Trevor Ariza's Foul on Rudy Fernandez Was Flagrant, Not Dirty

The Lakers haven't won in Portland since February of 2005, and once they fell behind by nine at the end of the first quarter on Monday, they didn't seem very interested in putting an end to that trend for the rest of the game. Trevor Ariza kept playing though, and even with his team down by 28 near the end of the third, he tried to stop Rudy Fernandez from dunking the ball, but mistimed his block attempt and ended up decking him instead.

An unfortunate incident, sure. But a flagrant two? I don't think so. Let's discuss -- video after the jump.

Blazers 111, Lakers 94: Box Score | Scores | Playoff Race

When you look at the replay, all Ariza did was whiff on a block attempt, and (again, unfortunately) catch Fernandez in the head instead of getting his hand on the ball. Fernandez's fall was awkward, which led to the perceived severity of the play committed by Ariza. But honestly, it was neither a dirty nor a flagrant attempt by Ariza to send any kind of message.

Brandon Roy took exception to the foul, as any good teammate would when one of his own violently hits the deck like that. Understood, and Ariza's mouthing off back at Roy was honestly uncalled for given the circumstances.

But is this really a flagrant two foul that should warrant an automatic ejection? No, no it's not. And if the league is going to change something like Glen Davis' obvious head-hunting attempt down to a flagrant one, we can probably expect the same thing regarding this unfortunate (but unintentional) play from Ariza.

Most importantly, here's the update on Rudy's condition, via Blazer's Edge: "From the team: Rudy suffered soft tissue injury to his right upper chest/side area. The CT scan was negative. Will be kept overnight at the hospital for observation. He is questionable for Wednesday. -- Ben"

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

3-10-2009 @ 7:16AM

Rudy said...

Well by looking at the replay It was obvious Ariza was trying to go for the ball, and Brett I don't know why you mention Big Baby as being a head hunter, he too was obviously trying to go for the ball.. they both were dangerous plays. You are obviously not a celtics fan which is fine but don't say Big baby was head hunting when he clearly was not. And it looks like Odom came off the bench on this one. Lakers got crushed in this game.

3-10-2009 @ 9:05AM

krmagley said...

he didn't whiff on the block, he got the block. but his poor judgement didn't inform him that while getting the block the path his arm would take would violently elbow rudy to the back of the head.

with flagrants, results should be far more important than intent. i've seen too many people get clotheslined to the ground and then hear "well he was making a play on the ball" or "he was just trying to prevent the layup."'

if you do that to somebody, your judgement is in question and it's just a matter of time before you hurt someone badly, if not permanently. that was a flagrant two, and deserves further punishment.

3-14-2009 @ 12:46AM

SimbaDogg said...

results more important than intent? are you kidding me? i'm sorry buddy, but thats the dumbest thing i've ever heard. intent is EVERYTHING. so i guess, if you accidently have a head to head collision, and the person you hit splits his head open and requires 10 stitches, that warrants a F2...but if you go up and literally clothes line somebody (think mchales foul on rambis in 84 finals) and they're able to get up w/out much effort...oh yeah, that should be a F1. does anyone not see the sense in this? flagrant fouls, have, and always will be based on intent on simply the aftermath.

to be honest, the NBA's WWF/WWE quality refs simply botched another call. Though the aftermath of the foul was harsh, they should have seen a play was made on the ball, not the head.

3-10-2009 @ 10:42AM

Nora said...

Thanks Brett for once again proving your bias for the Lakers because you are a fan and against the Celtics. What happened last night was as bad or worse the what BBD did. Interesting how the league does not agree with you about BBD. How about looking at pics and video of that incident. Headhunting sounds more like what Ariza did because his team was clearly losing. Heres a photo. Cleary head hunting and not at all going for the ball? Please.

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/8f/fullj.df3797ad4de8596eff173ee147359cbf/df3797ad4de8596eff173ee147359cbf-getty-82992621jg013_cavs_celtics.jpg

3-10-2009 @ 11:06AM

dasarge34 said...

I do agree with Brett about the Foul not being intentional. As far as big BABY Glen Davis goes when he doe not cry on the bench when a hall of fame player wants him to MAN up then all of you Celtic fans can defend him. Just wait until Starbury gets a hold of that locker room and starts to dismantle the 3rd best team in the league. Will they get by Cleveland or Orlando that is the real question!!

