Just when you think you’ve seen everything, some NBA player makes a bonehead play that defies all logic. With the Clippers down 27 points to the Raptors last weekend, and just under 13 seconds remaining in the game, Toronto’s rookie center Jonas Valanciunas brings the ball up to center court to run the clock out.
Just as he crosses mid court, Clippers’ Caron Butler reaches up to give the big guy a ‘high-five’ but instead reaches for the ball, grabs it and trots down to try and bring the game 2 points closer. Some might say it was a brilliant ploy, but in the school of professional basketball ethics, it’s just a cheap move.
FANTASY FURNACE 
It was a classless act by Caron Butler ! But hey , at least he didn’t knee the kid in the groin while pulling that bu###hit move !
If interested let me know what you think critiquing the following ? As and when you’re ready .
NBA , NFL related piece
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/when-its-all-said-and-done-the-better-man-or-team-won-or-were-they/
Simply NBA related :
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/the-lunatics-have-indeed-taken-over-the-asylum/
Tophatal …….
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It was a classless act. I wonder what his teammates said to him after the game about the spot he put them in? I will say this if he were a teammate of mine and did that in front of me, we would have words about after the game. It may not be the worse thing he could have done but it is sure not the brightest thing to do either, and the fact that he was rewarded with getting a foul and shots to go with it should have the Raptors steeming for some time to come.
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Classless is the very word to describe what he did. Down 27? Seconds left in the game? Really?
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Let’s see if anyone inside the Clippers’ organization or the league hierarchy will do anything to reprimand Butler . Probably not , as they’re all a bunch of sniveling weak kneed ba$tards !
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No, I don’t think they will either Alan as the game took place over the weekend. Something would have come out by now if there was any action to be taken. I mean what he did was not illegal-just unethical and classless and you can’t nor should you be fined for being a buffoon!
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Stern has always been concerned about ” the image of the NBA ” and the lessons being sent to the kids . . Does he possess the balls to do what’s ethically right , or will he simply let this slip ? David Stern much like his counterparts within the NHL, NFL and MLB , are simply imbeciles !
If I’m not mistaken the NBA much like the NFL does review all game film to assess the performances of the officials and conduct of the players. So, there is no reason why the league cannot mete out some form of punishment retroactively, as they see fit . It has been done by the NFL and the NBA before .
So the Rockets got manner from heaven as they rained down three pointers (23 three’s) in a 140-109 victory over on the Warriors ? Where’s the ” beef ” or in this case the ” defense” from the Warriors ? Mark Jackson was dumbstruck with his postgame responses . LOL,LOL,LOL !!!! Old school ? Who’s he (Jackson) kidding, that Warriors’ team couldn’t stop a dog from using a fire hydrant as a receptacle to drop a deuce amongst other things .
Tophatal …………
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Stern will let this go and rightfully so as nothing illegal was done. What Butler did would be like a player attempting a three-pointer while his team is up by 27 with 10 seconds left in the game. Illegal? Nope. Unethical? Yep!
As for The Warrior’s game, after the first dozen threes by the Rockets, Jackson should have called his team out and urged them to better guard the perimeter. Clearly that wasn’t done..
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Hey Fantasy Man, you’ve been nominated.
http://drinkswellwithothers.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/reality-writes/
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Hank
There’s the spirit of the game and sportsmanship ! What ? That mean is meant to mean absolutely nothing nowadays ?
The wrong message is being sent to kids and we wonder the hell why there’s such disconnect ? Butler is an ###hole , and he has been that way for years !
Tophatal …………..
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I hear ya Al but the worst that’s going to happen to Butler already did. He probably got called out by a group of his embarrassed teammates and coaches after that game. That, unfortunately, is about all the consequences that he’ll face. Sad.
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Mark Jackson urging anyone to do anything remotely intelligent is akin to asking Lindsay Lohan to quit drinking and doing drugs . It ain’t happening . LOL,LOL,LOL !!!
The Warriors are a work in progress and they’ve still a great deal to learn on both ends of the floor .
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Jackson is delusional in terms of his own traits as a head coach .
Tophatal ……………….
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I respectfully disagree with you here. In just his 2nd year at the helm, he’s done a upstanding job with this team. At 30-19 they have over-achieved this season and are just one of eight teams with a winning record on the road in NBA.
Give the dude some props Alan. With their record they would be in 1st or 2nd place in almost every conference in the league!
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And that is your right , as it makes for a healthy debate , which I always welcome ! But , here it is in a nutshell , if he’s (Jackson) not intent in getting his team to play defense then they will suffer (giving up 100.7 ppg 4th worst in the West) , especially in the ” dog eat dog ” and overly competitive Western Conference .
The Warriors stand sixth in the conference and third within their division which is commendable , given their history and lack of recent postseason play . Their last appearance came in 2007 .
Tophatal …………
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Just the mere fact that they probably will make the playoffs this year is a huge accomplishment and one that the pundits had not predicted. They don’t have the most talented group of defensive pesonnel but Jackson has barely coached a full season given that last year’s lockout cut the season short. Be patient Oh Ye of little faith…
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With their record (30-19) …….. great , but , at the end of the day this is a team that has so far exceeded expectations and should they make the playoffs , based on current standings as the sixth seed they would end up playing the Clippers (35-16) . How do you see that series going down ? Albeit that the Warriors leads the regular season series 3-1 for the 2012-13 season .
They last met on the 21st January 2013, with the Warriors winning 106-99
Head to head Clippers vs (regular season) Warriors . They’ve met 194 times during the regular season with the Warriors holding a 112-82 lead
Postseason match-ups between the two franchises . (0-0)
Make of it what you will , two teams desperately seeking postseason acclaim , and where both have their defensive foibles under their respective coaches .
Tophatal …………
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As for the Giants Alan, Jerry Reese is one of the few G.M.s who knows what he’s doing. LB David Deule, a 10 year veteran, might be next. They’re about $3 million away from the magic $121 Million cap (the Jet, for example, are $30 million away… STILL!) I have total faith in what Reese does. Period!
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I fully understand with regard Jackson , but in terms of defense the Warriors were never known for that to begin with , and even with that current roster , which players do you believe possesses a defensive mindset ?
The Giants to my mind are very much like the Steelers , as each team has an aging core group where it needs to be addressed .
Capt hit for the Steelers and Giants
Tophatal ……….
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Reese is extremely good at what he does but at the end of the day it’s all about the performances of the players in question . Beyond the injuries suffered by the team , plain and simple this wasn’t to be the Giants’ year within the NFC East or conference .
Tophatal …………
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