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Ball Don't Lie

Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:15 pm EDT

Some like it rough: Five hardest fouls of the NBA playoffs

By J.E. Skeets

We're only nine days in on 40, and already this year's NBA playoffs has seen its fair share of rough play. Josh Smith is punking Pierce, Carl Landry is losing teeth and D-West can't stop slapping Dirk around. It's like the 80's in long shorts out there. (Slight exaggeration.) But which has been the hardest playoff foul to-date? Cast your vote below. The current top five candidates:

Jason Kidd flips Jannero Pargo, Game 4. Instead of trying to make the block, a lazy Jason Kidd grabs Pargo by the back of the neck and swings him to the court. Incredibly, Pargo wasn't injured on the fall, but Kidd was ejected thanks to a Flagrant-2 foul.

DeShawn Stevenson decapitates LeBron, Game 3. OK, so that's a stretch. DeShawn tries to decapitate LeBron. Still, DS came across the lane and swiped his right arm across the top of James' skull. The hit was enough to knock off the All-Star's headband and send him dropping to the court.

Brendan Haywood shoves LeBron James, Game 2. Following a Game 1 semi-fracas, Haywood pushes LeBron with both hands while the Cavs star is in the air. Haywood was assessed a flagrant foul and ejected from the game. 

Raja Bell semi-clotheslines Manu Ginobili, Game 2. Raja drops Manu to the floor knowing the Suns are 15 seconds away from losing Game 2. Did Manu flop a little? It's tough to tell anymore. Was that little crying boy ever eaten by the wolves?

George Karl moshes with his staff. This was the most intensity from the Nuggets all playoffs.

Vote away!


Which has been the hardest playoff foul to-date?

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[Note: There is a poll within this post, RSS readers. Please visit BDL to cast your vote.]
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343 Comments

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  1. Jon L
    1. Posted by Jon L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    Out of all of these, Kidd's play is the one with the most potential to end someone's career.
    Maybe this is my Wizard's bias, but if you include the DeShawn foul, shouldn't you include Varejao doing essentially the same thing to Andray Blatche from game 2?
  2. Michael H
    2. Posted by Michael H Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    Any one but the Ginobli flop... er, foul. He flopped twice in about 10 seconds, he just sold the second one better.
  3. David
    3. Posted by David Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:13 pm EDT

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    surprise, surprise, but Landry lost a tooth and no foul was called on Boozer. Typical.
  4. Eric L
    4. Posted by Eric L Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    i agree the kidd foul was ridiculous. this seasons trades are going to scare GM's for years to come. Kidd and Shaq are near flops, this may be the end of the mid-season blockbuster for awhile.
    also i wonder what it would be like to play a pick-up game with Ginobili? you make a play for the ball near the top of the key and he goes sprawling across the gym floor? you set a screen against him and he runs full speed into you and then falls like he got shot...it would be a ton of fun.
  5. VT
    5. Posted by VT Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:30 pm EDT

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    Kidd takes the trophy home compared to the rest.
  6. j
    6. Posted by j Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    It's ironic that Kidd's is the hardest foul, but he's also the only one who actually went for and even got a little contact with the ball. The others were pretty much hitting just to hit.
  7. Rick
    7. Posted by Rick Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:46 pm EDT

