What is wrong with the NBA? How did it get this way?......

[KillerKat]

This morning I wake up and tune in to ESPN. They were covering the NBA playoffs. All I saw was street fighting. One player from the Magic smacking the back of the head of another player from the Celtics. A player from the Lakers running at another player and intentionally elbowing him to the ground. Another player punching another player going for the ball. A player elbowing another in mid air as he was about to go for a lay up. Kobe Bryant accidently elbowing Ron Artest, then Artest going hysterical and then running in Kobe's face tell him "f*ck you" over and over.

How the hell did it get like this? How has it come to this point where players are intentionally throwing punches, elbows, cursing each other out as if nothing will happen?

[Murph]

Huh? Where you been the last 25 years?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJoNIW5GBMM[/ame]

[dimbee]

Detroit Pistons- The Bad Boys.... this was going on when you were born... it's nothing new

[King Taharqa]

Its called the "PLAYOFFS". Its intense and guys get bonuses, bragging rights, and other perks for winning so its no surprise guys are getting physical. IMO, this is what seperates the NBA from other basketball leagues. The physicality is what makes our players the best in the world. Id rather see guys going at it and getting chippy in tight games than 20 point blowouts and guys not trying hard anyday.

[Delhommey]

And what's with all this fighting in hockey?!!!

[dimbee]

BTW, I have absolutely no problem with increased physicality when it matters most. I mean, they are competitors. If they didn't turn everything up to 11, I'd be disappointed

[tarheelblue89]

Joining this argument pretty late... but the biggest problem in the NBA right now are the dumb flagrant one and flagrant two fouls. What is the difference? I understand the difference between the two, one you stay in the game, two you are tossed. But Artest was called for a flagrant two at the end of game three, now they brought it down after the game which is even more ridiculous, but I'll get to that later. So ya he gets a flagrant two for making a hard play on the ball. He was clearly going for the ball, was it hard? Hell yea it was hard, but it is the playoffs, if you are going to foul a guy you better make sure you foul him hard.

Then we can go back to Game 5 of the Bulls/Celtics series, when Rajon Rondo hits Brad Miller in the face cutting his lip open. Flagrant one or Two? According to the refs he was making a play on the ball. He was trailing the play and he swung his around all the back and just swung at Miller. Now we have been seeing that after the game players have been hit with fines or the flagrants have been upgraded or downgraded, nothing for Rondo. Now we go to Game 6 when we all remember when Rondo threw Hinrich into the scores table... obviously a flagrant two, right? Nope he gets to stay in the game even though he tried to seriously injury a key member on the opposing team.

Then back to game two of the Lakers/Rockets series, Fisher was rightfully suspended for game 3; however, IMO there was no reason whatsoever that Artest was tossed, all he did was get in the face of Kobe, did he throw any punches? Nope, what did he call Kobe a bad name, sorry I forgot that these were men and they could take some name calling.

Ok now on to the fact that the NBA keeps upgrading or downgrading the fouls. What the hell was the point of giving Kobe a flagrant one after the game was over? What so that if he gets a couple more flagrants he can't play anymore? Well that's all and well but how about the refs doing their jobs and give the flagrants during the game where they matter.

Now switching gears and addressing the NBA apologizing for a missed call in the Mavericks/Nuggets game 3.

Why? What does this do for Dallas? Nothing. Was it a foul? Probably. Did the ref screw up? Probably. But it was a missed call, last time I checked they happen in every single NBA game there is. By apologizing, IMO it makes the loss even worse.

I still love the NBA but some of the stuff that keeps on happening is just getting pretty sad. Thanks for reading.

[Kevin Greene]

Unfortunately you caught ESPN sensationalizing hours of quality playoff basketball games with 2 minutes of crap. Prolly next they went to the latest Brett Favre updates I would imagine.

[pstall]

You know what drives me MORE INSANE in the NBA?

When a dude leaves his man for no reason and gets burned on the kick out for the EASY 3.

NEVER EVER NEVER leave your guy ESPECIALLY when he can stroke.

That sends me over the edge every time.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

You know what drives me MORE INSANE in the NBA?

When a dude leaves his man for no reason and gets burned on the kick out for the EASY 3.

NEVER EVER NEVER leave your guy ESPECIALLY when he can stroke.

That sends me over the edge every time.

The lack of team defense and ball movement really does make some games unwatchable.

[Darth Biscuit]

The lack of team defense and ball movement really does make some games unwatchable.

Ding, ding, ding... the lack of basic basketball is the problem. Rampant traveling, superstars getting superstar treatment. A punch is not a foul in this game, but a touch is a foul in the next... I've honestly tried to sit down and watch it, but I can't. How else do these playoff teams get beat by 40 and 50 points? They quit when they're down, and why shouldn't they, it doesn't matter, particularly in the reg. season...

ESPN had that playoff promo thing on with LeBron (who I really like watching) doing a dunk and the tag line says "what's next" or something like that... watch the video, he CLEARLY takes three steps in the open court... no call, I don't even think the ref was looking at the game... and this is a promo!

[X-Clown]

The lack of team defense and ball movement really does make some games unwatchable.

And yet, every spring that the Spurs won NBA chamiponships doing those exact same things, fans complained that it was "boring".

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Ding, ding, ding... the lack of basic basketball is the problem. Rampant traveling, superstars getting superstar treatment. A punch is not a foul in this game, but a touch is a foul in the next... I've honestly tried to sit down and watch it, but I can't. How else do these playoff teams get beat by 40 and 50 points? They quit when they're down, and why shouldn't they, it doesn't matter, particularly in the reg. season...

ESPN had that playoff promo thing on with LeBron (who I really like watching) doing a dunk and the tag line says "what's next" or something like that... watch the video, he CLEARLY takes three steps in the open court... no call, I don't even think the ref was looking at the game... and this is a promo!

The NBA and MLB have far too many games, and it makes them all nearly meaningless. I really wish they would cut back NBA games by half. But that would hurt Kobe's salary.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

And yet, every spring that the Spurs won NBA chamiponships doing those exact same things, fans complained that it was "boring".

Everyone hates the Spurs because they're "boring". They're one of my favorite teams right now because they play the right way. Too bad they're all over the hill now.