Thursday, April 5th, 2012 at 11:24 am  |  48 responses

Foul Plays

Blake Griffin gets away with murder, and you’re a bad person if you disagree.

by Farmer Jones / @thefarmerjones

I admit I don’t really like Blake Griffin. I’m not sure I can explain why, but I was feeling this way even before his sense of humor started echoing his game: Too often one-dimensional, predictable, and destined to lose its effectiveness before long. I’ve joked on the Twitters about how you have to pick sides between Blake and Kevin Love, which is true even thought it’s not (it is, though, totally). I don’t have a problem with guys who jump high and dunk on guys. But I do have a problem with Blake.

Last night reminded me why. It’s why I have a problem with a lot of you people, too.

What’s wrong with you people?

I don’t hold your visceral reaction against you. If you have a pulse, those dunks—both of them—are the sort that demand an instantaneous “Oh my god!” response. The question—and the sole basis for which I judge you as a decent human being—is how you responded after that initial response.

If you couldn’t get past the visceral to at least acknowledge the obvious reality of the situation—that Blake Griffin got away with murder, twice—then you shouldn’t be allowed to watch basketball anymore. Not until you take a class or something, like people do after they get a DUI. You need to spend a really long, tedious, physically uncomfortable time thinking about the consequences of reckless actions. You need to be made to understand.

Blake Griffin is awesome at jumping higher than most people are able to jump and grabbing a basketball with one (or sometimes two, but mostly one) hand and cocking it back behind his ear and then throwing it down really hard through a hoop. I understand and agree that this is very much fun to watch.

I understand as well that there is a gray area where Blake Griffin does this sort of thing and other players are embarrassed in a way that might constitute excessive force and maybe almost breaks the rules, but I’m okay with that.

There was no “maybe almost” last night.

You cannot jump into and over a guy’s back that way to dunk a basketball, no matter how cool it looks.

You cannot jump into a guy and elbow him pretty directly in the face to dunk a basketball, regardless of the awesomeness of said procedure.

The rules are pretty clear on all this.

I know the rules are bent, a lot, and for a lot of players. This is something all NBA fans learn to accept early in their NBA fandom. But it can go too far, and so it has with Blake Griffin. Especially last night. We’re rewarding him—actively encouraging him, actually—to blatantly break the rules in a way that plays to our enjoyment of guys doing physically improbable things and embarrassing their opponents in the process.

The thing I just described is one of the best things about watching basketball. But there’s a line, and like a stupid Kia with Baron Davis is in, Blake has jumped way over it.

We should stop celebrating such leaps.

Those were fouls. They should’ve been called.

What’s wrong with you people?

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  • http://www.slamonline.com melvin ely

    ryan jones going in..

  • http://slamonline.com raylan

    agreed

  • Santino

    Could not agree more, blatant offensive fouls not called on the current poster boy of the league. I would select Kevin Love 1000 times out of 1000 times over Blake. He is a far superior player and its not even close.

  • Jono

    I agree but when it’s on either of the 2 guys I can’t stand (Gasol & Perkins) then yes, in the words of Borat, I LIKE IT’S VERY NICE!!

  • http://waihak.blogspot.com Tariq

    Yep, those were fouls. The over the back one MIGHT be open for discussion but that elbow to the face on the second one is pretty obvious. I tend not to like Griffin either, mainly because he seems to be regarded as a premier power forward when he’s really only great at one thing (dunking) and good at another (rebounding). He’s not a very good one-on-one defender. He’s a bad FT shooter. He doesn’t have a great mid-range shot. He has no post moves whatsoever. And yet he’s the Greatest Power Forward (TM) of his generation?

  • http://www.crossfitlondonuk.com/blog Si

    The first one isn’t so clear cut; if you watched the last replay (from the hoop angle) you can see he didn’t really come directly over the back of him, it was more to the side, Pau didn’t know he was coming and reacts pretty excessively.

    The second one was definitely a foul…although I don’t believe he intended it as such…it’s a natural reaction to try and shield the body when you know you’re about to take or create contact which it seems like he is doing with his arm. It could also be argued that he is using it to try and prevent Pau from getting close to the ball and stopping the dunk.

