Hoops

Unlucky Kobe? Celtic D questioned.

Good point LABoy- People sometimes overlook the style of play a team has when rating player movements. Its actually a critical element, especially for role players.

Posey was great for the Celts in the post season.... nothing wrong with what he was doing.... i'm sure the ref's would have called him for a tech or un-sportsman like foul if it was warrented. Him not being in a Boston uniform hurts their claims for back to back titles.... IMO

Its pretty obvious that the video is real biased- just thought i would post it and let people make of it what they like.

My observations were that Kobe only likes to make the flashy pass to the hoop for a big finish as opposed to a simple pass to an open shooter. Whether that was at Phils request i don't know (i havn't spoken to phil since i sold him that sketchy weed).

I also noticed how a team can create an identity and influence officials like the Goorj teams of the NBL.

I remember hearing doc rivers talk about defending MJ using the elbow tap. When MJ shot those fade aways, doc knew he couldn'y block the shot, so he would every so lightly touch the elbow of the shooting arm. Apparently the slightest touch can make a shot powerless and results in short airballs. It is also real hard for the refs to spot it as it only has to be the slightest contact. Its no surprise to see the celts using this technique to great advantage.

Also- how about Posey and his technique of fouling extra hard after the initial whistle?! Slight blocking foul gets called, then Posey goes the bear hug! Just to fire the opponent up. Dodgey.

Oh it screams bias, but the moving screens by KG are pretty damning, as is the amount of holding that goes on- did you see the way PJ Brown cleared the lane!

I maintain that Kobe needed to make the simpler passes to open shooters. Every time he cut across the lane, shooters were open in both corners. And i mean open.

It does seem odd that the holding and pushing that went on seemed similar to the way the Jazz defended Kobe, but with completely different results... The refs torched the jazz which brings me back to my point about how the style of officiating can have a huge influence on the game.