Month: October 2020

Did Anthony Davis hit Jae Crowder’s in the face and get away with it? — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

He did. At least for now.

Did Anthony Davis hit Jae Crowder’s in the face and get away with it? — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

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Did Anthony Davis hit Jae Crowder’s in the face and get away with it?

By Kurt HelinOct 10, 2020, 6:00 PM EDT

When the NBA’s Last Two Minute report came out on Game 5, it backed the referees who called fouls on the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Markieff Morris, both of which sent Jimmy Butler to the line in crunch time. (The report did point out a LeBron James foul that was not called, and an Andre Iguodala three seconds that was missed.)

What it did not touch on, because it was not in the last two minutes, was when Anthony Davis hit Jae Crowder‘s face. It happened early in the third quarter when Davis and Crowder got tangled and went to the ground together.

Here is a better look at Anthony Davis hitting Jae Crowder in the face, and shown in comparison to Draymond’s suspension-worthy crotch punch in 2016: pic.twitter.com/lYScUROVEY

— Playoff Parakeet A. Cortes (@Ryan_Cortes) October 10, 2020

That’s a flagrant foul. Easy call.

It is possible the NBA comes in and gives Davis a retroactive Flagrant Foul call on the play — the league does that semi-regularly — but a suspension seems highly unlikely (despite what Heat fans are calling for). Comparing it to Draymond Green in 2016 is hard because Green has already gotten enough technicals in the playoffs that he was at risk of suspension  (seven points led to the suspension). There was a pattern. That was not the case with Davis.

Davis played through an aggravation of his heel injury in Game 5 but said he would be good to go for Game 6.

NBA Finals Injury Report: Status Of Anthony Davis, Goran Dragic For Game 6 — NESN.com

The Miami Heat have given the Los Angeles Lakers everything they have to force a Game 6 despite facing some injury adversity all series. And it looks like it will be much of the same as they try hold on one more night to take the NBA Finals to seven games. Heat guard Goran Dragic […]

NBA Finals Injury Report: Status Of Anthony Davis, Goran Dragic For Game 6 — NESN.com

The Miami Heat have given the Los Angeles Lakers everything they have to force a Game 6 despite facing some injury adversity all series.

And it looks like it will be much of the same as they try hold on one more night to take the NBA Finals to seven games.

Heat guard Goran Dragic is listed as doubtful to play Sunday after tearing his left plantar fascia in the first game of the series, which has been a huge blow to Miami’s chances of upsetting Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Lakers look poised to earn the franchise’s 18th title with the help of Anthony Davis. The All-NBA big man reaggravated the right heel contusion he suffered in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Denver Nuggets in Friday night’s Game 5, but is listed as probable to play.

Game 6 between the Lakers and Heat is scheduled to tip off Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

NBA Officials Missed Two Calls In Final Two Minutes Of Lakers-Heat Game 5 — NESN.com

The Miami Heat topped the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but game officials did miss a couple of key calls down the stretch. The first missed call was a Jimmy Butler shooting foul on LeBron James with 1:01 left in the quarter. Butler made contact with James’ head […]

NBA Officials Missed Two Calls In Final Two Minutes Of Lakers-Heat Game 5 — NESN.com

The Miami Heat topped the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but game officials did miss a couple of key calls down the stretch.

The first missed call was a Jimmy Butler shooting foul on LeBron James with 1:01 left in the quarter. Butler made contact with James’ head with an extended arm while driving to the hoop.

L.A. was trailing 105-104 when the missed foul occurred, but James made up for it with a nifty layup to give the Lakers a one-point lead with 58.2 seconds left.

The second missed call was a defensive three-seconds violation on Heat guard Andre Iguodala for not properly clearing the lane with 28 seconds on the clock. The Lakers made up for the mistake once again with another layup, however, and look a one-point lead yet again.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel wasn’t too pleased with the officiating late in Game 5. And he made that perfectly clear after the game.

“I felt two bad calls at the end put Butler to the line, you know, and that’s unfortunate in a game of this magnitude,” Vogel told reporters, via ESPN. “Anthony Davis has a perfect verticality, should be a play-on. And the time before that, Markieff Morris has his hands on the ball — that should be a play-on. They were given four free throws and made it an uphill battle for us. Very disappointed in that aspect of the game.”

The Lakers and Heat meet again Sunday for Game 6 of the Finals, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Miami Heat’s Duncan Robinson makes the most of his openings in Game 5 — Daily News

Duncan Robinson was determined to keep knocking on the door, knocking and knocking, until he started knocking ’em down. The second-year forward’s seven 3-pointers in Game 5 on Friday were huge in helping the Miami Heat hold the fort in the NBA Finals until at least Sunday, when the Lakers have a second opportunity to…

Miami Heat’s Duncan Robinson makes the most of his openings in Game 6 — Daily News

Rays Take Page Out Of Red Sox’s Book, Troll Yankees By Blasting ‘New York, New York’ — NESN.com

Sign In The Tampa Bay Rays are dunking on the New York Yankees in a myriad of ways. In the deciding game of the American League East foes’ division series matchup, Mike Brosseau got his revenge on Aroldis Chapman (refresher on that feud if you need it here) by hitting a series-clinching home run. But…

Rays Take Page Out Of Red Sox’s Book, Troll Yankees By Blasting ‘New York, New York’ — NESN.com

The Tampa Bay Rays are dunking on the New York Yankees in a myriad of ways.

