Response to Giannis’ Bully Ball

[Rondo9]

If Bucks can get away with this, they should continue to do so..it works

I for one am happy they allow more physicality in the playoffs.  Basketball is a contact sport.  All this whining about Giannis when our players practically mugged KD in the 1st series.  The league is still soft but at least its closer to 80s basketball.

I mean, there's absolutely a difference there.

Nobody is complaining about Jrue's and Matthews' physical D. They're playing good, solid physical D on us just like we're playing on them and the Nets.

But that's completely different than the blatant offensive fouls that Giannis gets away with and has for his entire career. He literally runs over guys, almost always liberally uses his off arm, and chicken wings/elbows guys to create space constantly. Those are absolutely offensive fouls.

Please.  You complain about the refs in almost every game thread.  It is one of the most consistent things on this forum. 

Players driving the lane initiate contact and push off to gain space all the time.  It is rarely called especially for star players.  Defensive players have to be almost perfect to get a charge against normal NBA players.  Giannis' combination of size and strength and athleticism makes it even more difficult to do so. 

Remember on the play Siakim broke Embiid's face that the initial call was a foul on Embiid.  One of the most obvious use of elbows I've seen in a while and they still called the foul on the defensive player.

I'm sure if it was Tatum who got hit instead of Embiid, you'll applauding it saying that this was 80s Basketball being back.

[Chief]

If Bucks can get away with this, they should continue to do so..it works

I for one am happy they allow more physicality in the playoffs.  Basketball is a contact sport.  All this whining about Giannis when our players practically mugged KD in the 1st series.  The league is still soft but at least its closer to 80s basketball.

I mean, there's absolutely a difference there.

Nobody is complaining about Jrue's and Matthews' physical D. They're playing good, solid physical D on us just like we're playing on them and the Nets.

But that's completely different than the blatant offensive fouls that Giannis gets away with and has for his entire career. He literally runs over guys, almost always liberally uses his off arm, and chicken wings/elbows guys to create space constantly. Those are absolutely offensive fouls.

2 different NBA national analysts have made comments about the fouls on live TV. Something has to be corrected. It's completely insane to watch.

[ScoobyDoo]

I don't take issue with anything going on in this series other than Giannis being able to run people over all night. That is the single complaint - and that issue has a major impact, in a negative way, for the Celtics. Every good offensive player throws chicken wings all night - Giannis runs people over - it's different. It's an offensive foul, it should be called that way. 

[droopdog7]

Bucks have gotten away with playing like the old Bad Boys Pistons with the physicality and fouling such that the refs just swallow the whistles. 

Don't see that changing short of a Mchale-on-Rambis-type-clothesline on one of Giannis' drives to the hoop.  player would likely be tossed for the series but it'd make a point

i was most disappointed by the lack of response to giannis’ takedown of tatum. someone on this team should have sent a message to giannis and the entire bucks team via a hard foul.

despite the refs turning a blind eye, the bucks need to know they will pay for overly physical and dirty play. i was disappointed marcus or grant didn’t take an opportunity to send a strong, physical message, especially in response to the tatum foul, which could have seriously injured tatum. from what i’ve read about ime, i’m surprised he didn’t call for it during a TO.

I didn't think that giannis foul was that bad, but the elbow Rob took warranted an ejection.

I didn't think the foul on tatum was that bad.  And the elbow on rob was a tough luck no call but the right one.  Both went for the ball, the ball squirted away, the Mil guy is allowed to land at that point.  You're not going to call a foul when the ball is already gone and no one had an advantage on it.  By no means did Portis throw and elbow. 

It's too bad that rob got hurt but that a no call all day, never mind any kind of an ejection.

[johnnygreen]

I think it may have been in game 2, where Grant Williams stood his ground, and Giannis was on a semi breakaway. Giannis bounced off Williams, like he hit a brick wall and turned the ball over. There was no foul call. So my question is, if the Celtics players man up, like Williams did, can Giannis really get away with bully ball? The answer is no. However, if the Celtics continue to play with skirts, and flop around, then Giannis should get away with bully ball.

[sgrogan]

I think it may have been in game 2, where Grant Williams stood his ground, and Giannis was on a semi breakaway. Giannis bounced off Williams, like he hit a brick wall and turned the ball over. There was no foul call. So my question is, if the Celtics players man up, like Williams did, can Giannis really get away with bully ball? The answer is no. However, if the Celtics continue to play with skirts, and flop around, then Giannis should get away with bully ball.

There is limited shelf life getting run over by a 260lb man, skirts or not.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Man just watching those highlights. Giannis' offhand is ridiculous.

Tatum can get away with it too. That'd be my answer to OP. Tatum's gotta be physical too.

