Hard fouls, physical play and the annual complaints about officiating in the media are the order of the day. It must be NBA playoff time.
Let’s not forget the few “playoffs are fixed” charges that we are sure to hear.
Here is just a sampling of how the intensity level rises when the playoffs roll around. It’s not for the faint of heart.
*In just four games against the upstart Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat players had already experienced a number of meltdowns. In Game 1, forward Udonis Haslem was ejected for throwing his mouthpiece at veteran referee Joe Crawford. That’s just gross. He was suspended for a game. Forward James Posey also was suspended for a game for a vicious cheap shot against Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich. Centers Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning have been berating game and league officials. To top it off, veteran Gary Payton and young star Dwyane Wade had several heated verbal exchanges in the Heat’s Game 4 loss last Sunday. Why is Payton on this team anyway?
*Denver’s Reggie Evans gave new meaning to low-post defense against Los Angeles Clippers’ center Chris Kaman by reaching between Kaman’s legs and squeezing his private parts in Game 4 of their series. An enraged Kaman shoved Evans to the floor and received a flagrant foul on the play. Evans was later fined and charged with two flagrant fouls for his despicable actions.
Said Kaman, “I felt I got a little violated by another man.”
*The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns have gotten into a few dust-ups during their first-round series. Steve Nash got tangled up with Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic in Game 1. In Game 3, Luke Walton clotheslined Suns forward Tim Thomas while Kwame Brown laid a forearm smash that floored Boris Diaw. Each melee seems to end with Most Valuable Player candidates Kobe Bryant and Nash jawing at each other face to face.
*Washington Wizards’ center Brendan Haywood officially welcomed Cleveland’s LeBron James to the playoffs with a hard foul, taking down the 21-year old star in Game 2 of their series. James’ teammate, Damon Jones, responded by calling Haywood a “baby” after the play. Haywood retorted by ridiculing Jones’ lack of playing time in the series.
*Sacramento strongman Ron Artest and San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili have been jousting throughout their hotly-contested series. Artest drew a one-game suspension for clocking Ginobili in San Antonio’s Game 1 blowout victory. Ginobili actually drew blood in the first quarter when he caught Artest with an elbow, knocking him to the floor for several minutes.
*With five minutes left in Game 4 of the Detroit-Milwaukee series, Pistons guard Rip Hamilton nearly took Bucks guard Mike Redd’s head off with a swinging elbow. Hamilton’s elbow catches Redd in the cheek. Hamilton received a substantial fine for his flying elbow.
And folks, these are only the first-round games. What’s going to happen as teams advance and get closer to the championship round?
The SportsEye also had a few other revelations:
*Phil Jackson can really coach.
*Kobe Bryant can really play team ball. After the Lakers defeated Phoenix in Game 3 last Friday night, he spoke with friggin’ gorgeous ESPN reporter Lisa Salters after the game. In less than two minutes, Kobe used the word “we” 10 times in the interview.
*LeBron James will be allowed to take four steps on every game-winning drive to the basket.
*Another George Karl-coached team broke down mentally in the playoffs.
*The Chicago Bulls have a tremendous young backcourt in Ben Gordon and Hinrich.
*Elton Brand is a star and the Clippers are a factor.
*The Sacramento Kings might be the second best team in the West.