  • http://twitter.com/alan__ryan izzo

    I like Griffin and I think that people who are against him tend to argue against points that aren’t made by anyone, or at least anyone who is sane (like our friend Tariq above), but what happened last night was a flying elbow to the face in which a ball also happened go into the rim.

  • Bruno

    second dunk definitely was a foul, first one I don’t know … and Blake’s reaction after his second dunk on Pau is why I stop liking this guy

  • http://waihak.blogspot.com Tariq

    izzo: Are you saying I argue stupid points? Because I do.

  • http://www.crossfitlondonuk.com/blog Si

    What’s the issue with his reaction after the second dunk? He simply stared at him which is a pretty reasonable thing to do after you destroy someone and take away every last shred of manliness from them.
    .
    Of course the league doesn’t like it and will issue Techs normally if someone does it, but there’s nothing terrible about it…

  • FnF

    Most NBA rules are open to interpretation. I’m sure that on the putback had Blake simply returned to earth before dunking, they would have called over-the-back-loose-ball foul, but oh well. As you mentioned, rule bending comes with the territory. Team X runs nice plays to get open shots as we ignore the moving screens. Player Y is nice in ISO situations as he changes his pivot foot. That pg has the best crossover in the game as his hand in completely palm up. The only rule that appears to be safe is out-of-bounds.

  • Kenny

    Both dunks could’ve been called an offensive foul, but refs always let Griffin get away with the forearm. You wonder why other players foul Griffin hard. I’m 50/50 on Blake. I respect his athletic ability, but question him on his flops and dirty looks especially the one after that first dunk where he just looked down on Pau. I’d take Pau over Blake any day with Pau’s all around skills. Come face to face, Blake couldn’t really find an offensive game going against Pau. Pau blocked him towards the end. Lakers win and will always be LA’s team. Lakers are the real “Lob City”. LOL at all the Clippers fan getting wet after every damn dunk Clippers do, but Lakers have more lobs than the JV team.

  • http://twitter.com/alan__ryan izzo

    Worth noting: Pau Gasol’s team won the game.

  • Isaac

    That first one wasn’t a foul.. Gasol should have been boxing out, instead of standing there with his arms half-heartedly stretched out.

    The second one is probably offensive, but you can’t act like Griffin’s intention was to elbow Pau in the head, that’s just the way the play unfolded. Without Griffin extending his off-arm, it’s just a tough call to make when the play happens that fast..

    Where’s the outrage over the missed call that went off of Sessions’ leg through Foye’s legs, and the refs gave the Lakers the ball without even reviewing it, when there was less than a minute to go in a 2 point game.

    You’re all just looking for a villain and are picking apart a player thats received a great amount of attention in his second year. Yeah his game is limited, but who cares, he still consistently produces night in and night out. I’d rather have that than some spoiled entitled center, who takes games off, blows off front office meetings, shoots ill advised 3′s, publicly sells out his coach time and time again, and throws elbows into little 5’8 PGs.

  • dave

    Am I the only one who thinks the 2nd one is a foul both ways? The last angle clearly shows Pau bring both arms over and down on blake to stop him from dunking. Blake elbows him in the face to try and stop him from doing that. Maybe the dreaded double foul?

  • Kadavour

    the over the back is debatable. weak box out, didn’t put a body on his man, and he got embarrassed. the second one was a near forearm shiver to neck though, clearly a missed call.

  • hp

    bullshit. pau was in the circle. and he was moving after blake left the ground. its still a foul even if you use your face.

  • woodrow

    .There are few players great at EVERY stat..shaq AND dwight howard heow free throws and tbey are considered greats, so get over blakes shortcoming because your favorite players could probably do better at something, we know what he lacks but ppl like me celebrate the play, and all its glory..get over it..and who cares who won the clippers arent getting out the first round neway, he got banged on bottom line leave it at that

  • greg

    kevin love and zach randolph foul all the time when they get rebounds too, everybody travels, nash carries the ball, and kobes allowed to reach in all the time without being called for a foul, thats the NBA, its geared for fans to enjoy the sport, college is much better and consistent with its reffing until the tourny; I just take the nba for what it is

  • http://www.fiba.com Darksaber

    Hey Farmer, who you calling ‘you people’?

  • add

    yes thats a foul in the nba, but if it were streetball gasol would be run off the court

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    Jones has to the power to bring me out of hibernation. And he’s absolutely right about this goofball. Dude is more entitled than Lebron was. That’s saying alot.