[staticcc]

Good on JT and the Cs coaching staff. They saw that the refs were letting Janice get away with bully ball so JT did it in Game 4 too!

[michigan adam]

Bucks have gotten away with playing like the old Bad Boys Pistons with the physicality and fouling such that the refs just swallow the whistles. 

Don't see that changing short of a Mchale-on-Rambis-type-clothesline on one of Giannis' drives to the hoop.  player would likely be tossed for the series but it'd make a point

i was most disappointed by the lack of response to giannis’ takedown of tatum. someone on this team should have sent a message to giannis and the entire bucks team via a hard foul.

despite the refs turning a blind eye, the bucks need to know they will pay for overly physical and dirty play. i was disappointed marcus or grant didn’t take an opportunity to send a strong, physical message, especially in response to the tatum foul, which could have seriously injured tatum. from what i’ve read about ime, i’m surprised he didn’t call for it during a TO.

I didn't think that giannis foul was that bad, but the elbow Rob took warranted an ejection.

I didn't think the foul on tatum was that bad.  And the elbow on rob was a tough luck no call but the right one.  Both went for the ball, the ball squirted away, the Mil guy is allowed to land at that point.  You're not going to call a foul when the ball is already gone and no one had an advantage on it.  By no means did Portis throw and elbow. 

It's too bad that rob got hurt but that a no call all day, never mind any kind of an ejection.

The counter to that is hortford brought his arms down from being over his head and got a T for it.  Giannis has done similar at lease 4 times in last 2 games and didn't even get a foul.  Notice game changed after giannis got hit though.  He was way less agressive after the hit.  Either it knocked him out of his zone or he just ran out of steam...

[ETNCeltics]

Bucks have gotten away with playing like the old Bad Boys Pistons with the physicality and fouling such that the refs just swallow the whistles. 

Don't see that changing short of a Mchale-on-Rambis-type-clothesline on one of Giannis' drives to the hoop.  player would likely be tossed for the series but it'd make a point

i was most disappointed by the lack of response to giannis’ takedown of tatum. someone on this team should have sent a message to giannis and the entire bucks team via a hard foul.

despite the refs turning a blind eye, the bucks need to know they will pay for overly physical and dirty play. i was disappointed marcus or grant didn’t take an opportunity to send a strong, physical message, especially in response to the tatum foul, which could have seriously injured tatum. from what i’ve read about ime, i’m surprised he didn’t call for it during a TO.

I didn't think that giannis foul was that bad, but the elbow Rob took warranted an ejection.

It was a hard foul but I don't believe that was a cheap foul. That still makes it look worse than it was.

lol no, that still shows it as it actually was, not how you perceived it to be.

[radiohead]

That Horford play was very similar to Bobby Portis’ when he came down with an elbow on Timelord’s face. In fact, i think the Portis elbow was even more blatant. I just hope the refs call it more consistently because the Bucks are getting away with all those shenanigans and yet Big Al gets a technical for the exact same situation.

[angryguy77]

Bucks have gotten away with playing like the old Bad Boys Pistons with the physicality and fouling such that the refs just swallow the whistles. 

Don't see that changing short of a Mchale-on-Rambis-type-clothesline on one of Giannis' drives to the hoop.  player would likely be tossed for the series but it'd make a point

i was most disappointed by the lack of response to giannis’ takedown of tatum. someone on this team should have sent a message to giannis and the entire bucks team via a hard foul.

despite the refs turning a blind eye, the bucks need to know they will pay for overly physical and dirty play. i was disappointed marcus or grant didn’t take an opportunity to send a strong, physical message, especially in response to the tatum foul, which could have seriously injured tatum. from what i’ve read about ime, i’m surprised he didn’t call for it during a TO.

I didn't think that giannis foul was that bad, but the elbow Rob took warranted an ejection.

It was a hard foul but I don't believe that was a cheap foul. That still makes it look worse than it was.

lol no, that still shows it as it actually was, not how you perceived it to be.

You can take a still shot and make it look like he's dropping the elbow. Now watch in real time:

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1523036611864268801


He's going for the ball. It was a hard foul. There are plenty of plays you can use to show how cheap he is, but this was not one of them.

[droopdog7]

Bucks have gotten away with playing like the old Bad Boys Pistons with the physicality and fouling such that the refs just swallow the whistles. 

Don't see that changing short of a Mchale-on-Rambis-type-clothesline on one of Giannis' drives to the hoop.  player would likely be tossed for the series but it'd make a point

i was most disappointed by the lack of response to giannis’ takedown of tatum. someone on this team should have sent a message to giannis and the entire bucks team via a hard foul.

despite the refs turning a blind eye, the bucks need to know they will pay for overly physical and dirty play. i was disappointed marcus or grant didn’t take an opportunity to send a strong, physical message, especially in response to the tatum foul, which could have seriously injured tatum. from what i’ve read about ime, i’m surprised he didn’t call for it during a TO.

