LeBron's 'Block' on Jason Richardson Leads Cavs to Victory

PHOENIX -- LeBron James, as he is most nights, was the story in the Cavs' 119-111 victory over the Suns. Besides grabbing a rebound on the final play of the game to notch his third consecutive triple-double, he also had a key block on a Jason Richardson breakaway, 360-dunk attempt in the fourth that was a game-changer and sealed the win for the Cavs. But was it a block or a foul? Check the video, then we'll discuss.

I know it's LeBron, and I know he has a reputation for making these types of plays. But this one clearly should have been called a foul, and because it wasn't, the momentum (and ultimately, the game) swung in favor of the Cavs.

Cleveland was leading 97-95 with under nine minutes to play in the game, on an 8-2 run to start the fourth quarter. LeBron missed a deep three in the corner, Matt Barnes got the rebound, and passed ahead to a streaking Jason Richardson for what should have been an easy dunk.

J-Rich attempted a 360-dunk to get the crowd into it, however, and when he made that final turn towards the rim, LeBron was there waiting for him. James blocked the attempt, which led to a Sasha Pavlovic three-pointer on the other end -- a five-point swing which effectively sealed the game.

Seeing it live, it appeared that LeBron definitely caught Richardson across the wrist as he blocked the shot. It was a foul, but one the referees chose not to call.

LeBron claimed he got "all ball" in his post-game chat with Craig Sager, and since he got away with it during the game, it made sense to continue the charade during the post-game interviews.

"I just didn't give up on the play, man," James said. "It's just the identity of our team and who I am. I just never believe a play is over and done with. I took a three deep in the corner, and a lot of people would give up on that play. But not me."

Jason Richardson, predictably, saw things a little bit differently.

"Clearly a foul, I don't care how you look at it," Richardson said. "It's still a foul and that's bad and that a guy's going up like that, especially trying to do something to get the fans going, to get hammered like that and there's no call at all, that's terrible."

In a tight game like that, you could argue that maybe J-Rich should have just thrown it down and not taken the extra split-second to go for the 360, but as he said, he was trying to get the fans going. And there are only a couple players in the league that could make a play like that; one of them just happened to be in the building and waiting for Richardson to complete his spin so he could reject that dunk attempt.

One play rarely decides a game, and complaining about officiating is a waste of time. But this particular play did seem to spark the Cavs and deflate the Suns simultaneously. And when Phoenix is undermanned and doing everything it can to get a win over one of the top teams in the league to keep its slim playoff hopes alive ... well, let's just say that every play counts.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

3-13-2009 @ 4:58AM

dj kahn said...

close enough considering the 360 attempt. good call by the refs. the replays are inconclusive.

3-13-2009 @ 7:58AM

rjw6683 said...

I'm from cleveland and I'll agree with some of the suns peeps that he did get a little bit of wrist, but it was close. As for Richardson complaining he needs to just shut up. You dont showboat after you blew an 8 point lead and are now losing by 4. Had he gone in not like a dumbass he probably would have got that call. You can fix stupid though. The best part was how Richardson was complaining to the ref while the rest of his team was on defense. I'm sure they appreciated that as the Cavs hit the 3 pointer on them while they were short a man.

3-13-2009 @ 8:48AM

caninescreed said...

Lebron has only been called for 1 foul in his last three games. When you think about the calls he gets in his favor like in the game against the Hawks recently where there was little to no contact and Lebron gets to the line and wins the game on a FT. It is getting to the point, that I am starting to believe that the NBA is giving some help to the Cavs. They have already changed the commercial "where NBA happens" from saying where "Celtics and Lakers Happen" to where Cavaliers and Lakers happen" They did it about 2 months ago? Now, I understand the Celtics/Lakers reference. There is a long history of rivlary there that was renewed last year. If these two teams don't meet again for another 20 years, the reference still has merit. Where is the Cavs/Lakers history? Why does the NBA use these two teams as something that "happens" in the NBA? That is weird to me. Like the NBA is creating history. And when you add in some of the officiating especially between the Cavs/Celtics I start to wonder why am I watching this sport? Wade had a problem with the officiating in the Cavs game, so much so he was ejected from the game. I can see where a play like that would deflate the team. I'm sure that was not the only non-call of the game. so Cavs fans should be so happy right now because you all ARE going to the finals. Put your money on it now. They will get there with some questionable officiating if needed, but the NBA will not care. Congratulations. I mean check out the new NBA commercial. All it is is a clip showcasing Lebron. Guess what people, the Cavs are 1-5 against the top three teams. I don't care how many games they have won or how many triple doubles Lebron has, they are 1-5 against the top teams!!!!!

3-13-2009 @ 9:01AM

I would like to add, that the last Celtics/Cavs game, the officiating was so one-sided that even the Cavs fans on the live blog during the game (on the teams home website) were writing "the refs are helping us" Poor Tommy, who was calling the game, I thought he was going to have a heart attack. now I know Tommy wheres green glasses, but when he gets as upset as he did, there is something to it. He called the officiating criminal, commented that the league should look into it. Named all three refs at the end of the game and told the fans, if these refs are officiating a game, don't bother to come. Danny Ainge was so upset he had to get up and leave the area and walk around. As badly as the Cavs played in that gaem and as well as Boston played, that game should not have been close. The refs kept the cavs in it and gave them a chance. they did not win, Boston remained focused. Thank God because if they had not won that game, it really would have been a crime as Cleveland, at least on that day, did not do anything to deserve the win.

