Shoving LeBron

Skip Bayless argued that Brendan Haywood was unjustly ejected from the Wizards v. Cavs game 2 on First Take this morning. While I agree with a lot of what Skip says (I might be in the minority there), I'm not in his camp on this one. Haywood is 7-footer. He was in great position (well, not so great considering who was coming down the lane ... but if it had been someone normal) to go up and challenge the shot. At that point, he has two choices: (1) he can challenge the shot and try for the block -maybe resulting in a foul - or (2) he can choose not to challenge the shot and let LBJ go unabated to the rim. Did you notice that I didn't outline an option that consists of Haywood shoving an airborne LBJ with both hands with not attempt to make a play on the ball?

While this type of play may have been common place in the late 80's and 90's, do we really want to revert to a time when teams like the Pat Riley led Knicks were a dominant force?

On a related note, I just happened to play a game of pick-up basketball last night. Most of the guys in the game were significantly shorter and smaller than I am. So, I wasn't surprised that every time I had the ball remotely close to the basket at least two of them were pushing and grabbing me to prevent me from making "easy" baskets. While I don't particularly mind getting fouled in normal basketball games, it's annoying to get flagrantly hacked every time you shoot from remotely close to the rim in pick-up games ... which is why I usually just run the point, try to create for others and shoot pull-ups and 3's. Fouls are supposed to penalize the offender. But, in pick-up games, if you nail someone so they can't shoot a lay-up, they just get the ball up top. Call me a purist, but that's not how it's supposed to be.