I didn't think that giannis foul was that bad, but the elbow Rob took warranted an ejection.

I didn't think the foul on tatum was that bad.  And the elbow on rob was a tough luck no call but the right one.  Both went for the ball, the ball squirted away, the Mil guy is allowed to land at that point.  You're not going to call a foul when the ball is already gone and no one had an advantage on it.  By no means did Portis throw and elbow. 

It's too bad that rob got hurt but that a no call all day, never mind any kind of an ejection.

The counter to that is hortford brought his arms down from being over his head and got a T for it.  Giannis has done similar at lease 4 times in last 2 games and didn't even get a foul.  Notice game changed after giannis got hit though.  He was way less agressive after the hit.  Either it knocked him out of his zone or he just ran out of steam...

Yeah, I’m going to be consistent and say that the tech on Al was complete BS.

[Goldstar88]

Bucks have gotten away with playing like the old Bad Boys Pistons with the physicality and fouling such that the refs just swallow the whistles. 

Don't see that changing short of a Mchale-on-Rambis-type-clothesline on one of Giannis' drives to the hoop.  player would likely be tossed for the series but it'd make a point

i was most disappointed by the lack of response to giannis’ takedown of tatum. someone on this team should have sent a message to giannis and the entire bucks team via a hard foul.

despite the refs turning a blind eye, the bucks need to know they will pay for overly physical and dirty play. i was disappointed marcus or grant didn’t take an opportunity to send a strong, physical message, especially in response to the tatum foul, which could have seriously injured tatum. from what i’ve read about ime, i’m surprised he didn’t call for it during a TO.

I didn't think that giannis foul was that bad, but the elbow Rob took warranted an ejection.

I didn't think the foul on tatum was that bad.  And the elbow on rob was a tough luck no call but the right one.  Both went for the ball, the ball squirted away, the Mil guy is allowed to land at that point.  You're not going to call a foul when the ball is already gone and no one had an advantage on it.  By no means did Portis throw and elbow. 

It's too bad that rob got hurt but that a no call all day, never mind any kind of an ejection.

The counter to that is hortford brought his arms down from being over his head and got a T for it.  Giannis has done similar at lease 4 times in last 2 games and didn't even get a foul.  Notice game changed after giannis got hit though.  He was way less agressive after the hit.  Either it knocked him out of his zone or he just ran out of steam...

Yeah, I’m going to be consistent and say that the tech on Al was complete BS.

Based on Al’s response (or lack there of) after the T was called, think he did it on purpose and I respect him for it. Giannis has been hitting people in the face all series long.  It was time to return the favor.

[Celtics2021]

Bucks have gotten away with playing like the old Bad Boys Pistons with the physicality and fouling such that the refs just swallow the whistles. 

Don't see that changing short of a Mchale-on-Rambis-type-clothesline on one of Giannis' drives to the hoop.  player would likely be tossed for the series but it'd make a point

i was most disappointed by the lack of response to giannis’ takedown of tatum. someone on this team should have sent a message to giannis and the entire bucks team via a hard foul.

despite the refs turning a blind eye, the bucks need to know they will pay for overly physical and dirty play. i was disappointed marcus or grant didn’t take an opportunity to send a strong, physical message, especially in response to the tatum foul, which could have seriously injured tatum. from what i’ve read about ime, i’m surprised he didn’t call for it during a TO.

I didn't think that giannis foul was that bad, but the elbow Rob took warranted an ejection.

I didn't think the foul on tatum was that bad.  And the elbow on rob was a tough luck no call but the right one.  Both went for the ball, the ball squirted away, the Mil guy is allowed to land at that point.  You're not going to call a foul when the ball is already gone and no one had an advantage on it.  By no means did Portis throw and elbow. 

It's too bad that rob got hurt but that a no call all day, never mind any kind of an ejection.

The counter to that is hortford brought his arms down from being over his head and got a T for it.  Giannis has done similar at lease 4 times in last 2 games and didn't even get a foul.  Notice game changed after giannis got hit though.  He was way less agressive after the hit.  Either it knocked him out of his zone or he just ran out of steam...

Yeah, I’m going to be consistent and say that the tech on Al was complete BS.

Based on Al’s response (or lack there of) after the T was called, think he did it on purpose and I respect him for it. Giannis has been hitting people in the face all series long.  It was time to return the favor.

I don't think he did it on purpose.  I think he knew when he swung his arm out in celebration that he made contact, so he was ready for the T.  He'd have been (justifiably) upset had more been called.