You Decide: LeBron’s Block/Foul on Jason Richardson

NBA, Video / Mar 13, 2009 / 8:55 am

One video made by a Cavs fan shows the angle of LeBron‘s block on Jason Richardson so it looks like it was all ball (and incredibly embarrassing…) But the other video asserts that LeBron invented the “crab-block” last night…

Which side are you on?

Posted in NBA, Video |

50 Responses to “You Decide: LeBron’s Block/Foul on Jason Richardson”

March 13th, 2009 at 9:01 am

bab says:

It definitely was not all ball. But what the hell Jrich, why not just get the easy two? The Suns desperately needed those points.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:01 am

steve says:

Even if it was a foul it shouldn’t be called as Richardson should not be trying that crap in a close game. Terrible decision and LeBron showed him why.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:10 am

Blue says:

yeah, it was a foul, but i think the refs didn’t call it just to teach j-rich a lesson! ha
March 13th, 2009 at 9:12 am

stupid says:

I don’t get it. What is embarassing even if it’s a clean block? What is embarassing?
March 13th, 2009 at 9:12 am

rafa23 says:

the refs didn’t call it because it was spectactular. thats what always happens in the nba. the league is really a joke.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:16 am

rodnets says:

foul, but its the king
March 13th, 2009 at 9:21 am

White Snoop says:

clear foul, but as wrote No. 3 & 4 it is the nba….
March 13th, 2009 at 9:29 am

KnicksFan84 says:

Hahahaha, Lefraud!
March 13th, 2009 at 9:35 am

IG says:

If Nash did his job by “accidentally getting in the way”, it would have been two points.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:37 am

that's whats up says:

I think league rules state that hand is part of the ball.

It J-Rich’s dumbass fault for pullin’ some bullshit like that.

He’s the new Starbury – wherever he goes the teams starts to suck.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:37 am

DO says:

it was a foul
March 13th, 2009 at 9:39 am

MoxWestCoastRep says:

The best part is how after the block- Cavs came down and hit a 3, and then J-Rich gets a tech for being a bitch.
6pt turn around…basically lost the game on that play!!
March 13th, 2009 at 9:49 am

JA says:

It was a foul. But Lebron should have fouled him harder for being an idiot.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:54 am

BROGDEN says:

Yeah, it was a foul. You just gotta live with a bad call man. I’m sick of seeing grown men cry over stuff like that. It’s simple mathematics the way i see it.

1 nut play by j-rich

PLUS

1 nut play by the refs.

EQUALS

1 dope play by lebron
March 13th, 2009 at 9:56 am

bakedbeing says:

Everyone calling for a foul, you all know that a clean block will be called a foul at least a third of the time, and a foul will be called a clean block on the regular too, that’s the nature of the game at those speeds. Richardson was out on the pack by a good gap, dude should have flushed it. You don’t rely on the refs to play the game for you, put yourself in a position where they’re not involved and slam it home.
March 13th, 2009 at 10:17 am

Dagomar says:

Doesn’t look like much of a foul even if it was one. And why is it embarassing? Probably because Rich got his ass blocked on a 360 dunk attempt. LOL
March 13th, 2009 at 10:19 am

LaMont says:

Ban the idiots from the comment section immediately. How is that an idiot move by J-Rich? Was Dr. J being an idiot when he did his spectacular dunks or was Vince Carter an idiot? People, J-Rich got fouled and the refs blew it because of who committed the foul. The league would be so much better and competitive if they called games straight up and were truly impartial. A foul is a foul is a foul whether LeBron commits it or Charlie Burger commits it, whether a team is at home or on the road. Tired of seeing competitive games come down to a “superstar” getting bogus calls at the end because he’s the poster child. People, if a tap on the wrist while shooting is gonna affect the shot of such a great player like Kobe or LeBron so much that a foul has to be called why isn’t the same foul called for a Mardy Collins when it should affect his shot even more so becasue he’s not as talented, right? Rest assured that if LeBron was attempting a 360 he would have gotten the call, possibly a flagrant.
March 13th, 2009 at 10:32 am

Spliff 2 My Lou says:

I thought it was a foul but I’m glad they didn’t call it. It’s not every day you see somebody pin a 360 dunk attempt on the backboard.
March 13th, 2009 at 10:33 am

thomasmmm says:

foul, yes but why doesn’t J-Rich show more hustle instead of style? he had a chance to TURN the game around.
March 13th, 2009 at 10:47 am

creamio says:

Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! Cry some more about the little foul please; who gives a shit, that was awesome, Lebron is awesome, and anyone who doesn’t recognize this fact is a queer.

