including the play with Aldridge on Durant where he first was putting his hand towards Durant's face and then twice stepped forward to try and get Durant to land on his foot. He actually did wind up connecting with Durants foot. By rule that's supposed to be a flagrant, the NBA has had days to review that play and has done nothing.

They got the call on Zaza right, they can't do any more, they can't heal Leonard. But if they're really worried about that sort of play, and they includes Pop and the Spurs, then call the ones the Spurs are doing too. If you don't call them consistently players will continue to do that.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Sweep or not, that very well could have cost the Cavs the title that year, we'll never know. Love still missed the next 3 rounds due to injury so the story wasn't over just because Olynyk was sent home. The story may have moved on but I know it was brought up a few times during the Cavs/Warriors series that year but it wasn't stated specifically that Olynyk injured him just that Love got injured. That was definitely a dirty play then and it was probably dirtier than what Zaza has done this year. Like Steve said, an American player seems to get more leeway with the talking heads and Olynyk is proof of that. Both are big white centers, one is from Georgia and one is from Canada. I didn't even know Olynyk was Canadian until I looked it up just now, Canadians are treated virtually the same as Americans when it comes to "celebrity bubble" they occupy, except maybe they're viewed as more polite. So of course the pundits weren't as rough on him, despite repeated offenses.

That wasn't the last time Olynyk has done that either, he's done it a few times this year, although not causing serious injury, but he has done it probably a half dozen times so far. He also got dirty with Kelly Oubre and then stepped behind the ref when Oubre went to confront him, making Oubre bump into the official and getting him a suspension. Olynyk wasn't blamed for the dirty play leading up to the confrontation or how he ducked behind the ref causing Oubre to walk right into him. Sure, Oubre isn't the star that Kawhi is but it seems people have forgotten that Kawhi was hobbled coming into this series. It's not like Zaza was the one who initially injured him. Kawhi missed the deciding game 6 against the Rockets because his ankle was that bad plus he was questionable for game 1 against the Warriors anyways.

Olynuk had multiple articles written about the oubre dust up. But the coach didn't go all Pop in the press. It's equivalent treatment. You guys are spinning a story that doesn't exist.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Right but the only difference between what he did and what Aldridge and others on the Spurs did is Leonard landed on his foot and got hurt. Flagrant fouls are supposed to be about intent not outcome, if you're not making a legit basketball play, or trying to do something thats dangerous, it's a flagrant. they gave Zaza a flagrant, I haven't argued that point. My point is SA has gotten away with a half dozen flagrants since including the play with Aldridge on Durant where he first was putting his hand towards Durant's face and then twice stepped forward to try and get Durant to land on his foot. He actually did wind up connecting with Durants foot. By rule that's supposed to be a flagrant, the NBA has had days to review that play and has done nothing.

They got the call on Zaza right, they can't do any more, they can't heal Leonard. But if they're really worried about that sort of play, and they includes Pop and the Spurs, then call the ones the Spurs are doing too. If you don't call them consistently players will continue to do that.

Russ I agree with you more often than not, but if you're trying to argue the league should issue a flagrant any time a player' foot enters the landing space of another player, well, you're just outta your mind.

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ I agree with you more often than not, but if you're trying to argue the league should issue a flagrant any time a player' foot enters the landing space of another player, well, you're just outta your mind.

I already told you the league said it's the outcome on that play that caused it to be a flagrant. That he landed on the foot. So the Aldridge play on Durant SHOULD have been a Flagrant, Durant did in fact land on his foot. They didn't call it because Durant didn't get hurt. The rule is supposed to be intent not outcome, it's not supposed to be if the guy gets hurt it's a flagrant, if he doesn't get hurt it's NOT a flagrant.

They are allowing SA to take cheapshots because they lost Kawhi. While it sucks Kawhi got hurt and ruined the series, that doesn't mean the NBA is supposed to give SA a free shot now to try and retaliate. they've been doing it for 6 quarters now and have not gotten a flagrant for doing it.

