Apparently you can hit Mike Bibby as often and as hard as you want, and it’s not a foul.
I noticed that. It’s especially important when said hit, if called, could change the game (for the worse) for the Lakers.
(Seriously, the referee was looking right at them. If it wasn’t a foul, I’m not sure what really is.)
No, it’s just a rule for the Lakers. Especially if it’s Kobe Bryant.
-schemmy
I noticed that, too. It’s almost enough to convince me that the refs had instructions from the NBA front office to ensure the proper outcome of the game (proper, of course, from a ratings perspective).
Almost.
Whiners!
I can’t stand the Lakers, but I still watched the game.
Regarding the nose whack, perhaps Bibby shouldn’t have been hooking Kobe (also a foul) during the the attempted inbound. And don’t tell me it wasn’t a hook, because I watched it a few times on my PVR. One foul both ways on a bang-bang play, officials decided to make it a “no-call”. Lakers will lose game 7 anyway.
That rule is right under the one that says Shaq can ram his 350 pound ass into the guy standing behind him, make some room, turn around and slam it in.
He doesn’t do anything that other players in the post don’t do. Watch Webber back down Horry or Divac ram his buttocks into Walker in the post, they are slamming them around and driving their shoulders into them. The only real difference is that Horry and Walker don’t scream and fall to the ground every time the slightest contact is made and then look completely when nobody buys their flopping routine after 12 years 
That said, the officiating was ridiculous tonight and the Kings got the short end of the stick. But I consider a big giant make-up call after the terrible officiating that went against the Lakers in the other games. I also think the Kings are going to beat the Lakers in Game 7, unless the Lakers start hitting open threes, which they haven’t been doing the entire series.
All this is indicative of how truly terrible the officiating is in the NBA, no semblance of consistency in foul calls, stars getting preferential treatment, etc.
My favorite part was a few seconds after that elbow (which was only the most flagrant in a long series of obvious bad- and non- calls). Jim Grey steps up to Shaq and Kobe and compromises his only redeeming qualities (his assholish persistance and apparent total lack of tact) for the greater glory of the NBA and his employer, the NBA’s prison bitch, NBC.
“Hey Shaq, you are a greek statue and the ultimate pinnacle of athletic talent, could you activate my gag reflex please?”
“Kobe, tell me about how someone could be so totally awesome as you are from the free throw line and still be so fucking hot.”
I’m paraphrasing.
I am so sick of the NBA and it’s continued lack of respect for me as a sports fan. Is the revenue flowing from a seventh game worth sacrificing a professional sport’s credibility?
I’m going to tell you it wasn’t a hook because it wasn’t a hook. For fuck’s sake, Bibby wasn’t even holding on to Kobe until after he got an elbow smashed into his face. After that, yes, he sure as hell was holding on to Kobe.
I don’t know if the “hit Bibby till he crumples” thing is a rule, but it has certainly been a theme this series. Fortunately, the Kings got a taste of getting smacked around from the Jazz before playing the Lakers, so it wasn’t a shock.
BTW, as a Mavericks fan, I don’t have much love for the Kings, but they got ass-reamed by the refs. Good thing Mark Cuban wasn’t there, or his favorite charity would have gotten a huge donation.
Almost, like hell. Thus it is, was and always shall be. Wilt Chamberain was never called for fouls or walking, and neither were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson or Michael Whats-his-name.
Hah, if the Lakers make it to the finals (I hope not), let’s see them do some of that nonsence against the Nets and get away with it. Either the refs or the Nets will take care of it.
Nonsense? Which nonsense was this? Kobe was using a swim move to try and get by Bibby, who had his face pressed against Kobe’s chest while hooking Kobe, and accidentally hit him. Just like when Christie got fouled twice by Kobe…he had his face right up against Kobe and Kobe accidentally clipped him trying to swivel. If you don’t want to get hit, don’t stick your face in there.
Secondly, I hope to God the Nets try to “take care of it” should the two meet in the Finals. It could only help the Lakers for Martin to get ejected and then suspended for a few games, because I’m assuming that’s what you are talking about.
Neurotik, spoken like a true Laker fan.
Have you seen the Nets’ series? The refs were actually calling offensive fouls. A lot of them, in favor of the Nets. That’s a sign that their defensive style is getting respect in the league. If the Lakers think that they are going to diva and bully the Nets to submission, they got another thing coming. The Nets are too fundamentally sound and handle pressure well and execute their offensive and defensive schemes. That’s what I mean by the Nets taking care of it.
capacitator, spoken like a true Nets fan (who I’ll be cheering for if the Lakers go down, btw).
I have indeed been watching the Nets-Celtics series. Every game so far. The Nets are a very good team that execute defensive and offensive plays very well.
But, quite frankly, I don’t see the Lakers trying to bully the Nets into submission, since they didn’t try to bully the Kings into submission (well, except for Shaq, but that’s par for the course). The Kings weren’t getting lots of offensive fouls because the Lakers didn’t really drive to the basket very often. In fact, except for Kobe and Shaq, the other starters were mostly sitting out on the perimeter waiting for the three. Hard to get offensive fouls that way. My guess is that the Lakers will play the same style should they get past Sacramento (my guess is they won’t) and play the Nets and the result will be less offensive fouls against the Lakers. The Celtics, on the other hand, drove to the basket fairly regularly resulting in more chances for offensive fouls.
My guess is that if the Lakers can somehow get past the Kings, they will defeat the Nets as well, since the Nets play a very similar up-tempo style to the Kings’ style of play. Should still be a very good series.
Hey, somebody’s got to take over for Ahmad Rashad and Michael Jordan.
“Gulp”
remember when thinking a Kings/Nets NBA final would get you a one way ticket to the looney bin?
IT may still be that way so NBC reminded the NBA who pays their checks.
Oh come now…Jim Grey is completely fair with his sycophancy. I believe his question for Webber in the postgame interview went something along the lines of:
“Chris, even though the Kings lost the game, you still had an incredible performance…do you think it is your incredible shooting touch or your impressive passing skills that contribute more to your ability to shred the Lakers defense?”