Why don’t you show the block Lebron had on one of Kobe’s 360 dunk attempts during team usa practice; that block was sooo clean and so beautiful.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:01 am

bobbys says:

what is a “crab” block?
March 13th, 2009 at 11:05 am

LakeShow84 says:

Its a foul but the is Lebrons NBA appointed MVP season..
March 13th, 2009 at 11:16 am

Taj says:

Lamont…

At that point in the game, you gotta take the easy 2… What does a 360 accomplish at that point in the game… Your down 2, these guys come back and bang a 3 on your head, you never get closer. That was the turning point right there. It was a foul in my eyes, Lebron came across his wrist, but if you go up and dunk that normally, you get the bucket plus 1 and a momentum shift in the game!
March 13th, 2009 at 11:26 am

Jules says:

“How is that an idiot move by J-Rich?”

you dont 360 dunk in a close game with LBJ right behind you. That’s just stupid.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:31 am

hucklebuck says:

FOUL! FOUL! FOUL!
I’m a LeBron fan, but by rule this is a FOUL! got him on the hands/wrists.
Favortism at its highest there.

IN ADDITION, if they rewrite the rule book on traveling (the league is looking it over right now), and allow LeBron to CRAB DRIBBLE, the league is a bunch of babysitters spoiling the more marketable players=bad basketball no one wants to watch.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:35 am

tp says:

that was no different than ariza’s foul on rudy really.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:46 am

flavur says:

It was a fucking foul but you guys are right he should have gone for a straitup dunk instead of some flashy move Lebrin definitely got all HAND though but Jrich learned his lesson though.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:47 am

flavur says:

I mean lebron i’m using my phone keyboard
March 13th, 2009 at 11:56 am

BROGDEN says:

It looks like ALL BALL in REAL LIFE REAL TIME.

So, cut the refs some slack for not making that call.

Either that, or girl about instant replay in the nba.

But don’t badger a good no-call. J-Rich for the 360 instead of the ez 2 – that’s his fault. Lebron’s been doing the ‘chase down’ thing all season. No layup or dunk on the break is safe.

Some people say this. Some people say that.

This is the thing, Lebron PINNED the BALL TO THE BACKBOARD on a FANCY SMANCY DUNK from BEHIND.

He POSTERIZED A SLAM DUNK CHAMPION POSTERIZER doing a SLAM DUNK CONTEST SLAM DUNK.

From behind. The timing. The speed. The elevation. The moment. The block. The ball. The backboard. The emotion. The oh-so-subtle wrist bump the refs missed.

It’s the beauty in it all folks!

If you’re not a Suns fan, employee or bettor – it’s just a GOOD NO-CALL.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am

AK47 says:

How is that a stupid move? Doing a 360 at that juncture of the game would have really excited the crowd and most likely would have shifted the momentum in the suns favor.
Lebron is getting absurd with the calls/non-calls he expects from the refs. Did anyone else see(during commercials from the UConn-Cuse game) when he was called for a clear travel on a fastbreak and then proceeded to whine for five minutes to the referee? I would have been laughing but I was so appalled at the fact that he would whine about that call when it was so clear-cut that he travelled. The officiating in that game was not the best, but that was one they got right.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

ianodelaleza says:

its a foul…he got j richs hand….shoudla been a 2 for phx…ended up as a 3 for cle…cost phx

now id rather have j rich try a 360 where lebron is concerned…if he tried a normal flush or a lame ass layup (ala TJ ford) when lebron is behind him, theres a good chance it’ll be a clean block, but if he does a 360, lebrons probably gona foul him when tryin 2 block him

nice hustle back by bron, but it was a foul…and who knows that block/foul prob cost phx the playoffs and maybe even nash/stat/shaq

IDL
March 13th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Balla says:

That’s not a foul, if it were it would be a bail out call. J-Rich had a half court lead on Bron. Its embarassing not because he got it blocked, but because of how long he was open for and decided to play with the ball.

If that were a third string rookie who did what J-Rich did, you can believe he would be waived right after the game!!!!
March 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

Willis says:

hand is part of the ball. clean block, jrich stupid.
that second vid makes it look like a foul but his hand comes down on the ball after.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

Balla says:

This is just like traveling in the NBA…it will not be called unless the defense makes you do it. Most of the time, a foul won’t be called unless the offensive player initiates it, or the defensive player is out of control.

I bet everybody on here that thinks that this play was foul, thinks MJ “pushed off” on Byron Russell as well…when real ball handlers know that cross he used will catch defender whose feet and momentum are going in the WRONG direction!
March 13th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

Kermit the Washington says:

“Crab Block”?? LOL nice one
March 13th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

Lanfeas says:

This isn’t even a debate.

Clearly a foul. Contact on the wrist.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

nao_diga says:

That’s a no-call all the way. In slow-mo, he got a piece of the wrist. At full speed, if you call everything that looks like that a foul, you’ll call a lot of clean blocks fouls too.

If it isn’t clear, it should be a no-call.

A heady player gets an and-one on that play–makes sure he makes the shot and draws the foul. That’s how you get the crowd into the game, not with circus moves in a tight game.

