OT Lance Stephenson

[alfonse]

So anyone see the game and his antics last night? He described it as, "Just playing Ball" I play ball lots and if people were blowing in other peoples ears their would be fights. Think the NBA will fine him for that garbage, they definitely should. To me that is crossing a line, whats next, flicking boogers at him to get in his head.

On a separate note seems "convenient" for the NBA that Lebron got in foul trouble in that game thus assuring the series will go 6 or more.

 

[Dogdeacon]

It's entertainment and I thought Stevenson was damn entertaining. Lance blowing in LeBron's ear was funny!? I agree though that it can't be every game and player and certainly next game the refs will be on the lookout.

Refs favor home teams but any conspiracy is absurd yet somehow par for course in NBA since forever. Bball is just a tough very subjective game to officiate.

 

[ford82]

His antics backfire on him as often as they work but last night they worked. Lebron James had a career playoff low in points. Yes, he was in foul trouble but he shot 2-10 from the field. Honestly, I didn't mind it. At least the guy is passionate and trying to win. Most guys in the NBA are too friendly. With that being said, Lance wasn't the reason why the Pacers won, Paul George was.

 

[Kitaman]

People would be surprised at the amount of trash talking and antics (to gain any advantage) that goes on in the league during games. There are 10 ultra egos on the court at the same time. Even Durant admitted he got caught up in the trash talking recently during a game.

 

[Dogdeacon]

His antics backfire on him as often as they work but last night they worked. Lebron James had a career playoff low in points. Yes, he was in foul trouble but he shot 2-10 from the field. Honestly, I didn't mind it. At least the guy is passionate and trying to win. Most guys in the NBA are too friendly. With that being said, Lance wasn't the reason why the Pacers won, Paul George was.

Oh I don't think Lance's antics worked at all. Lance's intense defense resulting in the steal that got the 5th foul on LeBron is all that worked. All the other stuff was gamesmanship and very easy to pick on LeBron when he's down. Lance had a few flops (although one tit-for-tat when LeBron was trying to draw a foul on a 3 attempt - good no call both ways) and one Lance flop in particular was absurd and will almost certainly be a fine. I think the net effect will be LeBron will put up a game 6 reminiscent of his legendary one in Boston a few years back.

 

[Adios]

Saying Wade hopes he injures his knee is taking things a bit too far. But blowing in James' ear, that was classic. lol

 

[Cheddie]

Stephenson tearing apart Pacers? - ESPN article

 

[alfonse]

The one flop Hibbert tried to help up Stephenson and Stephenson tried to stay on the ground which resulted in him getting dragged on the ground. That would piss me off if I was his teammate

 

[traitor71]

He is a complete buffoon. The flopping and not really being in a hurry to get up, the choke sign thing a few years ago, blowing in the ear, crazy comments, hanging out around the other teams huddle..the guy is the lead fool on a team full of them.

 

[intlzncster]

Refs favor home teams but any conspiracy is absurd yet somehow par for course in NBA since forever. Bball is just a tough very subjective game to officiate.

After Donaghy, I think it's a fair question to at least ask.

 

[intlzncster]

Saying Wade hopes he injures his knee is taking things a bit too far. But blowing in James' ear, that was classic. lol

He did take his trash talking back though. Apologized for it all; called it a learning experience etc.

 

[tykurez]

I have mixed emotions. The Pacers aren't really as likable as they used to be. Paul George is an enigma ... a superstar's worth of talent with half of a basketball player's brain. Hibbert is just a dead body out there, and George Hill has fallen off a steep cliff. Stephenson is a complete maniac. The only guy worthy of any respect anymore is David West and he seems like he's about quit on this team.

But I still hate the Heat. I still DETEST Dwayne Wade. And I still love an entertaining basketball game. That was an entertaining basketball game ... not in a show-of-skill sense but a reality tv sense. Watching Lance Stephenson try to troll everyone from Spoelstra to Lebron was highly enjoyable.

 

[aceboon]

wasn't all that different from Rodman used to do on a regular basis, he was out there grabbing guys asses and had Alonzo Mourning flustered out of his mind during the Heat/Bulls playoff matchups. I could see if he was doing it every night but last game was the first he went to those levels of trolling, he won't do that every game.

 

[UCweCONN]

He totally held Lebron on the mid - court steal when they called Lebron for the foul. What was the ref looking at?

 

[kobe]

Lance is my guy but this teammate stuff isn't anything new. I personally witnessed another UC player about to swing on him during the warmups before his last home game. He is probably the reason why that team ended up in the NIT when they had clear NCAA talent.

 

[Scoe]

The guy may be an idiot but he's entertaining. The idiots entertain me more then the stars do. You have to have a ton of confidence to go up against the best player in the world.

 

[Scoe]

 

[dogfan96]

Nobody on that team likes him.. I'd be shocked if he comes back to Indiana next year.

 

[Dogdeacon]

After Donaghy, I think it's a fair question to at least ask.

True, but a rogue official is different than a league - TV network motivated conspiracy to fix outcomes of games. Then again, historically the league absolutely assigns certain officials (Dick Bavetta*) that favor home-teams in situations were a home-team W keeps a series going. And so once you routinely do that you may be essentially telling these officials that they are expected to favor the home team.

from Wiki
*In a 2002 article, Bill Simmons named the worst officiated games of the prior four years, alleging that the games involved either extending a series so it did not end quickly or advancing a large market team for the NBA's benefit. All seven games named had been officiated by Bavetta. [20]

 

[Kitaman]

Well coming from uc, he does know that UConn players ain't having it!

 

[mauconnfan]

He totally held Lebron on the mid - court steal when they called Lebron for the foul. What was the ref looking at?

That was a foul on Lebron….he lost the ball then moved in front of Stephenson to keep him from beating him to it and therefore wasn't going after the ball. It was the right call, LeBron first and then Stephenson held him to get him out of the way because LJ was fouling him….I could have seen it wrong but I doubt it they showed it enough

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I don't know. Most of those fouls on Lebron last night were pretty ridiculous, that one included. The guy averages a foul and a half a game and I'm not sure any of the ones called on him last night were clear fouls. The timing does not do much to quiet those people who say the league has their thumb on the scale when a team's trying to close out a series early.

 

[intlzncster]

wasn't all that different from Rodman used to do on a regular basis, he was out there grabbing guys asses and had Alonzo Mourning flustered out of his mind during the Heat/Bulls playoff matchups. I could see if he was doing it every night but last game was the first he went to those levels of trolling, he won't do that every game.

Probably in the minority here (said that too much lately), but I absolutely loved Rodman. Very entertaining in more ways than one to watch. One of my favorite all time players. Loved watching him D up Shaq while giving up significant inches and weight.

 

[dogfan96]

Why on earth would you keep poking the bear? He was in foul trouble and barely played half the game.. you won. So why on earth would you be instigating stuff with this guy? You know how this story ends....

 

[blackbird]

I've watched the Pacers since AJ was on the team.

I like Hill, Paul George, David West, and Frank Vogel. In fact, I feel badly for Frank Vogel. I think he's milked everything possible out of that team..and that team has exceeded expectations, and they've come back to earth a bit. And he's blamed for it.

George is incredibly talented. I like a 24 year old that excels at defense. His offensive skills aren't there yet, but they'll come.

Stephenson though..most of the time the guy drives me nuts. I would hate him if he was my teammate. But I find what he does to Lebron and Wade to be sort of funny.

As for the refs..the entire Pacers starting lineup got in foul trouble at some point during their trip to Miami. The calls on Lebron weren't bad calls, they were just calls not typically called on Lebron. Cry me a river.