I've been looking at that replay over and over. When it happened in the game I just thought it was a hard foul in the flow of the game.
However, looking back on that play, I'm pretty convinced Len knew what he was doing. He catches the ball facing the basket and looks at who is guarding him (Hill). He had a smaller defender and could have gone straight up for the layup. However, instead he brings his right elbow across his body towards his left in a swinging motion. That move put him OUT of shooting position, so AFTER he hits Hill he recovers back to his ORIGINAL position.
I get that its basketball, and that's the kind of dirty play we all saw plenty of in the 80s and 90s.
What I don't get is why nobody on the team went after Len. In the NBA, bigs are supposed to defend their PGs. Where was Gobert? Favors? Anybody? Guess because it was on the other end of the court. But they certainly could have returned the favor.
However, looking back on that play, I'm pretty convinced Len knew what he was doing. He catches the ball facing the basket and looks at who is guarding him (Hill). He had a smaller defender and could have gone straight up for the layup. However, instead he brings his right elbow across his body towards his left in a swinging motion. That move put him OUT of shooting position, so AFTER he hits Hill he recovers back to his ORIGINAL position.
I get that its basketball, and that's the kind of dirty play we all saw plenty of in the 80s and 90s.
What I don't get is why nobody on the team went after Len. In the NBA, bigs are supposed to defend their PGs. Where was Gobert? Favors? Anybody? Guess because it was on the other end of the court. But they certainly could have returned the favor.