The Heat–Hornets overtime thriller on Tuesday was marred by what Miami coach Erik Spoelstra called a “stupid play.”
Charlotte pulled out a 127-126 play-in tournament victory, with LaMelo Ball scoring the game-winning layup. Ball was also involved in a controversial play in the first half. Heat wing Simone Fontecchio blocked his shot and the Hornets guard tumbled to the ground. The ball landed in Bam Adebayo‘s hands and Ball, as ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk describes, grabbed at the Heat center’s legs, tripping him.
Adebayo fell hard to the floor and eventually limped back to the locker room. He was ruled out during the second half due to a lower back injury.
Spoelstra felt Ball should have been ejected. Instead, the Hornets guard finished with 30 points and 10 assists.
“I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play,” Spoelstra said, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). “It’s a dangerous play. Obviously, our best player was out. I’m not making an excuse. The Hornets played great and made those plays down the stretch. We had our opportunities to win. That’s a shame. He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans. Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. There’s no place in the game for that.”
Official Zach Zarba explained to a pool reporter why the play wasn’t reviewed
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break,” he said. “And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed. Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a time out. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed.”
According to Zarba, Ball could be disciplined by league operations when they review the play.
Ball was apologetic after the game, Youngmisuk tweets. He said he got hit in the head on the play and didn’t know where he was. He added that he would speak to Adebayo about it.
The Hornets will head to either Philadelphia or Orlando to play on Friday for the final playoff spot in the East.
Not cool Melo
As a bucks fan I agree at least it wasn’t the 2021 NBA finals
link to yardbarker.com
LaMelo Ball apologizes for dirty foul on Bam Adebayo
Beyond just watching the footage, the fact that the play wasn’t stopped after a player hits the deck like that is pretty crazy. The other part of the explanation, “the window to review the play was closed”, like its pretty routine that deep two point makes get changed to threes and vice-versa. Obviously that is a different scenario but bear with me. Like you can’t go back and look at something, fast break or not? Or if we’re being honest, the actual problem, none of the officials were watching the play as it unfolded and thought it deserved a whistle?
And listen Its a very odd thing to happen, but you do in fact have the means to make the right call from what I can tell. Its just a shame that a moment like that makes such a difference in a loser goes home game.
It is absolutely a flagrant. And to have three refs miss it. Is inexcusable. It was a takedown. LaMello was not protecting himself. Really should have been thrown out.
link to x.com
Na that’s soft.. flagrant one yes, thrown out nahhh
Look up the definition of flagrant fouls.
You can’t call a Flagrant Foul on a no-call multiple possessions later. As the officials said, there was nothing they could review.
You can UPGRADE a foul if a call is made, THAT is reviewable. You can’t call fouls two possessions after the fact.
It’s called basketball karma. You valued getting an empty statistical record/accomplishment over playing the game the right way and the “basketball gods” came back around and stacked the odds against you Spo. Just like you apologized to absolutely no one for that farce, I’m sure the hornets are apologizing to absolutely no one for advancing
What a dumb comment. Injuring another player because the Wizards were too lazy to double team a guy once he got to 40-50-60+. That is beyond stupid.
lol talking about Karma. This is LaMello Showboat Ball we are talking about. The guy doesn’t care one bit for anything but his individual accolades.
How do you know what lamelo cares about? Every person on the team and in the organization has said he’s given everything to winning this year. That includes kon.
On the flip side the heat were fouling to get adebayo more chances. Nobody injured another player because of the wizards. What are you even talking about. Stick with your predetermined narrative because only people with zero knowledge of the hornets season would say melo only cares about individual accolades. It’s not hard to watch games. Why don’t you try it
It is so strange to hate someone for not playing basketball the right way and not at all blame the Wizards for letting Bam destroy them ALL NIGHT.
Get some help.
Get some help? You consistently drop some of the most bone headed and illogical commentary on here. I guess at least your name is fitting. I’ll be fine without help
Illogical? Kinda like saying it was karma for Adebayo to get hurt because he scored a lot of points? That’s the definition of illogical.
I don’t agree with the others saying that LaMelo only plays for personal accolades though.
Straw man argument, you’re putting words in my mouth. I didn’t say it was karma for Bam to get hurt. But their season seemed to take a turn for the worst, no question about it. On that date, they were 8 games over .500 and not in the play in. Should have locked in on winning, not a manufactured accolade. They went on a horrible streak of losing and now are going home. It is what it is
So then it’s safe to expect the basketball gods will take Lamelo out for the rest of the playoffs or worse? Basketball Karma and all.
I don’t know melo’s intent but if he was trying to injure Bam, it’ll come back around. Idk about “rest of the playoffs or worse.” If you do believe in karma at all, that’s not exactly how it works
i forgot that even happened
Kobe Bryant fans are the most braindead basketball fans that exist, lmao.
I’m not a Kobe fan, you know what they say about assuming
Simply put, I’m a basketball fan, and I don’t know how anyone who actually watched that performance could view the end of the game as anything but a travesty. I would hate to have to sit through similar crap every time Booker or Luka hit 60 and want to break the record, or guys doing weird stuff like throwing the ball off their own rim to get a triple double. Just play the game to win, that’s the only goal, and appreciate the achievements that occur WITHIN chasing that one goal. All the name calling in the world won’t change my opinion on that
HORNETS haven’t advanced (yet).