  • will

    Three things 1) Its pau gasol. If any other big had been destroyed like that then the foul call would have been the other way. A light summer’s breeze would have Pau on the ground complaining to a ref about how the sun was in his eyes and mother earth should be receive a flagrant 2.

    2) Fouls calls are missed all the time in the NBA. If you’re outraged at 2 missed foul calls in the course of one game, you’re a horrible NBA fan.

    3) His reaction to the dunk was mic’d. I’m paraphrasing here but it was along the lines of come on guys, let’s get back into this… ride the momentum of the crowd… We can do this. I’m failing to see how thats a negative.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    If the vague pronoun fits, Darksaber.

  • http://www.reverbnation.com/tray24 T-Ray

    Good write up but now Ryan Jones you sir must watch your back because the NBA will be on ya a$$ since you’ve figured out the puzzle.

  • http://slam.com Michael

    Pau was moving under the basket at the same time Blake was jumping to the rim so in that case the call was correct. Defensive foul on Pau.

  • http://Roosterteeth.com Caboose

    Kobe gets away with slaps on the wrists. Bron and Wade get away with taking a step after a jump stop. Dwight and Ibaka get away with goaltending. Nash gets away with carrying. Love gets away with holding on rebounds. Blake gets away with off-hand everything. Rondo gets away with arm checks on the perimeter. Rose gets away with changing his pivot foot. Durant gets away with an extra step before dribbling. And Corey Maggette just travels every time he touches the ball.
    —
    Great write-up, I 100% agree that the league is biased in favor of entertainment. Like that scene in Gladiator when all the tigers are rigged against Maximus.
    —
    Michael, you’re an idiot. Read the rulebook first. Even if a player is moving, an off-hand push off is never allowed by the offensive player.

  • http://www.fiba.com Darksaber

    All this overreaction for 4 pts that had no influence on the outcome of the game.
    Putback was nice, 2nd one was a foul by Blake, both were incredible from an ingame-dunking perspective. Moving on (or not for those who like to obsess)

  • @boweezy24

    Agree. Wouldn’t Be Surprised To See Other Players Really Foul Blake Hard Everytime. They Sure Would Call Them.

  • http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=320404014 Allenp

    Anybody who has ever seen Kevin Love box out knows that this article is just an attempt by Farmer Jones to hate on Blake Griffin.
    And if you disagree, you hate children.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    I hate children.

  • Sarah

    Surprised someone actually wrote about this. I like Blake well enough but this article is very true. I wonder if the League will ever call him for not only clearing out with the off arm, but throwing it down into the defender’s head, neck, whatever else is in the way. Makes you wonder if the refs have an order from the top to let Blakey do whatever he wants if he puts down a ridiculous dunk, or if they’re just as caught up in what they’re seeing as the rest of us.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I just wish Blake would try and jump over Shaq like that. I just wish.

  • http://www.reverbnation.com/tray24 T-Ray

    Nbk if he did try we’d be talking about what I nice funeral service it was.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    LOL^^

  • Sarah

    @nbk @T-Ray I’m waiting for the Andrew Bynum confrontation. We all know Bynum will throw one of those patented giant elbows and probably take that long walk to the lockeroom shirtless according to his tradition…

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Shaq would have eaten Blake Griffin. I wish 1999 Shaq was in the league today. He would lay waste to every big in the league today. Dwight would be asking to get traded to Europe. Blake Griffin would be in Andrew Bogut’s reserved hospital bed, Andrew Bynum would, well Andrew Bynum would probably not change much, that guy is a nutbag.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Hahaha

  • http://www.okaymentary.com Tim

    You’ve outlined two ways to consider Blake. I’d like to suggest a third.

    I’ve been watching Blake since his first year at Oklahoma. In college, the kid had the makings of a pretty sophisticated offensive player. He was explosive to be sure. But dunking was not all he did. He could get the ball on the low-block and figure out a move that his defender didn’t know was available. He showed competence at passing out of the double-team. His jumper was always inconsistent, but he looked a little bit more comfortable taking it from year to year. In short, this guy looked like more than just an exemplary athlete.

    Last year, Blake’s story had a pretty logical progression. His athleticism carried him throughout, but he showed improvement from month to month to month in his understanding of how to play the game. His numbers suggested a top 10 player, but they were generally propped up by his freakish gifts–and not so much by his ability to play the game.

