Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:30 am EST

Dirk Nowitzki clobbers Andrei Kirilenko

By J.E. Skeets

My understanding of Soviet-German relations is a little rusty, but I believe the roots of this flagrant foul lie in the appointment of Detlef Schrempf as NBA All-Star in 1993. Schrempf’s hatred of pterodactyl-like defense and his crude ideas of basketball imperialism -- expressed in the pursuit of the three-ball -- made lanky Soviet Union players a natural enemy. He passed his hatred on to Nowitzki.

In all seriousness though, Kirilenko was taken to the hospital for X-rays, which showed no break. He has a sprained right hip, will be re-evaluated this afternoon and is listed as day-to-day. Hopefully your fantasy team will survive.

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208 Comments

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  1. Chris M
    1. Posted by Chris M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:48 pm EDT

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    that foul is a clear flagrant two. it is ridiculous that dirk wasn't thrown out of the game. hopefully he'll get suspended for such reckless behavior.
  2. Blake Murphy
    2. Posted by Blake Murphy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    That was a worse foul than Horford on Ford a few months back, so I wonder if the outcry will be as large. It didn't really look like Dirk was making a play at the ball, just trying to save an easy basket. I wish the NBA would find a way to crack down on hard fouls beneath the basket - it's cool that it's a physical part of the game and all, but those are long falls players are taking.
  3. chen
    3. Posted by chen Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    No-win-ski should be suspended! I hope Dallas loses in the first round just like last year.
  4. Sky P
    4. Posted by Sky P Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:26 pm EDT

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    I agree with all of the above comments, that's a clear flagrant 2- Dirk should definitely be suspended. I don't think there was any malicious intent, it's just that we all make bad decisions sometimes, and that was one of them.
  5. khandor
    5. Posted by khandor Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    If you've played or coached the game then ... what you can see in this clip is that Dirk actually lost his own balance while turning in the air, in reaction to his mis-timed and poorly angled shot block attempt vs AK47's layup.
    A hard foul? Yes.
    A flagrant foul? Probably.
    An intent to injure foul? Not in the least.
    If Dirk hadn't lost his own balance ... and been forced to 'reach out' towards Kirilenko just to (i) break his own fall, and (ii) avoid missing AK completely ... the actual impact of Dirk's play would have been neglible.
  6. Blake Murphy
    6. Posted by Blake Murphy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    Ya but Khandor, that doesn't justify it or make us less likely to have played/coached. It is a player's responsibility to be in control of his body at all times - losing your balance might be a good explanation, but it's not an excuse
  7. khandor
    7. Posted by khandor Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    Freeze the frame at 0:44 ... 0:45 ... 0:46 and 0:47.
    You will see that when Dirk left his feet initially ... he did not anticipate AK taking a dribble but, instead, going straight up for a layup (or a dunk attempt).
    At 0:46 you can see Dirk jumping straight up in the air for a regular shot block attempt.
    The problem happened when AK took his pivot step and a dribble before elevating for his shot AND
    AK's left leg/hip collides with Dirk's lower leg ... throwing Dirk off balance and spinning/turning him around in the air ...
    which is when ... Dirk then reaches out ... to grab AK's shoulder ... and attempts to break his own fall on the play ... with the help of Kirilenko.
    An unfortunate set of circumstances for all concerned ... but, in now way a dirty play by Dirk.
  8. Odenized
    8. Posted by Odenized Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Khandor - thanks for the breakdown. Still, given the way the foul happened, Dirk should have been tossed. Intension matters little when you commit a flagrant foul like that.
  9. Tyler M
    9. Posted by Tyler M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

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    Dirk sucks I hate this, its bad enough ak sicks lately now hes hurt sitting on my bench great!!!
  10. Blake Murphy
    10. Posted by Blake Murphy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    That's a great breakdown, and it is clear there was no intention. My point was that it's not an excuse, and that the NBA needs to find a way to handle this problem in general. I know Dirk isn't a dirty player, but accidents (see: Ford) happen and it's a scary part of the game.
    Anyone have ideas for potential solutions outside of making flagrant calls more en vogue?
  11. Chris M
    11. Posted by Chris M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:48 pm EDT