3-15-2009 @ 9:37AM

Everyone knows the Cavs did not play well in that game and that would also be why the Cavs didnt foul much in that game. They played zero defense inside. Put Wallace back in on that floor and he picks up fouls taking away easy baskets from the Celts. As far as complaining over a commercial I donnu. I guess you Boston peeps found yet another thing to complain about. Maybe it's because everyone in the league other then Boston people know that Boston is not the second best team in the league. Even if you were to make a run and finish with the best overall record in the NBA you are still second to the Lakers as are the Cavs. LA proved that on their east coast trip when they got us both at home. Boston just needs to learn to give credit where it is due and how to stop crying about everything. That is why nobody likes you.

3-13-2009 @ 10:10AM

tipcpup01 said...

I agree with RJW above. It's a grey-area call that LeBron gets not because he's LeBron, but because Jason Richardson is a dumb@ss. Save the 360 dunks for garbage time and the All Star game. In a game where every split second of reaction time counts, his showboating allowed LJ to get back on defense. He goes in straight, then James never makes it back in time.

3-13-2009 @ 10:59AM

john said...

The elite players of the league always get the benefit of the doubt. Yeah it's bullshit, but that's how it is. Most of the night you can't get near Kobe without getting a foul. Yeah, Kobe and LeBron are talented players and they are great, but it is a lot easier to be so 'great' when you almost always get the call...

3-14-2009 @ 2:52PM

If you really question if this was a foul or not, I implore you to view a screengrab... http://3.media.tumblr.com/0TrvbLkp6l0ki3icrYKcAbr5o1_400.png

3-13-2009 @ 11:42AM

Robin said...

I am reading this everywhere and yet I don't see the foul at all. Certainly there's contact, but of course anything on the hand is legal. To me it is splitting hairs to say there's contact not only on the hand but the wrist too. It's really not evident in the replay. And the contact is all around the ball. There's no hack on the arm, no body contact, just a sweep through the ball and the hands. There may or may not have been contact on the wrist too, but if we or the refs can't see it CLEARLY then there's no reason to call a foul there.

3-13-2009 @ 11:48AM

turnr47 said...

Yep! It's time to break out the cases of kleenex for all the crybaby laker/celtic lovers/haters Just like they did in the Jordan era..Stay away from the kitchen ladies (you know the drill).
Stop the whining....remember WIN OR GO HOME.
When you blow a lead like that and try to showboat, you deserve to lose..hwwwhaaa-aaahhnnn

3-13-2009 @ 12:06PM

In other words: when in doubt, hold your whistle.

And any conspiracy theories about LeBron getting superstar calls are bogus. Nobody in the league draws more uncalled fouls than LeBron James. This is because a) he's always driving into the paint and b) he's so strong and big that it's not so obvious when he gets hit. His body doesn't go flying like Wade's or Kobe's. However even when he keeps his balance the hits make it harder to finish with a finesse move (not that he doesn't usually get the bucket anyway).

3-13-2009 @ 12:31PM

John Butler said...

I don't think Richardson has been blocked in his life...I know he was shocked lol

3-13-2009 @ 2:59PM

Vertimus said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VInuyyuejvw

I understand we're discussing with all these slow motion videos or screen captures, and how referees are seeing it real time so might miss stuff...

but for LeBron to state it was all ball just doesn't feel right. :/

3-13-2009 @ 3:15PM

Bigslim said...

you guys don't watch enough cavs basketball.lebron james gets mauled each and every game and don't get most fouls called.it sounds to me that some of you people got a personal hate for the king.

3-13-2009 @ 3:16PM

its ok to be scared of the lebron james talents

3-13-2009 @ 3:32PM

randallhank said...

Lebron got the benefit of the unofficial, but universally understood, "hand is part of the ball," rule. Lebron got some wrist, but he also got an awful lot of ball. Where I come from, that's called a block.

3-13-2009 @ 8:58PM

P I M P said...

Yes, LeBron fouled him.
But you're complaining about a single call in a game that had several questionable calls for both sides. Phoenix was within 2 points, at home, with over 7 minutes to play. To pretend like this single thing had some effect on the outcome is ludicrous. The Suns lost that game because they play no defense whatsoever, the officials had nothing to do with it.

3-13-2009 @ 11:08PM

Nate said...

We always (as defenders) think we get "all ball", but for LeBron, a notorious cheapshooter (as in travelling, fouling, flopping, etc.), I can't say what really went through the refs minds when the play went down or if Lebron really felt he made a clean play. I myself thought it was clean until seeing it in slo-mo, and even then it's close. That wasn't a good time at all for J-rich to attempt such a dunk, so I think he got what he deserved either way.

3-19-2009 @ 7:54AM

WTF are you talking about? Notorious cheapshooter? Tell me the last time you saw Lebron take someone's head off at the rim because you know he has the size to put people in a wheelchair if he wanted to on any given night. I can't remember one time he threw down a cheap dirty foul on someone. Then you said flopping? Oh yeah that must be when you are driving the lane and you get 2 sets of hands to your grill and your legs taken out from under you. Nate you obviously don't watch many Cavs games and read way too much on here. The other day a guy said the same trash and when questioned about it said he admitted he rarely sees LBJ play. Well if you never see him play don't make comments that make you look stupid about him.