They showed a play on tv last night off the ball in the 3rd quarter Warriors up big. Curry was guarding I think Danny Green and in 20 seconds the Spurs set 6 screens on Curry. they weren't involved in the play at all, his man never touched the ball they never looked at him. 2 of the screens were blind screens, all of them were done with one thing in mind, hit Steph Curry, beat him up slow him down. SA does that every time they play the Warriors, Kerr openly complained about it last year he said they're running plays with the sole intent of taking shots at Curry.

So do I wish harm on Kawhi Leonard no, but do I think SA has absolutely no leg to stand on arguing that it was a dirty play yes. It's unfortunate it happened to Kawhi, great player, great guy, but SA is basically a victim of their own style of play.

 

[Russ Smith]

I already told you the league said it's the outcome on that play that caused it to be a flagrant. That he landed on the foot. So the Aldridge play on Durant SHOULD have been a Flagrant, Durant did in fact land on his foot. They didn't call it because Durant didn't get hurt. The rule is supposed to be intent not outcome, it's not supposed to be if the guy gets hurt it's a flagrant, if he doesn't get hurt it's NOT a flagrant. I should add the announcers on tv doing the games and after the games are saying exactly what you said, that it should be a flagrant to put your foot under the air space of a shooter, Van Gundy and Jackson have been saying that for 2 games now that's what they think the rule should be. I think it can and does happen accidentally, I think when it's intentional it's a problem but waiting for someone to get hurt on it before it's a flagrant is a bad idea.

They are allowing SA to take cheapshots because they lost Kawhi. While it sucks Kawhi got hurt and ruined the series, that doesn't mean the NBA is supposed to give SA a free shot now to try and retaliate. they've been doing it for 6 quarters now and have not gotten a flagrant for doing it.

They showed a play on tv last night off the ball in the 3rd quarter Warriors up big. Curry was guarding I think Danny Green and in 20 seconds the Spurs set 6 screens on Curry. they weren't involved in the play at all, his man never touched the ball they never looked at him. 2 of the screens were blind screens, all of them were done with one thing in mind, hit Steph Curry, beat him up slow him down. SA does that every time they play the Warriors, Kerr openly complained about it last year he said they're running plays with the sole intent of taking shots at Curry.

So do I wish harm on Kawhi Leonard no, but do I think SA has absolutely no leg to stand on arguing that it was a dirty play yes. It's unfortunate it happened to Kawhi, great player, great guy, but SA is basically a victim of their own style of play.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't think the refs are letting San Antonio retaliate for the Kawhi injury, I think they're just accustomed to letting them get away with more "aggressive" defense, even if it's dirty or borderline dirty. It's like how the Suns can't get certain calls or get called for certain things other teams wouldn't, we have a history of being an entertaining offensive team that plays little to no defense. San Antonio has at least a 2 decade long history of being the gritty, grind it out, hard-nosed defensive team so plays like that aren't questioned as much when they're executing them.

 

[mojorizen7]

I don't think the refs are letting San Antonio retaliate for the Kawhi injury, I think they're just accustomed to letting them get away with more "aggressive" defense, even if it's dirty or borderline dirty. It's like how the Suns can't get certain calls or get called for certain things other teams wouldn't, we have a history of being an entertaining offensive team that plays little to no defense. San Antonio has at least a 2 decade long history of being the gritty, grind it out, hard-nosed defensive team so plays like that aren't questioned as much when they're executing them.

Thread winner. I was banging the table with this point 10 years ago. This is reality.

 

[Russ Smith]

Local media has confirmed Zaza's kids school had to put in extra security due to threats, including death threats, against him on social media that were taken serious enough they increased security at the school.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Local media has confirmed Zaza's kids school had to put in extra security due to threats, including death threats, against him on social media that were taken serious enough they increased security at the school.

And Zaza blames Pop. Good.