Block or charge?One of the most difficult calls to make in the split second of fast-paced NBA action helped swing Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Golden State’s favor. Officials
went to a replay review because they weren’t sure if LeBron James‘ feet were
outside the restricted area when Kevin Durant slammed into him in the final
minute of regulation in a game Cleveland lost 124-114 in overtime Thursday
night.
The play came with about 30 seconds left and the Cavaliers leading 104-102 after James converted a three-point play as part of a 51-point night.
The initial signal was for a charge
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the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime.
”We were told they were reviewing if I had my feet outside the line,” James said. ”And when I knew that, I was like, OK, that’s going to be our ball. I knew
I was outside the charge line, so that’s what the communication was to us. We
were over on the sideline, drawing up a play, you know, to try to
execute
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During the replay, officials can also look to determine if the defensive player was in a legal guarding position, and they decided James wasn’t.
”It was determined he was out of the restricted area, but he was not in a legal guarding position prior to Durant’s separate shooting motion,” referee Ken
Mauer told a pool reporter. ”So we had to change it to a blocking foul.”
The overturn angered the Cavaliers, who were upset the call even went to review because they felt James was clearly outside the restricted area.
”It doesn’t make sense to go review something if the review is if he’s on the line or if he’s close to the charge circle, that’s the review. He wasn’t close,”
coach Tyronn Lue said. ”So what are we reviewing? Either call a blocking foul or
call an offensive foul. For our team to come out and play their hearts out and
compete the way we did, man, I mean
Brendan Langley Jersey , it’s bad.
”It’s never been done before where you know he’s outside the restricted, and then you go there and overturn the call and say it’s a block. It’s never been
done, ever, in the history of the game. And then tonight in the finals on the
biggest stage, when our team played well, played our (butt) off, man, it ain’t
right. It ain’t right.”
Durant said he had seen that play reviewed before and was confident he would get the call once officials looked at the replay.
”I knew that. I knew he was late on the drive, and I knew I had my man beat and he came over a little late,” he said. ”So when they called the
charge
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While James was moving when Durant left the ground, he still believed he was in a legal position and should have gotten the call even after it went to
replay.
”I thought I read that play just as well as I read any play in my career, defensively,” he said. ”I saw the drive, I was outside the charge line, I
stepped in, took the contact. It’s a huge play. It’s a huge play.”
Durant made both foul shots to tie the game.
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Shohei Ohtani’s elbow injury has healed enough that the Los Angeles Angels‘ two-way star can begin a hitting program immediately.
General manager Billy Eppler said Thursday that Ohtani underwent an MRI in Los Angeles that showed improvement to his ulnar collateral ligament, clearing
him to take batting practice in private.
”That’s news I was hoping to hear,” Eppler said on a conference call.
Ohtani was placed on the disabled list with a UCL sprain June 8. He will be re-evaluated by doctors in three weeks.
Asked whether Ohtani needs Tommy John surgery that could cause him to miss the rest of this season as well as all of the 2019 season
Jon Weeks Jersey , Eppler said, ”No doctor has told me that Shohei needs surgical intervention at this time.”
Ohtani has a Grade 2 sprain, or partial tear, of the UCL in his right elbow. In hopes of avoiding Tommy John surgery, the Angels had Ohtani’s ligament
injected with platelet-rich plasma and stem cells earlier this month. Eppler
said he has not had additional injections.
Eppler said Ohtani will not play in rehab games but will take batting practice in a ”private and controlled environment” and could face live pitching
as soon as this weekend. Because Ohtani is not a position player, rehab games
were deemed unnecessary.
”We can control a little bit more the progression,” Eppler said. ”This allows for more freedom, structure and control.”
Ohtani has not been cleared to pitch yet.
His last appearance came June 6 in a start against Kansas City. Ohtani left after four innings with a blister and also mentioned he was feeling tightness in
his elbow. An MRI taken the next day revealed the UCL in his right elbow had
progressed from a Grade 1 strain to a more serious Grade 2 level.
Ohtani won four of his first five decisions before getting injured. He was batting .289 with six home runs and 20 RBIs.
”I know that not being able to play baseball competitively and only being able to train doesn’t really satisfy his appetite and his hunger to play,”
Eppler said. ”He’s now one step closer. I can only assume he’s excited about
it.”
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