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    Kidd's foul on Pargo was nothing. Just ask his wife/ex?
  8. Andrew K
    8. Posted by Andrew K Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    I go with the Manu one. He flopped twice! It was great.
    But really, Kidd's was the hardest and most serious.
  9. GoLakers
    9. Posted by GoLakers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    Kidd did not let go the neck, so that he switched himself from a defender to a killer. Luckily the victim is still alive.
    At the same time, the killer is still at large when someone decided not to suspend JK. I am sure he will feel like carrying a GPS equipment as refs will monitor him more closely.
  10. James B
    10. Posted by James B Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    I disagree jon l post #2 only because the foul that Haywood had on LaBron could have been a lot more serious than it looked. I could almost guarantee that if LaBron was not in the physical shape that he is in he could have easily tore his knee all up. I agree that grabbing by the neck and pulling to the ground could cause some damage but I think it would be a lot more damaging if say Shaq did it as opposed to Kidd.
  11. John P
    11. Posted by John P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    Kidd's foul was the worst. To even include Stevenson's and Haywood's fouls on this list just shows the tired pro-Lebron James bias that people who worship him have. James is the biggest whiner in the league, as he works the refs all game and exaggerates afterwards at press conferences about how rough he's being treated. The Stevenson and Haywood fouls were only hard, normal playoff fouls (no easy baskets!), just like Varejao's foul was.
    When Lebron elbowed Blatche in the face of course there was no foul called, because there are only special rules to protect Queen James.
    P.S. Ginobli is a bonafide flopper, but he often does get hit too just because opposing players simply don't like him.
  12. dbo
    12. Posted by dbo Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Kidd is losing his mind and his game. The playoffs are physical, but to a certain extent..
    Regardless, i believe the hardest foul has to be Haywood pushing Lebron while he is in mid air..
    You just dont push anyone who is in the air, that has to be one of the dirtiest plays ever.
    Washington has no answer for Lebron so they are trying to get him one way or another..
    First Descrub Stevenson, then Nogood Haywood, still Lebron is whooping their a$$.
    The Wizards better hit the weight room to keep up with Lebeast James.....
  13. Stevarino
    13. Posted by Stevarino Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    John P must be a Wizards fan. You're criticizing LeBron for being a whiner but you comment on a blog whining about Blatche not getting a call? Good one.
  14. James B
    14. Posted by James B Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    Jon P for the record I'm not even a Cav fan but when I see a player who is one of the most positive faces of the league right now I think it's only fair to defend what a BS foul that haywood gave him. Haywood never made an attempt at the ball. I probably would have no problem with that hard foul if James was not in the air but any player, regardless of the sport, is in a compromising position when they leave their feet.
  15. Stevarino
    15. Posted by Stevarino Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    Haha #16, DeScrub Stevenson...I still like DeFraud too
  16. John P
    16. Posted by John P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    All I'm asking for and all anyone should want in the NBA is fair treatment. Stevarino's comment shows that he totally missed the point, which is that if Lebron is going to get the foul calls then when he fouls others they should get the same call. James B made a good point about the danger of being fouled when you're in the air, but it happens absolutely all the time, and it happened when Antonio Daniels was fouled hard when he was driving in the air in Game 1. No flagrant foul was called, and Daniels didn't try to start a fight over the play or cry about it in the press conference after the game. Special rules are created for superstars like Lebron, just like they were created for Jordan in the 90s.
    The sad thing is that players like Lebron and Kobe have great talent and should try to be men and stand behind the quality of their play. They should accept calls against them and accept that if they drive in the lane they're going to get knocked around just like everyone else in the league is. Instead, they whine at every call and try to work the refs all game. No one in the game should be untouchable.
  17. Jeff S
    17. Posted by Jeff S Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    They were all part of the game. It's the playoffs, no wimps!
  18. Stevarino
    18. Posted by Stevarino Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    What section of the rulebook are these "rules" listed cause I've never seen them.
  19. Jeffrey Z
    19. Posted by Jeffrey Z Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    If you don't think the Haywood foul on LeBron was the most dangerous, I'd be happy to foul any one of your star players in the same position (at the apex of their drive and potential dunk) by pushing them off balance in mid air and letting the chips fall where they may.
    Any taker's, Kobe, Chris Paul, Garnett, Nowitzki, Parker, Arenas, Howard, Duncan, etc., fans.........
    All I want is one shot and no retaliations. How's that sound? Because, that is exactly what's happening until someone gets really hurt and may ruin your chance for this playoff or even playing next season.
  20. Jeffrey Z
    20. Posted by Jeffrey Z Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    The same section outlining flagrant fouls. Are you a hockey fan, because you obviously don't know where to find the rules in the rule book or you wouldn't have asked.
  21. LUCKY
    21. Posted by LUCKY Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:59 pm EDT

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    Manu can become best WNBA player where will win MVP.
  22. JoeyR
    22. Posted by JoeyR Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    It couldn't be Boozer knocking out Carl Landry's tooth -- the game was in Utah and they didn't call a foul, so I guess it didn't qualify.
  23. John P
    23. Posted by John P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    Jeffrey Z is right that fouling the player when he is in the air is the most dangerous of fouls. But given that rationale, you should put the foul on Daniels of the Wizards on the top five list here, and take DeShawn's out. Putting two fouls on Lebron in this small list is ridiculous, just as is using the term "decapitates" for DeShawn's foul. I'd hate to play basketball against the guy who made the chart for this poll, since he'd say I "decapitated" him when I knocked his headband off when trying to go for a block. When they dropped the guillotine years back I didn't realize they were only hacking off people's headwear.
    Also, Jason Kidd's foul probably is winning the worst as the top 5 here because it's about malicious intent. If the guy had no problems about beating his (ex)wife at home, he probably doesn't have the best intent when an opposing player comes running through the lane. He needs some serious anger management counseling.
  24. Lakerbaby 24
    24. Posted by Lakerbaby 24 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    I agree with Jon P (commit #13) because all LeBron James does is whine and complain if he gets hit the wrong way. They are making a big deal about the flangant fouls on LeBron but if it was any other Cavs member or another team it would not be such a big deal. As for LeBron he is trying to cause more problems because of the commit he made on national television about if it happened on a basketball court in a park up in Akron. And then Lebron and Jay Z making up a song about DS in is just stupid on both of their parts. LeBron forgets where he came from-a couple years ago when King of the Courts was going on in Akron, Ohio he was supposed to show up and support the event, but he showed up-got out his limo-stayed for 5 seconds and then left. When you watch the basketball games on tv the announcers talk about NBA cares, well the Cavs don't do anything for their community.
    Haywood has the right nickname for James "CRYBABY"!!!!!
  25. charles G.
    25. Posted by charles G. Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    i think raja bell should audition on wwe because he always have the knack of clotheslining people.remember the one he did with kobe last season?wrestling may be a good carrer move for him since he's good at it......

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