    This year–we can blame the lockout or the odd circumstances under which this Clipper team was assembled or any number of things–but it’s clear Blake’s game has regressed. (Especially when it is compared side-by-side with Kevin Love’s brilliant evolution.) So what else should we expect but for the hulking athlete to run wild on NBA courts profaning his fellow players in an apparent dismissal of the art of their game?

    I attended a Clipper game about two months ago. That was my first time seeing Griffin play in person. It was exactly what I expected having watched so many of his games on TV. What I didn’t anticipate was the takeaway from the game.

    When people go crazy for Blake highlights, they’re forgetting that he leaves the floor attempting some asinine feat at least 4-5 times EVERY game. Most times he gets hit and is knocked off kilter. Some times, defenders scurry away from his path. And every once in a while…a poster happens.

    What I learned from watching Blake from inside an arena was that he– particularly at this moment in his career–is cut from the same athletic clay as Mike Tyson or Bo Jackson. What they all have in common is that they’re not exclusively playing the game we think we’re watching. Those athletes–those rare and furious creatures–are searching for perfect destruction.

    As such, arguments about what should or should not be a foul are a given. And they are, without question, secondary.

    The basketball fan in me can see how Blake could/should be called for an over-the-back or an offensive foul on Pau.

    (The Laker fan in me certainly believes those calls to be the right ones.)

    But the guy who appreciates an artist leaping freely and savagely toward the next more perfect act of destruction overrides both of those people.

    Fans who focus their critical energy on what is and what isn’t a foul are kinda missing the point of Blake Griffin. He could be whistled for a foul on every single play that resembles the two he made last night. But he’s not gonna stop leaving his feet. And he’s not gonna resist the urge to take a round ball and use it to try and destroy something–be it an NBA-sanctioned goal, a lanky Spaniard’s self-esteem or the laws of gravity and space and time that we think we have already proven.

    He’s Blake Griffin. And that’s what he does. For now.

    (POST-SCRIPT: I think that will change over time. It has to, right? I mean, things didn’t end so well for Tyson or Jackson.)

  • Andre

    Hahahahaha this guy has never played hoops before. He’s mad that he can’t jump that high. It’s okay mr journalist Blake won’t dunk on you do stop tryin to get him convicted for murder.

  • http://Roosterteeth.com Caboose

    Well-written Tim. But why does the ability and desire to perfectly destroy someone give them the right to circumvent the rules in a way as egregious as those from last night? So that he can perfect his “art?” I’m sorry, but that is not a good enough reason for me. Otherwise I’d just find a 400-pound monster and have him push down everybody because he can.

  • PIOMS

    Looked to me that Pau jumped late — and jumped in to Griffin instead of straight up.

    When you jump late and the guy is 3 feet above you his elbow on his off hand is going to hit you regardless. Where is his off arm suppose to be? Behind his back? He didn’t extend his elbow out to hit Pau, it was a natural basketball motion he made while jumping.

    Blake one dimensional? Dude has a nice all around game. You don’t mess around and get (two) triple doubles as a rookie.

    He’s never going to be a great one-on-one defender or shot blocker.. he has no wingspan — but he makes up for a lot of that with hustle, diving for loose balls and effort.

    Nobody is perfect, and he’s played less than two seasons. He’ll improve on the defensive end through experience.

  • Dingo Rob

    Those dunks are legit!

  • http://Roosterteeth.com Caboose

    Farmer, see the comments from Andre, PIOMS, and Dingo Rob? That’s why the NBA doesn’t call anything against Blake; he’s a hype machine (similar to how they relaxed the travel rules for LeBron in ’05)

  • Drig

    Glad to see fans calling out Blake. Dude fouled Pau so bad it makes the refs look pathetic. While watching the game, I was like ” Come POs, you’ll be in a chair for all the games if you pull the same sh*t again. “

  • gogs

    notice the rebound video wasn’t in there. fair enough the elbow to the face after the pick and roll was clearly a foul but the dunk off the rebound….come on man dude just got after it.

  • robb

    David Stern will always benefit players who give the league more popularity. Blake fouls and Lebron travels with impunity but hey, who cares right? As long as they put on a show it doesn’t matter.

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