FloridaGatorforLife
VIP Member
There are good point in the article below.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Thawing out the latest happenings in the week that was in the NBA, a busy one for league disciplinarian Stu Jackson, who didn't do so well, at least in this opinion: [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]1. T.J. Ford took a nasty shot from Atlanta rookie Al Horford late in a competitive game down in Atlanta. Ford picked off a pass and bolted the other way for a layup that would've pretty much put the game away and was fouled hard by Horford, who slapped him hard across the face, jerking him back and forcing him to fall hard onto the Philips Arena floor. The foul was ruled a flagrant as it should've been, while Ford was wheeled off the floor on a stretcher. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Ford was released from the hospital after an overnight stay and will be out at least a week before he tries to resume playing. He's got to take it easy given that the injury wound up being ruled a stinger, the third one he's suffered since May. My buddy Bruce Arthur of the National Post wrote http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=166121 a great piece detailing the risk Ford faces every time he steps on the court. There have to be a lot of life-altering decisions running through Ford's mind right now, but if history is any indication, he figures to lace them up as soon as he's cleared and get back out on the horse. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 2. Back to Horford, who thanks to the play, got an undeserved tag of dirty player. It didn't help that Jackson suspended him for a game for the flagrant foul, which sends a dangerous mixed message. Jackson coached the game, so he no doubt feels a twinge of what Sam Mitchell felt and a little of what Mike Woodson felt watching his rookie have to go through scrutiny. After watching replay after replay of the foul, which Jackson no doubt did as well before passing judgment, it's hard to see where that stopped being a basketball play and became something sinister. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] In my view, Horford simply misjudged the speed with which Ford turned the corner and connected with force at the worst possible instance. Ford, little human roadrunner that he is, was still moving at full speed when Horford, who towers over him by more than a foot, took flight with the ball in mind. Through the magic of freeze frames, you can actually pinpoint the exact moment where Ford is stuck under Atlanta's elevated center, leaving him in complete control. Sounds weird, but from Ford's point of view, his defender had committed and he had yet to go up. He was going to score or get fouled, possibly both. Horford's natural instinct, especially given the size difference and situation at that specific moment, was to chop downward. If it's anyone else, taller, less quick, Horford would've swiped the ball. Instead, every unfortunate circumstance came together to produce a horrific result. Was the foul a flagrant? By sheer nature of it's force, yes. Should he have missed a game because of it? Given that it was a basketball play and after heads cooled, everyone involved, including Ford himself, agreed it wasn't dirty, the suspension was over the top.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/10530112
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Thawing out the latest happenings in the week that was in the NBA, a busy one for league disciplinarian Stu Jackson, who didn't do so well, at least in this opinion: [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]1. T.J. Ford took a nasty shot from Atlanta rookie Al Horford late in a competitive game down in Atlanta. Ford picked off a pass and bolted the other way for a layup that would've pretty much put the game away and was fouled hard by Horford, who slapped him hard across the face, jerking him back and forcing him to fall hard onto the Philips Arena floor. The foul was ruled a flagrant as it should've been, while Ford was wheeled off the floor on a stretcher. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Ford was released from the hospital after an overnight stay and will be out at least a week before he tries to resume playing. He's got to take it easy given that the injury wound up being ruled a stinger, the third one he's suffered since May. My buddy Bruce Arthur of the National Post wrote http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=166121 a great piece detailing the risk Ford faces every time he steps on the court. There have to be a lot of life-altering decisions running through Ford's mind right now, but if history is any indication, he figures to lace them up as soon as he's cleared and get back out on the horse. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 2. Back to Horford, who thanks to the play, got an undeserved tag of dirty player. It didn't help that Jackson suspended him for a game for the flagrant foul, which sends a dangerous mixed message. Jackson coached the game, so he no doubt feels a twinge of what Sam Mitchell felt and a little of what Mike Woodson felt watching his rookie have to go through scrutiny. After watching replay after replay of the foul, which Jackson no doubt did as well before passing judgment, it's hard to see where that stopped being a basketball play and became something sinister. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] In my view, Horford simply misjudged the speed with which Ford turned the corner and connected with force at the worst possible instance. Ford, little human roadrunner that he is, was still moving at full speed when Horford, who towers over him by more than a foot, took flight with the ball in mind. Through the magic of freeze frames, you can actually pinpoint the exact moment where Ford is stuck under Atlanta's elevated center, leaving him in complete control. Sounds weird, but from Ford's point of view, his defender had committed and he had yet to go up. He was going to score or get fouled, possibly both. Horford's natural instinct, especially given the size difference and situation at that specific moment, was to chop downward. If it's anyone else, taller, less quick, Horford would've swiped the ball. Instead, every unfortunate circumstance came together to produce a horrific result. Was the foul a flagrant? By sheer nature of it's force, yes. Should he have missed a game because of it? Given that it was a basketball play and after heads cooled, everyone involved, including Ford himself, agreed it wasn't dirty, the suspension was over the top.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/10530112
[/FONT]