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    And at 48 you see Dirk refuse to let go of AK and throw him to the ground. Ridiculously reckless play that should (hopefully) lead to a suspension.
  12. slimysnot
    12. Posted by slimysnot Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    khandor, there are some problems with your breakdown...
    when dirk falls, he GRABS kirilenko [not exactly aiming for the shoulders]. if you actually freeze the frame you can tell how unnatural dirk's hands are positioned. the way he bent his arms, he's not aiming for his shoulders , arms or the ball, instead he aimed for AK's body and tried to pull him down.
    if you watched the first 6 minutes of the game (before this foul). You'll noticed that dirk is already building up his anger by slamming the ball onto the ground every time utah made a basket. this was an obvious release of his frustration on AK.
    unforunately dirk didn't get penalized further because he has an agressive owner that will back him up.
  13. Jono Bacon
    13. Posted by Jono Bacon Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    If Horford got a game, then chokerski has to get one too.
    Just because you got faked out of your shoes does not make you less responsible for your actions.
  14. ondrwyzr
    14. Posted by ondrwyzr Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:45 pm EDT

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    It wasn't just nowitski's hard fowl on ak47. didn't anyone notice how physically tuff dallas was playing against the lakers. There were many flagrant fowls, especially by dallas' center, that the old referee, cant remember his name, didn't call. i don't think he can see anymore.
  15. ondrwyzr
    15. Posted by ondrwyzr Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:45 pm EDT

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    it wasn't just nowitski's hard fowl on ak47. didn't anyone notice how physically tuff dallas was playing against the lakers. there were many flagrant fowls, especially by dallas' center, that the old referee, cant remember his name, didn't call. i don't think he can see anymore.
  16. LaMar
    16. Posted by LaMar Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    The perp should be shot at half time.
  17. AHor
    17. Posted by AHor Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:47 pm EDT

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    "Intention matters little when you commit a flagrant foul like that"
    You're absolutely wrong. The difference between a flagrant 1 and a flagrant 2 deals with the INTENT to cause harm. Therefore, if you don't think he had intent, you should agree that it is flagrant 1, regardless of how ugly it may have appeared or the injury that resulted. If Al Horford wasn't a rookie he probably wouldn't have gotten a one game suspension for his foul on Ford. At least in my opinion he didn't appear to be aiming for Ford's face. He took a swat and caught his head, and then Ford hit the floor hard. You can't use injuries or falls as determination as to whether or not there was intent, you have to look at the contact between the two players, and only that.
  18. ninarschramm
    18. Posted by ninarschramm Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:39 pm EDT

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    Dirk nowitski is a jerk. And should be suspended for alot of games, watch the video! It was intential. Dirk knowitall was mad because jazz kept taking the ball from him. wrong way to pay back nowitski sucks!
  19. Kobe 24
    19. Posted by Kobe 24 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT

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    It's not "Ball don't lie" but it should be named "Hips don't lie"...
  20. Kobe 24
    20. Posted by Kobe 24 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT

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    it's not "ball don't lie" but it should be named "hips don't lie"...
  21. ILL WILL
    21. Posted by ILL WILL Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    Andrei Kirilenko is a dirty player as well. a taste of his own medicine.
  22. D&J G
    22. Posted by D&J G Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    s
  23. mgame901
    23. Posted by mgame901 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    Very funny Kobe 24. Dirk : although I don't hate him like some of you - I definitely agree he should have been tossed out. Imagine that it was Ron Ron or anyone else besides a handful of superstars. They would all be kicked out + suspension.
  24. Shaun
    24. Posted by Shaun Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    It never fails, Dirk bashing galore. Why does everyone hate Dirk? Dirk isn't the type to intentionally hurt a player. Kudos to khandor.
  25. sam g
    25. Posted by sam g Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:01 pm EDT

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    Dirk actually said that he was trying to pull AK down, he just felt bad that he grabbed his neck. The fowl was intentional, it probably wasn't malicious, but Dirk was not just trying to brace himself for the impact. look up his interview, he says it himself.

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