Playing the game the right way ….. HEAT have always played hard on both sides of the court, the 29 other teams says as much.
They’ve never tanked a season for picks, they’re always competing whether they have stars or undrafted players.
Yet, you say the basketball god’s are angered for them getting that once in a lifetime scenario of breaking a record and actually going for it?
Take a deep breath, son. Chill.
Really lol.
And yes I said what I said. What the heat did was a farce and they went on to lose a ton of games after that. “Heat culture” doesn’t excuse what they did that game. You talked about everything EXCEPT that. So yes, I said the basketball gods were angered. Nobody needs to chill, I have an opinion that you disagree with, maybe you need to chill
You can literally map their results after that game and see a marked downturn
I will say that the basketball gods in all likelihood hate Pat Riley, so there could be all kinds of karma at work here 😜
Y’all are grown people with mortgages and car payments, talking about “basketball gods”. Wtf🤣🤣🤣
You thought you got that one off huh. And I don’t have a car payment, you sound like you’re the one preoccupied with your debts. Sucks that doesn’t allow you to have thoughts on anything else. You’ll get that monkey off your back one day though.
What in the world are you talking about, dude?🤣. I hope the basketball gods heal your heart of stone.🤣🤣🤣
Blazers just got a whole new fan base in Chicago lols.
Deni slays the Suns —- 41 pts, 12 ast.
16 pick is coming —- Hannes Steinbach ✊
link to thecenterhub.substack.com
link to youtu.be
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break,” he said. “And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed. Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a time out. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed.”
So are they admitting they missed the play. Or that they didn’t call it. What are they looking at. If he went to rim then Fell and took Bam with him. There is a ref always looking at the post. Total incompetence.
That piece of garbage should get a 25 game suspension for this next season and have to sit out the playoffs. Ball knew what he was doing. He was trying to injure the best player on the Heat. What a scumbag.
25 games is dramatic. A flagrant and possible ejection would be fair enough
I’d say a 2 game suspension and a $500,000 fine is reasonable.
I curse thee Basketball Gods!
Damm you all to hell!
(For the HEAT’s losing streak, immediately after Bam’s 83)
I too would be furious over a Ball’s grab
The league needs to act aggressively on these dirty plays. They are happening way too often, and stars are getting hurt. Guys like Dort, and Brooks exist to do this garbage and players like Jokic and Wemby are targeted which hurts the league. This isn’t old school physical play it’s just nonsense
What did Spoelstra have to say back when the Heat’s Kelly Olynyk pulled Kevin Love’s arm out of its socket to ruin the Cavs playoff chances back in 2015?
Spoelstra probably didn’t have much to say considering olynyk played for the Celtics back then
Regardless of the dirty play it couldn’t be more clear that Spo must GO and it’s time for Pat to live on his boat and leave as well. Coby White with a 3 to tie the game, Melo layup wins it. How many times this year have we had these unforgivable losses. Any other Coach after 4 play ins and being outcoached over and over would be gone, Tom Thibodeau? And the lack of proper personnel moves, wouldn’t Precious Achuwa helped this team more than Kelton Johnson? Pat is a legend but he and his creation, Spoless, need to exit, it’s time.
Agreed, we should’ve started rebuilding 2 seasons ago.
Lol, you think Thibs would be a better coach than Spo?
100000%
Spo is a Top 3 coach in the league hands down.
Thibs lives in the 15 range.
Nevermind that Spo is 13 years younger, has actually won championships as a head coach, and has been with the franchise his whole career (whereas Thibs wears out his welcome after 3 seasons, not 20).
This is honestly as dumb as suggesting the Spurs get rid of Popovich.
Drink the kool aid. So many late game losses, big game blow outs, mishandling Ware. Ohhh did I say Spo must go after 4 play ins and this loss? Sacrilege! Riley is the Godfather,true, but it’s time for him to take Spo and go. Spo is just Riley’s creation anyway. Look at the actual games this year not revisionist history from 2006!
Ah yeah because Thibs has never mishandled anyone in his career LOL. Thibs wouldn’t do any better there considering Ware’s defense is the issue and we know what Thibs does to those types of players.
Spo is the superior coach for a variety of reasons. Thibs got fired because his offense was predictable & inflexible, whereas Spo revamped his whole offense in one offseason.
Spo is the better in-game tactician, better ATOs, better Challenges, much better at developing players, knows how to utilize his bench depth, ETC.
Did anyone call it cute or funny?
Absolutely diabolical. Please fine the Hornets and LaMelo Ball and suspend Ball for two games as well
🤣🤣
Per Chris Haynes, the league announced that they will “review” the incident:
Sources: NBA to review Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball for taking out ankle of Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo in 2nd Q, resulting in hard spill and back injury that cost him rest of crucial do-or-die play-in contest. Ruling expected before Hornets’ final play-in bout on Friday.
link to threads.com
Nothing to see here, just an unfortunate accident during a game, happens, move on!
Any punishment on LaMelo will be wrong!
He did less (and more discretely) than Embid did to Mitch in a playoff game a couple of years ago. I believe that was called a Flagrant 1, nothing more.