In the deciding game of the American League East foes’ division series matchup, Mike Brosseau got his revenge on Aroldis Chapman (refresher on that feud if you need it here) by hitting a series-clinching home run.

But the fun didn’t stop there for the Rays.

After the win, part of Tampa’s celebration was trolling Aaron Judge and the yankees by blasting, what else, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”

Of course, the “New York, New York” fiasco actually dates back to 2018. After Game 2 of the Yankees’ ALDS victory against the Boston Red Sox to tie the series at one game apiece, Judge walked through the concourse of Fenway Park blasting the song.

The Yankees wouldn’t win a game the rest of the series, and after clinching, the Red Sox made sure to play that song as loud as they could in the locker room at Yankee Stadium.

So, Red Sox fans will be relieved to know the Rays are keeping the tradition alive.

Jimmy Butler mysteriously stopped shooting 3-pointers this season, and now the Lakers are daring him to take the shot — Paruna.ru

Summary List Placement After watching Jimmy Butler drop a 40-point triple-double in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers changed their defensive scheme in Game 4. The Lakers had the 7-foot Anthony Davis defend Butler throughout the night. Davis’ length smothered Butler, and if Butler called for a screen to hunt a […]

Jimmy Butler mysteriously stopped shooting 3-pointers this season, and now the Lakers are daring him to take the shot — Paruna.ru

John Hollinger says LaMelo Ball, D’Angelo Russell can co-exist in Minnesota — Lonzo Wire

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Timberwolves debate between LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards is the fit of the two prospects.

John Hollinger says LaMelo Ball, D’Angelo Russell can co-exist in Minnesota — Lonzo Wire

Billy Beane on state of A’s after another postseason exit: ‘It’s a pretty darn good foundation’ — Times-Standard

The Oakland A’s have had 24 hours to digest their American League Divisional Series defeat at the hands of the Houston Astros. Difficult decisions can’t be made yet, but the Athletics’ brass left Los Angeles feeling good about the talent that flew back to Oakland. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the organization isn’t focused on what they’ve lacked…

Billy Beane on state of A’s after another postseason exit: ‘It’s a pretty darn good foundation’ — Times-Standard

Once rivals, LeBron and Rondo are on brink of getting Lakers rings together — KTLA

They were rivals once, Rajon Rondo and LeBron James. Rondo was in Boston. James was in Cleveland and Miami. Their paths would cross most every year in the playoffs, an annual placing of a thorn in one another’s side. James may have had different words to describe Rondo then. These days, however, the words James […]

Once rivals, LeBron and Rondo are on brink of getting Lakers rings together — KTLA

Is Jimmy Butler a Top 10 Player? — CrownHoops

Whether or not the Miami Heat loses to the Los Angeles Lakers, Jimmy Butler has done the unthinkable this season. He has led a young and what many thought to be somewhat rebuilding Heat squad all the way to the NBA Finals. A place almost no one thought this team would be in the beginning. […]

Is Jimmy Butler a Top 10 Player? — CrownHoops

What they’re saying before Lakers vs. Heat, Game 5; Updates at 6 p.m. — Daily News

Follow Southern California Newspaper Group’s Kyle Goon as he covers the Lakers during the NBA Finals inside the bubble in Orlando. Updates, highlights and and social media reaction as the Lakers try to close out the Heat in Game 5 and win their 17th NBA championship PRE-GAME One win from a title, Lakers try to…

What they’re saying before Lakers vs. Heat, Game 5; Updates at 6 p.m. — Daily News

Staples Center To Laker Fans: Do Not Come Here To Celebrate — CBS Los Angeles

With the Lakers on the verge of their first NBA title since 2010, fans are being asked to stay away from the team’s home arena Friday night.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – With the Lakers on the verge of their first NBA title since 2010, fans are being asked to stay away from the team’s home arena Friday night.

With the Lakers and Miami Heat set to face off in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in what could be a championship-clinching victory for L.A., Staples Center and L.A. Live announced they “will not be airing or showing the game or potential post-game celebrations on any of the venue’s exterior digital signage.”

“Fans are encouraged to watch the game and celebrate responsibly at home,” a Staples Center statement read.

Streets immediately surrounding the area – including all sidewalks – will also be closed along the north and south sides of Chick Hearn Court as well as STAPLES Center’s Star Plaza and L.A. LIVE’s Microsoft Plaza.

Earlier this week, county health officials issued a plea for fans to stay home and celebrate any potential Lakers victory at home.

“We’re still in the middle of a pandemic,” L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said. “Very excited that the Lakers are going to be playing this next game. And we just want to remind people the safest way to celebrate all of our teams, the Lakers and the Dodgers, is to do it in the comfort of your own home.”