Can We Talk About the 6th Foul on LeBron James? He Fouled Out Setting a Screen. Also, Joey Crawford Sucks
By Jason McIntyre
First, some numbers on LeBron fouling out of Game Four against the Pacers. Indiana won, 99-92.
* It was the first time he’s fouled out of a game in the 2012-2013 season.
* The last time LeBron fouled out of a game? June 3, 2012 against Boston in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston won, 93-91.
* LeBron has now fouled out five times in his 10 year career.
The “illegal screen” didn’t really look like one. LeBron, who is 6-foot-8 and one of the freakiest athletes in sports history, has the ability to set a wide screen. It doesn’t appear – to me, at least – as if he stuck his leg out to trip Lance Stephenson. So you could look at this a few ways:
1) You definitely think this is a foul. If that is the case, don’t bother reading on. I’m not here to convince you.
2) You think, after watching the highlight above and the two replays, this is NOT a foul. First quarter or 4th, this isn’t a foul. I’m in this camp.
3) Four-point game. Less than a minute left. How can you call an illegal screen that many will argue wasn’t illegal? And how can you call it on the best player in the NBA, fouling him out?
Anyway, Roy Hibbert was a beast again (23 points, 12 rebounds), Stephenson added 20 points, and the Heat only shot 39 percent, and we’ll have NBA playoff basketball Thursday and Saturday!
Lastly, anyone seen Chris Bosh lately? He shot 1-of-6 last night in another bad game. He has 13 rebounds in the series.
It will be absolutely criminal if Joey Crawford refs one game of the NBA Finals. His crew called 55 fouls Tuesday, and the teams took 60 free throws. They ruined a very good basketball game.