League breaks down Game 1 key plays
OAKLAND >> As if this play was not reviewed enough already, the NBA’s twominute report confirmed that officials were correct in calling LeBron James for a blocking foul against Kevin Durant in a key possession in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ Game 1 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
Durant originally was called for an offensive foul as the Warriors trailed 104102 with 36.4 seconds remaining. Though it was clear James was outside of the restricted area when it happened, the NBA’s twominute report stated that the officiating crew of Ken Mauer, Tony Brothers and Ed Malloy “was not reasonably certain whether James was in the restricted area.”
The crew determined that James was outside the restricted area and that he committed a blocking foul. The two-minute report stated that “James was not in a legal guarding position because he was turning his body and moving into Durant when contact occurred.”
The Cavaliers took issue with the call because the review initially was triggered to determine whether James was outside the restricted area, which replays show he clearly was. Subsequently, Durant made two foul shots to tie the score at 104-104. Still, the NBA has said it recently adopted a policy it can review plays to determine a charging or blocking call.
• On the missed freethrow attempt by Cavaliers guard George Hill with 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation and the score 107107 — the ball rebounded by J.R. Smith — the twominute report said Warriors forward Draymond Green should have been called for a lane violation before Hill’s miss. That would have granted Hill an additional foul shot. The report then stated that Smith made “incidental contact” with Durant before grabbing the rebound.
The report also stated that Green should have been called for a foul on James after grabbing his arm and affecting his freedom of movement with 12.1 seconds remaining. On the next play, Warriors guard Klay Thompson was called for a foul that sent Hill to the line with 4.7 seconds left.
• Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (lateral left leg contusion) is listed as doubtful for Game 2 on Sunday, according to coach Steve Kerr.
“He’s feeling a little bit better,” Kerr said in a conference call Friday afternoon. “I would probably call him as doubtful for Game 2 but we’ll see how it goes.”
Iguodala, who was injured in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals
in a collision with James Harden, has missed the past five games. A re-evaluation Tuesday revealed inflammation around the nerve in his left knee.
• Cavaliers forward Kevin Love will not be suspended for leaving the bench area during a scuffle late in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a source confirmed to the Bay Area News Group.
Yahoo Sports first reported the news that Love
would not be suspended.
According to the source, the NBA determined that Love was on the floor to contest a call during a deadball stoppage before the altercation involving Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson. When the altercation started, the source added, Love went to the bench in a timely manner.
Love, who missed most of Game 6 and all of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals because of a concussion, returned in Game 1 and had 21 points and 13 rebounds in 39 minutes.
• The league has fined Thompson $25,000 as part of that late-game incident with Shaun Livingston and Green, but he will not be suspended. The league fined him for failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection and for shoving the basketball in the face Green, league executive Kiki VanDeWeghe announced. The incident occurred with 2.6 seconds remaining in overtime Thursday.
Also, Thompson’s Flagrant 2, which was assessed for his actions in contesting Livingston’s jump shot, was downgraded to a Flagrant 1. The foul occurred directly prior to Thompson’s interaction with Green.
• The Warriors’ Klay Thompson didn’t appreciate the actions of Cleveland’s Thompson at the end of the game.
“I thought it was unnecessary when he shoved the ball in Draymond’s face,” Klay Thompson said. “That was very uncalled for, especially if two guys are just talking. That’s not the way to play.”