What to make of the end of that Nuggets/Mavs game

[mahonedog88]

Anyone catch the end of that game?

Talk about controversy.  And of course it happens to the Mavs and Mark Cuban haha.  Like that guy needs anything else to be mad about.

ESPN didn't show enough replays of the play itself, so I honestly don't know if Wright fouled Melo.  He was obviously trying to but I'm guessing the ref thought he got the ball instead.

Props to Melo though for continuing with the play and knocking down that 3.

[Scribbles]

Melo was clearly fouled but the refs didn't call it.  Real surprise there.  And people wonder why players blow up and will slam somebody down and then get called for a flagrant foul or how fights start.  Sure part of it is self control, but if I was playing next game I'd be whacking somebody extra hard and then plead my case of I had to hit him that hard to make sure you called it. 

[Toine43]

My take on this is simple. It was a clear blocking foul on Antoine Wright, and it should have been called. The Mavs got taken out of this series by one bad call, which sucks for the Mavs and their fans. I can't blame Josh Howard for losing his cool and Carlisle and Cuban for speaking out against the refs after the game and receiving fines (I'm just assuming they will ), because they have the right to be mad about what happened.

However, if Dirk Nowitzki hits just one shot during the final few minutes of that game, Denver doesn't even get a chance to tie it up. He had a great overall game, but had a bunch of key misses late in the fourth.

[Drucci]

Nowitzki missed all his shots in the last 2 or 3 minutes, yeah.

About this controversial play, I can understand why the refs didn't call a foul because Wright didn't clearly foul Melo. Sure he touched him but he didn't grab him and just after this touch he put his hands above his head, like he was saying "I didn't foul!", then the refs don't call anything, Melo hits the three, and then Wright says "I fouled him!! I fouled him!!"...

Controversial non call but still, the Mavs could have fouled more clearly or even earlier.

And now with a 3-0 lead the Nuggets have a ticket for the WCF! Billups was impressive in the second half he didn't miss a shot (almost) and kept his team in the game even when the Mavs made runs he always responded.

[Scribbles]

And also this is the 2nd year in a row now their has been a blown call that has changed the series.  This is very similar to the Brent Barry foul last year in the Lakers-Spurs series.  Not saying Dallas would have won this series but it made it a hell of a lot shorter than it could have been. 

[celticinorlando]

that the nuggets are finally winning games in the end they lost in the past...billups has galvanized that team

[wiley]

If this had happened to the Celtics this would be one p---ed blog.  Half would be p---ed at the refs and the other half at the player for not being more forceful...

[Mad Hatter]

[dang] you denver!

[RebusRankin]

It was a foul but Wright should have kept playing. Smart play by Melo to keep playing.

[kheeko]

Nowitzki missed all his shots in the last 2 or 3 minutes, yeah.

About this controversial play, I can understand why the refs didn't call a foul because Wright didn't clearly foul Melo. Sure he touched him but he didn't grab him and just after this touch he put his hands above his head, like he was saying "I didn't foul!", then the refs don't call anything, Melo hits the three, and then Wright says "I fouled him!! I fouled him!!"...

Controversial non call but still, the Mavs could have fouled more clearly or even earlier.

And now with a 3-0 lead the Nuggets have a ticket for the WCF! Billups was impressive in the second half he didn't miss a shot (almost) and kept his team in the game even when the Mavs made runs he always responded.

Sad they got robbed - ah well afterall Nuggets got a better chance at knocking off the Fakers if they take out houston 

[jdpapa3]

Yeah. There are a couple of people at fault. Wright for not making obvious enough, the refs for not calling it, Carlisle for not telling the refs they would go for the foul, and the NBA for scaring the crap out of everyone to make a hard foul by fining, suspending, ejecting players.

[Toine43]

I look at this as a positive event. The quicker Denver beats the Mavs, the more rest they get before facing LA. That has the potential to be a fantastic series. Prior to the season, I thought it was a given that no one could beat LA in the West. But the way they're playing now, Denver appears to have a legit shot.

[kenmaine]

Personally, I couldn't care less who wins the series, but this is just one more example of how much NBA refs suck.
Everyone, including the refs, had to know that Dallas was going to intentionally foul. I don't know what possible motive the refs could have for ignoring it, but they obviously made a conscious decision to ignore the foul. And make no mistake about it- the refs knew it was a foul, they just decided not to call it.
This crap happens so often that NBA fans are almost numb to it(see other posts that mention Nowitski missing shots at the end of the game, which is totally irrelevant to this issue), and non-NBA fans laugh at us dummies who follow the game.

Oh yes, one other thing- anyone know why ZaZa P was ejected in the Cavs-Hawks game? Just the refs making absolutely sure the Cavs couldn't possibly lose the game? What exactly did he do to justify an ejection?




 

[PierceMVP08]

Wow, I just saw the clip of that and it was NOT  foul.  The blame should be on the Dallas player for not committing it.  I know the NBA said that the refs blew it, but it wasn't obvious.  I guess the refs should have known they were gonna foul intentionally, but you have to do a better job of fouling.  Tough for the Mavs, but this was not intentional by the refs.

[Cman]

I look at this as a positive event. The quicker Denver beats the Mavs, the more rest they get before facing LA. That has the potential to be a fantastic series. Prior to the season, I thought it was a given that no one could beat LA in the West. But the way they're playing now, Denver appears to have a legit shot.

TP.  Can't wait for Denver vs. LA.
Could care less about Dallas.  Good riddance to the Mavs and their loser owner Mark Cuban.  If they want to blame the loss on one missed call, so be it.  I certainly won't be crying into my drink, though.  Reality is Denver is tougher, and wants it more.  And kudos to Billups for bringing a winning attitude to that team.