The current NBA Playoffs in both the Eastern and Western contests look more like Mixed Martial Arts than Roundball events.
As a basketball purist myself ever since I was handed my first ball in the fourth grade, the current rendition of basketball is vastly dissimilar. I was taught, in the era of “four fouls and you’re out”, that the player initiating physical contact was at fault. Conversely, today we see that the most innovative technique that has been developed in the pro ranks by such players as Westbrook and Harden, is to charge full tilt into a defensive player thus gaining the ensuing foul shots. In one instance I saw Hardin on a three-point attempt kick out his leg, hitting the defender and gaining three free-throws.
The physicality of play during the regular season was egregious enough, but now that we are into the playoffs, the rules have been further relaxed. The Referees’, sometimes three in number and no great shakes in the regular season, rationale has been announced in the following way.
”It’s the playoffs! Let them play.”
This has resulted in elbows to the head, flying tackles that would not be allowed in the NFL, obvious tripping and numerous other fouls. During this year’s playoff, it has resulted in a possible career-ending injury to Spurs Guard Tony Parker.
The obvious chief recipient of grabs, pushes and tripping has been the Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. Also, on many of his dazzling layup moves, he has been slammed to the ground more than most MMA contestants. Seldom does he get the obvious free-throw coming to him.
In the Eastern Conference playoffs, the vaunted Lebron James has been the chief practitioner of the bull-rush offensive style that sometimes leaves defenders sprawled about and results in James going to the free-throw line.
At this point in playoff history, it looks as if the Warriors and Cavaliers are about to meet for the third time in what will be a rubber match for the championship.
BIG NEWS OUT OF WASHINGTON
The firing of FBI Director James Comey by President Trump strangely has all of the democrats atwitter. TV clips from last year that are currently being shown have the same Democrats calling for Comey’s head because of the fact that his handling of the Clinton emails caused Hillary to lose the election. In her latest public appearance Hillary cited the two reasons for her defeat were Comey and the Russians. Perhaps she has forgotten that her beloved Bill was one of the main culprits in her defeat when he met with AG Loretta Lynch while he was still part of an on-going investigation. When word of the clandestine Clinton-Lynch meeting was revealed, it resulting in Lynch recusing herself in any matter relative to the Clintons. It was at this point that Comey stepped forward because Loretta had said she would abide by the FBI Director’s conclusion. Now that Hillary is officially “out of the woods” it will be interesting to see if she, like other prominent Democrats, springs to Comey’s defense.
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