I disagree. There was no intent to foul. It was an obvious swipe at the ball. And in fact, winding up like that is to assure you knock the ball away. It was a clear swipe, all ball, just that he nicked the nose of Payne. They called it flagrant because he got his face, but I still disagree according to the rules -- he made a play on the ball and the contact was incidental to that. It you can't see that, then you're blind. Watch a replay.
I don't think he was trying to hurt the guy; he was trying to steal the ball and he would've if he hadn't barely nicked Payne's nose. I had my middle finger broken on a similar type of play in a men's league game and a foul wasn't even called -- of course, they weren't NBA refs, but our refs did officiate local high school games, so they were competent.
He wound up with intent to take a frustration foul... it was reckless imo. Hand injury or a shoulder injury can happen. It wasn't a basketball play. That is how they have called it so it was pretty consistent imo. The contact on the face wasn't intentional at all... it was a stupid non-basketball play that could have completely been avoided... homeboy wanted to hit something. You pay the price when that happens.
But if he didn't accidentally clip his nose, it would've been a good play. It wasn't reckless like PG's tripping of Donovan at the end of Game 2. I don't think there was intent and that's the most important factor. Sure he was frustrated but when you swipe at a ball, you don't measure it, you just respond; it's spontaneous. Anyway, that's how I see it, and because of lack of intent, it should've been no worse than a Flagrant One.
Hawks at least going to make them earn it tonight
He’s humble so I’m sure he will understand
He’s lazy and not humble enough to do that.
Good post.
