Hoops

Brad Robbins throws ball at Dave Gruber

Dillon Boucher does foul a lot but he is also still one of the better defensive players in the league and can't recall the last time he threw a ball at someones head after he fouled them.
NZ (Breakers and Tall Blacks)have always played a really physical game and it is up to the refs to call it.

Isaac, Wortho's foul (block) yesterday was not an USF. No line up because it was quarter time. For what it is worth, the replay I watched when I got home showed Wortho got a bit of Creek's arm (and a lot of the ball).

I can't believe that we have this whole thread on how bad Robbins is at holding/scrapping/cheap shotting, and only one mention of Boucher/NZ. In my view, NZ are far worse as a team at pushing the boundaries of the rules than Perth, with both those teams way out in front of the rest of the competition. No surprises where they sit on the premiership table.

I would love it if the NBL cleaned up its act, but this has been going on for 15 years now and seems unlikely to change (thanks Goorg). Other teams just need to get better at playing outside the rules themselves.

Before signing off I will just point out to you that the second part of the contact (arm on head) still came before the ref blew the whistle or made any signal. This is quite clear on the youtube video.

Other than that, ok, I'm willing to meet you in the middle and agree that Robbo has been known on rare occasions to gently nudge, tap or guide an opponent for the purposes of keeping them from running out of bounds or into another player/obstacle ;)

cavolo, Gruber's defence was clearly not legal. The foul was twofold - firstly Robbo ran into him when he was still moving laterally, and secondly he brought his arm down all over Robbo's head. Either of them could (should) have been whistled as a foul.
It's obvious from the slo-mo.

Onya GKcats. I feel a lot better now knowing that you've got my back here!

Think every 1nz against robo & perth!! Eat shit, Just ure teams havnt got the hear or the balls to do anything!!! Fefs there calls the fouls he calls it? How did gaze get more than half his points??? Our co captians r the heart ove our team!!!! If u wana support a winning team support perth!!!! Back 2 back

What are you talking about, cavolo? The travel was caused by the contact - i.e. by the foul.
I agree that the foul wasn't malicious in the slightest, but it was still a foul the should have been whistled.
As for Brad giving it but not being able to take it, I would strongly disagree with that. When he gets fouled it tends to be hard, and this is the first time I have ever seen a reaction like this from him.

Isaac, I thought that the unsportsmanlike was fair enough. I have seen similar things not even get a whistle, so taking precedent into account, to eject him would have been a tad harsh IMO. It was a stupid thing to do, but not exactly violent or dangerous IMO.

It was provocative though. As you alluded to earlier, if the overall behaviour bar was set a bit higher in the league - which I'd have no problem with - then that type of thing should probably get a player tossed. He was justified in being pissed at not getting a call for being fouled, but his response was obviously quite inappropriate, amusing as it was.
I just don't think that one random incident in the middle of a season is the time for a ref to take it upon himself to set a new standard, and therefore I think it was well handled.

Yea exactly due to having a very talented roster, i reckon they would score even more and be far more attractive team to watch if they toned down some of their cheap shots from guys like Robbins.

Bevo understands the problems Robbo creates in offence - gee, ya think? :p Lisch was very sick one night and so Robbo got the start, and Bevo obviously liked what he saw. It meant we could lock down even harder on the opposition at the start of the game, and meanwhile Lisch gave us scoring off the bench, which had been lacking for a few games prior.
There are advantages both ways around.
Lisch seems to be working himself back into some form now so we'll see what happens.

As for Robbo's fouls, firstly I think people are being OTT about how "dirty" he is. He's certainly not subtle, I'll say that much, but he is still a very good defender. If the refs call him closer then I assume he will adjust accordingly. If they don't then I imagine he will continue to use whatever leeway he is given. Wouldn't you expect any other player to do the same?
If you feel that things are unfair then the refs are who you should be aiming your criticism at.

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good sook, Jonno. Perth is the highest scoring team in the league.

Good point about Bevo, ab4eva. Clearly can't coach for shit. His wanting Williamson to shoot it when open should clearly extend to noted brick layers like Robbo. That'd win more games for sure.

I have never been a Robbins fan, I must say i can see why Homocide hates Robbins and the Wildcats, probably mostly due to Robbins.

I heard him say once that Robbins doesnt defend he fouls, he just gets away with cheap shots all game, and i have always agreed, guys like Redhage can fall into this trap to but Redhage is a star and plays better when he concentrates on the ball and not the man.

I wish the NBL refs would call the game tight clean the game up, sure the first few games they would call an excessive amount of fouls but it would eventually force teams/players to adjust and would clean it up and allow the game to flow.

Bevo/Goorj teams have got away with what they call 'tenacious defence' or heaps of small fouls the refs dont call for ages, if the refs blew the game tight Robbins would be fouled out in 5 mins, the defence would clean up as others would be forced to clean up there defence and it would allow the game to flow more and offences would flow better and guys like Howard who are athletic slashers would have room to move and flourish, which improves the spectacle of the game, i hate seeing 60-65 scrappy games which is what the Wildcats seem to aim for, the sad thing is guys like Redhage, Weigh, Wagstaff, Martin, Knight are great players so the Wildcats could probably still win most games buy playing a cleaner/more attractive style. Its basketball not wrestling, thats why guys like Darnell Mee were so good, the could play lock down defence without getting away with cheap shots all game like Robbins does.

Gruber fouled him as there should be no such thing as an easy layup and it was no harder than any foul in any game under the same circumstances.
Throwing the ball at his face was just school yard behaviour

Total lack of respect from a 'fringe' player @ best. Maybe still a swollen head from winning a flag but he needs to be reminded he is lucky to have a spot & the Wildcats could easily repeat without him! Not indispensable!!

It wasn't even called a foul i dont think, didn't the lead ref call travel?

who got the techs in the end?