NBA Ejections: Kevin Cutler (1), Derrick Stafford (1) & Day 39

Referee (Umpire) Kevin Cutler ejected Suns center Jermaine O'Neal for two technical fouls during the 4th period of the Suns-Clippers game. With 7:57 remaining in the 4th quarter, O'Neal received a technical foul for unsporting conduct in violation of the NBA's Respect for the Game guidelines, responding with an air punch reaction, judged by Cutler to be an overt action indicating resentment to a call (Rule 12-A-V-d-3), O'Neal's second technical foul. At the time of the ejection, the Clippers were leading, 96-87. The Clippers ultimately won the contest, 117-99.

Wrap: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers, 12/8/12
Video: O'Neal receives successive and consecutive T's and is summarily dismissed (Soon)

2012 TFFL: Day 39 (10 Games, 8 Technicals, 2 Ejections), Technical Fouls 251-258.
251: 71 Rodney Mott, 56 Mark Ayotte, 34 Kevin Cutler. Clippers' Griffin; 2nd, 2:45.
252: 71 Rodney Mott, 56 Mark Ayotte, 34 Kevin Cutler. Suns' Gentry; 2nd, 2:18.
253: 71 Rodney Mott, 56 Mark Ayotte, 34 Kevin Cutler. Suns' O'Neal; 4th, 7:57 (consecutive-254).
254: 71 Rodney Mott, 56 Mark Ayotte, 34 Kevin Cutler. Suns' O'Neal; 4th, 7:57 (consecutive-253).
Ejection: Umpire Kevin Cutler ejected Suns center Jermaine O'Neal (second technical foul).
The Los Angeles Clippers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 117-99.

255: 9 Derrick Stafford, 36 David Jones, 44 Eli Roe. Bulls' Gibson; 2nd, 3:40 (consecutive-256).
256: 9 Derrick Stafford, 36 David Jones, 44 Eli Roe. Bulls' Gibson; 2nd, 3:40 (consecutive-255).
Ejection: Crew Chief Derrick Stafford ejected Bulls [bench/substitute] Taj Gibson after foul call (second technical foul). Video: Game Summary (0:57).
The Chicago Bulls ultimately won the contest, defeating the New York Knicks, 93-85.

257: 48 Scott Foster, 75 Eric Dalen, 31 Scott Wall. Hawks' Johnson; 2nd, 0:40.9.
258: 48 Scott Foster, 75 Eric Dalen, 31 Scott Wall. Grizzlies' Gay; 4th, 5:22.
The Atlanta Hawks ultimately won the contest, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, 93-83.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update
1. (54 pts) youthministeradam, cyclone14.
3. (52 pts) flasherasher.
4. (51 pts) ump89.
5. (50 pts) tonyjia888, yawetag.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 38, Technical Fouls 246 - 250 & Flopping Violations 8 & 9

Day 38 of the 2012-13 NBA Season featured 12 games which produced 2 technical fouls.

246: 8 Marc Davis, 26 Pat Fraher, 76 Steven Anderson. Warriors' Curry; 3rd, 9:36.
The Golden State Warriors ultimately won the contest, defeating the Brooklyn Nets, 109-102.

247: 40 Leon Wood, 47 Benny Adams, 52 Scott Twardoski. Raptors' Lowry; 3rd, 8:20.
The Utah Jazz ultimately won the contest, defeating the Utah Jazz, 131-99.

248: 24 Mike Callahan, 12 Violet Palmer, 33 Sean Corbin. Thunder's Thabeet; 2nd, 6:54.
249: 24 Mike Callahan, 12 Violet Palmer, 33 Sean Corbin. Thunder's Ibaka; 4th, 2:56 (double-250).
250: 24 Mike Callahan, 12 Violet Palmer, 33 Sean Corbin. Lakers' World Peace; 4th, 2:56 (double-249).
The Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately won the contest, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, 114-108.

Flopping 8: Gerald Wallace (2nd; $5,000 Fine), Nets vs. Heat (12/1 game/Video [Foul called = Yes]).
Flopping 9: Chauncey Billups (1st; Warning), Clippers vs. Jazz (12/3 game/Video [Foul called = Yes]).

