Lakers' Turiaf Ejected in Game 4 Because Ronnie Price Was Bleeding

There's no question that this foul (at about the :35 mark) from the Lakers' Ronny Turiaf was a little harder than necessary, and to put a stop to excessively physical play, the referees felt the need to call it a flagrant. I understand that. But just because Ronnie Price landed awkwardly and gashed his head on the hardwood doesn't mean that the foul was more intentional or violent, yet because of the blood, the officials called Turiaf for a flagrant-two and ejected him from the game.

Looked like your run-of-the-mill flagrant-one to me, and in no way did that deserve an ejection. Now, is it that big a deal in the grand scheme of things that Turiaf was unavailable for most of the game? Probably not, although there was a stretch to start the fourth quarter where DJ Mbenga was in there as part of a lineup that allowed the Jazz to quickly push their lead back up to 10.

The officials are allowed to review flagrant fouls right there on the monitors to determine the extent and the severity of the foul before tossing a player. I think it's clear that Turiaf wasn't intentionally trying to take out a seldom-used role player like Ronnie Price, and had the officials taken a closer look, I think they could have easily seen that and allowed Turiaf to remain in the game.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-11-2008 @ 11:56PM

George B Vieto said...

The Lakers are not liked in Salt Lake City and it was overprotection of a Jazz player.

5-12-2008 @ 12:28AM

theo.browncoat said...

I'm a Jazz fan, but I agree -- it didn't merit ejection.

5-12-2008 @ 1:05AM

Brendo said...

This was completely ridiculous. When I saw that foul, I thought Turiaf was going for the block. When I saw the replay, I thought a flagrant was due for the folllow-through on Price's arm. When I watched it a third time (and heard Hubie Brown's 10th call for a flagrant 2) I knew he was getting booted.

5-12-2008 @ 3:33PM

carter blanchard said...

I don't think it should have been an ejection, but the big point that the announcers left off is that the play came after a foul was already called. Had it not been after the play it probably wouldn't have been.

5-12-2008 @ 1:49AM

vujadin7886 said...

I'm pretty sure they only gave him a Flagrant 2 because it was committed well after the whistle blew.
What I don't understand is how they can call that any kind of personal foul, wouldn't it just be a double-technical and ejection?
In effect, the Lakers committed two personal fouls on one player during the same play.

5-12-2008 @ 1:58AM

TCO said...

I dislike how flagrants are based on player-floor contact rather than player-player contact.

More thoughts below.
http://myinnerfan.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-home-court-advantage-and-refereeing.html

5-12-2008 @ 2:25AM

NachoD said...

I guess the NBA is just trying to ensure that the home teams win in the playoffs. This explains why the Celtics have yet to win on the road. Consider yourselves off the hook Big Green.

I agree that the Turiaf foul should not have merited an ejection and that it was over protection of a hometown player. If this foul would have occurred in L.A. it probably would have been viewed as only a hard foul.

The call or non-call that I did not agree with, was towards the end of the game. After a Jazz steal, the ball was passed to Darren Williams who was being shadowed by Derek Fisher. Before Williams even had full control of the ball, he ran into Fisher's chest as they were both headed in the same direction and then Williams fell to the ground. This contact was completely initiated by Williams but the foul was called on Fisher and he fouled out with that play. That right there my friends was a horrible call!

If this series goes the way the NBA offices plan, the Lakers should win games 5 and 7 at home to advance to the West Final.

5-12-2008 @ 3:32AM

Patch said...

It's the NBA, what do expect? The only, and best game to watch will be the 7th game in the championship series. Patch

5-12-2008 @ 6:01AM

carl said...

The Fanhouse answer to Chris Matthews is slurping his version of Obama again

5-12-2008 @ 8:06AM

frank said...

LA has 2 problems right now:
Kobe is hurting bad for real, back;
The second is farmar should not play not even 1 minute, this guy looks like he is helping the Jazz , instead.

5-12-2008 @ 10:06AM

NBA fan said...

Patch, you don't know crap about basketball. The only game worth watching is not game 7 of the finals. If you don't appreciate playoffs basketball, then why the frick are you even posting here. And too bad you don't know this, but game 4 was one of the best games of the season. It was simply crazy and great to watch. Too bad you don't know this

Can NBA haters get the frick out the NBA section?

5-12-2008 @ 10:23AM

oh boy, please stop it. I'm tired to hear retarded conspiracy theories. So, do people really think that the NBA is conspiring to have home teams winning games? HAHAHAHA please don't make me laugh. Do you even realize Stern is not on the court playing and it all comes down to the players? So, I guess the Celtics are doing it on purpose to lose on the road. I guess the Hornets are doing the same. I guess the Lakers are doing it on purpose to lose on the road. See, it doesn't make sense. It's just that home-court advantage in basketball can be very important and the home crowds, more often than not, are the 6th man on the court during the playoffs. Let's stop those conspiracy talks because, frankly, they are getting annoying.

5-12-2008 @ 12:38PM

Stein said...

I agree with lots of people here. Turiaf was a little hard on his defense against the Jazz. However, to eject him from the game was unfair. When Kobe got hit hard on the face and received a few stitches during his played-off with the jazz, the Jazz didn’t get throw out of the game. I also agree hundred percent with NachoD. It was a senseless call on Fisher toward the end of the game. It should be the other way around.

5-12-2008 @ 1:51PM

I would like to correct my recent comment regarding Kobe got hit during the play-off. I beleive it was with the Denver not the Jazz. Sorry for my mistake.
Stein

5-12-2008 @ 2:54PM

Martin said...

There is no denying that officials get caught up in the atmosphere of the game to the advantage of the home team. It isn't a conspiracy, but rather just human nature.

My vote for the worst call was when Luke Walton had a break away and his shot was blocked from behind. The replay clearly showed that he was hit on the top of the head by the defensive player, but no foul was called. This play gave the Jazz a big emotional boost. What was even worse than the lack of a call was that they showed the replay at least five times, and yet the T.V. commentators made no comment about the contact. My guess is that the T.V. commentators have been directed to refrain from commenting on the officiating.

5-13-2008 @ 12:17AM

LA Lawyer said...

Lousy job by the refs. The Jazz got a way with hacking the crap out of the Lakers. Ejection of Turiaf, are you kidding me? Not even close, another bad call by the refs.

5-13-2008 @ 9:02AM

The Cooler said...

Home court cooking is really working at its best. As long as it stays consistent with the home team getting the calls, the lakers will be fine. Hopefully the call that took place with stu jackson and mitch kupchak will not get turiaf suspended. I think kobe will be fine on wed. and the rest of the team will pick their game and people will see the team concept at its best.