It ain’t like its any secret about Lebron chasing down break-aways…
March 13th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Robbin says:

yup, a foul. but great hustle-play by James…

http://ezinearticles.com/?LeBron-James-Dunk-Or-How-To-Increase-Vertical-Jump&id=645242
March 13th, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Bron42 aka Had Springs Before Slamball says:

it was a foul and another series of lebron gettin his way..just like when he fouled granger and then bitched when the same thing happened to him. but ya, j rich shoulda known better with the game on the line. all he had to do was jump stop or pump fake instead of tryin the 360 and lebron would went into the stands. Has lebron has 1 straight up block all year or are they all 90% trailing?
March 13th, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Big Freeze says:

The picture shows Lebron’s hand on the ball. Get a fucking life and realize J-Rich got his shit crammed. If Richardson tried to call that a foul in a pick-up game, he would got his ass laughed at and/or knocked out.
March 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pm

the cynic says:

only three players in the league is that not a foul; Lebron, Wade, and Kobe. J-Rich throws down 360s all year so its not like he was doing something crazy. Good hustle by Lebron, poor team ball by Nash who is more worthless then Wally’s World without the ball in his hands
March 13th, 2009 at 2:52 pm

Jsmoove says:

Any one who can’t see the embarassment that oozes from that clip must not be watching what everyone else saw.
J-Rich: Hey, watch this shit…I’m a pimp…
LeBron: NO SOUP!!!!!

Only Sidney Deane would find it necesary to pull some shit like that at that point of a 2pt game. And the guy who claims that it was a smart play by J-Rich because it would “get the crowd fired up”, smart plays don’t usually end up like that one did.

No call is 100% the right call on that one. especially considering the refs don’t have the luxury of an above the action view that the camera does, nor the slow-mo. As far as that “blown call” costing the suns a playoff spot, they would have needed that win along with a nearly undefeated run to close the season to make it. So lets wait until they run the table to declare this call their season breaker.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:26 pm

doc says:

He beat that shit up.I see 25 fouls and no calls that should be reversed every game it aint got shit to do with who it was.Bron can go put up 50 25 18 and some hateful filled heart dude would be talking about.Did u hear him say gimme the ball so I can get this 25th dime.He’s not a team player.Yall need to stop it.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:26 pm

method526 says:

this is why you dont waste time with a stupid trick when you have a speeding train coming up from behind.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:30 pm

LaMont says:

Dr. J made a career o fperforming “playground” dunks and shots in games, meaningful games at that. As he said it is not out of the ordinary for him, similarily, a 360 dunk by J-Rich on the breakaway is equivalent to some other player simply doing a two hand dunk or even a lay-up. As far as it not firing up the crowd, plays do fire up the crowd and teammates why else do you risk a charge on the break rather than shoot a pull up J, or even dunk at all when the off the glass (use the box)layup is the higher percentage shot. Is it also stupid for the herky jerky east west dribbling between the legs, going nowhere trying to lose a defender move rather than using jab steps, head fakes, ball fakes, proper picks which have less probability for a turnover? simple and plain LeBron got away with one cause he’s LeBron.
March 13th, 2009 at 7:12 pm

Mark says:

The close-ups look like a foul.

Jason Richardson may have been an idiot for trying that, but that’s beside the point. It was a foul. Doesn’t matter if Bron Bron hustled. If you obstruct the shooter in motion, it’s a foul. I don’t think it was special treatment (simple mistake), but still a foul.
March 13th, 2009 at 10:52 pm

skotterz44 says:

Considering I’m the one who made the “crab block” video, I’m gonna have to go out on a limb and say it was a foul, but that’s not even why I made the video! I made the video to show that HE LIED about getting all ball! Not once did Craig Sager ask Lebron if he got all ball. Lebron VOLUNTARILLY AND ARROGANTLY DECLARED IT! Look, Lebron is a freek of an athlete but just because you put up big numbers and 95% of the sports world is humping your ego on a daily basis, that gives you no right to get away with blatant fouls! Especially ones that turn the game around like that one did!
March 14th, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Arizona Sports says:

A foul by definition. Clearly got “all wrist” doesn’t look like he even touched ball.

Having said that, because of the context, perhaps it’s not a foul, BUT by definition it certainly is. LeBron saying it was “all ball” is the upsetting part.
March 14th, 2009 at 9:05 pm

res. says:

To those ones blaming refs or the league, do you realize that, unlike you, referees don’t have the luxury of instant replay? You are saying that it was a foul after watching countless replays from different angles. Refs don’t have the possibility to do the same. Do you frickin realize how quick, fast and strong those players are? It’s an impossible game to officiate. Every true fan knows that.I’d love to see those know-it-all who always blame the refs trying to officiate an NBA game. It should be fun.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am

Dave says:

I agree with steve,
”Steve: Even if it was a foul it shouldn’t be called as Richardson should not be trying that crap in a close game. Terrible decision and LeBron showed him why.”
i was going to post like that.. but i saw your post…
so just agree!