By Tim Peterson
It’s a different game now. Boston’s Kevin McHale clothes lined the Lakers’ Kurt Rambis in the 1984 NBA Finals and all he received was a personal foul.
Isaiah Thomas of Detroit was hammered to the floor by best friend Magic Johnson in the 1988 Finals and he was called for a foul as well. Not a technical, not a flagrant one or two or whatever other number you want to place on it, just a plain old pedestrian personal foul. Thomas went to the free throw line to shoot two shots.
Now Golden State’s Draymond Green flails away at Cleveland’s LeBron James’ “mid section”…and misses… and he gets suspended for one game and a flagrant foul. I understand the need to protect the players and curb the violence but again Green didn’t even connect. Back in the day this wouldn’t have even been reviewed. It’s just two players being competitive in the NBA Finals.
A couple of other things stand out as well. How was Green suspended for Game 5 when he was allowed to play against Oklahoma City after clearly kicking Steven Adams in the groin? The League is stating that it wasn’t the one act that caused the suspension but the number of flagrants that Green has accumulated. Ok, but it still doesn’t make sense that Green would get a flagrant when he never actually touched James.
Secondly, isn’t it funny that LeBron James, who knocked Green to the ground, then stepped over him in an act of intimidation walks away with only a technical? At this point what penalty is a tech? Just wondering…if the situation was reversed and James was the one in the position where one more flagrant would lead to a suspension and he took a swipe at Green would he be playing Monday night? Just a hunch but I’m guessing yes.
When James is more worried about scrapping with Green or jawing with Stephen Curry you know he doesn’t have much else left.
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When Kenley Jansen starts blowing saves you know the Dodgers are in trouble. For once I couldn’t blame Dave Roberts for going to somebody else in the bullpen after Jansen let it get away Saturday night. The offense can be stagnant at times but it’s clear the Dodgers biggest need before the trade deadline is relief pitching.
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I know high school transfers are criticized, scrutinized and dissected six ways from Sunday but the truth of the matter is that in this day and age it’s standard procedure – another day at the office. I don’t know all the details (have heard a few) but no matter how you slice it, Kevin Thomas is a great pick up for Northview.
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There’s at least three more big passing tournaments on the horizon in the next few weeks. The Bonita Air Assault is at the end of June, and the SGV Shootout at Arroyo is set for the second week of July. And it all begins this Saturday June 18 with the “Rumble at the Ranch” at El Rancho.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
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