3-10-2009 @ 11:50AM

Celtics have proven they can win the championship by doing it last year. Lakers are not a lock either, will they get by the Spurs who just picked up some help is the question. If Spurs are healthy they are a threat. And your BBD comment has not alot to do with the incident that he was involved in whatsoever. I know you hope Marbury will ruin thisngs for the Celtics but you clearly don't see that as soon as he becomes trouble the Celtics have the option of buying him out. If Marbury does not behave he will not stay.

3-10-2009 @ 12:01PM

ericL said...

I agree that Ariza's intent was not to harm Rudy. I think there was no way Ariza could of got that block without doing putting Rudy in danger. It's a thoughtless and reckless play. To me that warrants a suspension. Ariza should be punished for playing without a regard for the safety of other players.

To avoid controversy, i have no opinion about how big a head hunter big baby is.

3-10-2009 @ 12:47PM

billparras6317 said...

they were down 55-83... your gonna tell me that was unintentional? just another dumb brother playing bball

3-10-2009 @ 12:54PM

bigrando said...

hey nora, take a look at that picture again. yes his left hand is on the ball but his right elbow is buried in varejao's ear. he could have blocked that shot with just his left hand but instead he decided to use the other arm to throw him to the ground

3-10-2009 @ 1:01PM

Whatever, interesting how the league then turned it to a flagarant 1 then. What Ariza did was no better and his team was getting blown out as well.

3-10-2009 @ 1:10PM

cantstopdrinkin said...

I agree with everything in this article except that you think Ariza's mouthing off back at Roy was uncalled for because "honestly" you have no idea what Roy said to him and even what Ariza was saying. He could have just been defending himself trying to explain to Roy what he did and that it was just a basketball play , nothing else, he was just having to shout it to be heard over everything and that makes it look like he is going off....

3-10-2009 @ 1:26PM

angryguy77 said...

Where is the retraction of the condemnation of boston? Are the Lakers "dirty by design"?

3-10-2009 @ 1:48PM

Dan Sargent said...

I have a few comments.
To Angry Guy I have a youtube video of Kendrick Perkins(Celtic Thug) making a hard foul for no reason against Jason Maxiel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzmpgORFyDg.

Also, do you remember the Laker Win this year against Boston oh wait they swept them this year. That is another story. Here is the point I was trying to make. Kevin Garnett was given a foul which he did not like and Lamar Odom slapped his ass just like Garnett does to players all over the league and Garnett was pissed of and went face to face with Garnett. I guess you can say what good for the goose should be good for the gander(except when your Kevin Garnett).

Nora- you should look at Marburys past. He is a cancer for each team he has been on in his career. if you want stories just use Wikipedia and put in his name.

3-10-2009 @ 1:58PM

Dan-I am aware of that but are you aware that the Celtics can buy him out if he starts to misbehave? My point is he will not stick around if he becomes a problem.

3-10-2009 @ 1:56PM

Ibarra30 said...

It doesnt matter if it was intentional or not the fact that he went up and missed the ball and got the player and caused injury. now had he actually got ball and the blazer player not been hurt there would be no foul. flagruant or not. he fouled him in the process of trying to block the ball.

Lakers are of course never dirty. Give me a break. And Lakers won the to REGULAR season games. Congrats. Winning in the finals has yet with this particular Lakers team has yet to be seen.

3-10-2009 @ 2:47PM

ralgeiz said...

Excuse me...but if that had been any Blazer player that committed that foul on FN Kobe...that player would have been sitting behind bars today charged with assault...yes, Trevor was attempting to go for the ball, however there are ways to protect the player who is 5 feet off the floor in a twisted spin attempting to dunk the ball and still block or foul without taking a guy out...for god sake the Fakers were down by 28 points late in the third period, don't you think that frustration played a role in it? Why, yes Brett I do...BTW take a good look at the tape...Odem DID INDEED come off the bench and jumped in Brandon Roy's face. SOUNDS AND LOOKS A LOT LIKE A DOUBLE STANDARD RULE FOR THE FAKERS AND OTHER NBA TEAMS!!!

3-10-2009 @ 5:00PM

dess133 said...

the lakers are going to have a ticker tape parade for their two regular season wins against boston.

3-10-2009 @ 5:05PM

caninescreed said...

Glen Davis's obvious head-hunting? What play were you watching? This is twice this year a Lakers player has sent someone to the hospital. to my knowledge, no Celtics player has done that, so let's not try to compare them okay?

3-10-2009 @ 5:06PM

I think you should read the following post from Brett.
NO suspension for Ariza.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/03/10/no-suspension-for-trevor-ariza/#cont