Y E S T E R D A Y . . .
Lakers 123, Warriors 119 (OT): “Hey Donaghy, let them play!” That was what I yelled at the TV last night when referee Bob Delaney decided to pull a “No Country for Old Men” on me and every fan watching, choosing to provide an anti-climatic ending to an absolutely riveting, action-packed two and a half hours of drama. With nine seconds remaining, Derek Fisher and Monta Ellis became tangled and tumbled to the floor. When the dust settled, Delaney had called Ellis for an offensive foul for allowing Derek Fisher to drag him to the ground. The call sealed the comeback the Lakers could not hold onto the night before, while at the same time leaving both sides with a bad taste in their mouth. So instead of focusing on Kobe and Baron Davis’ two-night war, Monta Ellis levitating lay-ins, Odom’s dominant, back-to-back 20 rebound performances, or Stephen Jackson’s killer instinct, were left discussing the officiating. Well done, Bob.
T O D A Y . . .
Clippers at Mavs (5:30 p.m. PST, KTLA): The Clippers, losers of seven in a row, travel to Dallas to take on the Nowitzki-less Mavs. With Nowitizki out, the Clippers chances of victory have been upgraded from zero to slim. If you’re a Clippers’ fan and trying and to stay positive in these dark times, look no further than ClipperSteve.
N E W S W O R T H Y . . .
- Mbah a Moute of UCLA had a precautionary MRI taken due to swelling in his injured ankle, but will likely still play against Western Kentucky.
- Angels OF Gary Matthews Jr. tweaked his ankle running to third base yesterday and is listed as day-to-day.
- In one of the rare bits of good news for the Clippers this season, it’s looking like Elton Brand could return for the team’s final five games.
- As spring practice gets underway for USC, we’ll begin talking about something we’re going to talk about all year. Mustain vs. Sanchez.
C O L U M N S . . .
- How’s everyone doing in their NCAA pool? Even if your bracket is in shambles, T.J. Simers assures you that its better than Rick Neuheisel’s.
- If you were wondering what it was like when the Dodgers played at Memorial Coliseum, check out the Dodgers game on Saturday and read this article by the Register’s Mark Whicker.
- SportsHubLA Column of the Day: ESPN.com writer Jerry Crasnick gives one last look at Dodgertown in Vero Beach.
Discuss:
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I suggest you try watching the Ellis/Fisher play again … this time with the sound off.
Unfortunately, game announcers have a way of influencing the judgments of those who happen to be listening to the way said announcers see a play unfolding, which isn’t necessarily how it actually went down, depending on your perspective.
Try watching the tape again … this time on Mute … and then come back here and share with us if you thought the play was 100% a foul by Fisher for blatantly ‘pulling down’ Ellis on top of him, or if, just maybe, you saw this play developing in a slightly different way than the game announcers last night.
I’ll watch the play again on mute when you take off your purple and gold colored glasses.
I watched it on mute and it looked like Fish did what he’s famous for — foul & flop (and none of my glasses have gold in them fyi). I agree - it was a good game, and too bad it had to end like that.
Never happy when a great game ends on a referee’s “judgement”. Id rather see a no-call to be honest.
Traitor,
I agree … a no-call SHOULD have been the judgment made by Bob Delaney on that play.
Ellis did not foul Fisher … and Fisher did not foul Ellis.
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Matt,
The only ‘colour’ ever associated with my eye-glasses is properly termed ‘unbiased’.