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update
1. (52 pts) youthministeradam, cyclone14.
3. (51 pts) ump89.
4. (50 pts) flasherasher.
5. (48 pts) yawetag.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 37, Technical Fouls 244 - 245

Day 37 of the 2012-13 NBA Season featured 2 games which produced 2 technical fouls.

244: 17 Joe Crawford, 56 Mark Ayotte, 16 David Guthrie. Knicks' Smith; 1st, 1:25.

The New York Knicks ultimately won the contest, defeating the Miami Heat, 112-92.

245: 59 Gary Zielinski, 7 Kevin Fehr, 28 Zach Zarba. Suns' O'Neal; 2nd, 4:03.

The Dallas Mavericks ultimately won the contest, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 97-94.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update

1. (52 pts) youthministeradam.

2. (51 pts) ump89.

3. (50 pts) flasherasher.

4. (49 pts) cyclone14.

5. (48 pts) yawetag.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 36, Technical Fouls 233 - 243

Day 36 of the 2012-13 NBA Season provided 11 games which produced 11 technical fouls.

233: 13 Monty McCutchen, 74 Curtis Blair, 45 Brian Forte. Bobcats' Walker; 3rd, 10:21.

The New York Knicks ultimately won the contest, defeating the Charlotte Bobcats, 100-98.

234: 8 Marc Davis, 64 Sir Allen Conner, 33 Sean Corbin. Pacers' West; 2nd, 3:10.

The Indiana Pacers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers, 99-92.

235: 48 Scott Foster, 63 Derek Richardson, 40 Leon Wood. Pistons' Frank; 3rd, 2:31.

The Golden State Warriors ultimately won the contest, defeating the Detroit Pistons, 104-97.

236: 49 Tom Washington, 30 John Goble, 66 Haywoode Workman. Bulls' Noah; 4th, 11:00.

237: 49 Tom Washington, 30 John Goble, 66 Haywoode Workman. Cavaliers' Pargo; 4th, 1:15.

The Chicago Bulls ultimately won the contest, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 95-85.

238: 36 David Jones, 11 Derrick Collins, 52 Scott Twardoski. Lakers' Howard; 2nd, 3:16.

239: 36 David Jones, 11 Derrick Collins, 52 Scott Twardoski. Hornets' Williams; 3rd, 8:14.

The Los Angeles Lakers ultimately won the contest, defeating the New Orleans Hornets, 103-87.

240: 24 Mike Callahan, 12 Violet Palmer, 31 Scott Wall. Bucks' Sanders; 3rd, 7:19.

241: 24 Mike Callahan, 12 Violet Palmer, 31 Scott Wall. Bucks' Skiles; 4th, 11:47.

The San Antonio Spurs ultimately won the contest, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, 110-99.

242: 19 James Capers, 59 Gary Zielinski, 68 Marat Kogut. Jazz's Jefferson; 2nd, 1:59.

The Utah Jazz ultimately won the contest, defeating the Orlando Magic, 87-81.

243: 27 Dick Bavetta, 41 Ken Mauer, 7 Kevin Fehr. Raptors' DeRozan; 3rd, 3:54.

The Sacramento Kings ultimately won the contest, defeating the Toronto Raptors, 107-100.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update

1. (51 pts) youthministeradam.

2. (50 pts) ump89.

3. (49 pts) flasherasher, cyclone14.

5. (48 pts) yawetag.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 35, Technical Fouls 229 - 232

Day 35 of the 2012-13 NBA Season provided 6 games which produced 4 technical fouls.

229: 8 Marc Davis, 26 Pat Fraher, 70 Brent Barnaky. Heat's James; 2nd, 2:24 (double-230).
230: 8 Marc Davis, 26 Pat Fraher, 70 Brent Barnaky. Wizards' Singleton; 2nd, 2:24 (double-229).
The Washington Wizards ultimately won the contest, defeating the Miami Heat 105-101.

231: 14 Ed Malloy, 30 John Goble, 66 Haywoode Workman. Thunder's Perkins; 3rd, 8:26.
The Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately won the contest, defeating the Brooklyn Nets, 117-111.

232: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 6 Tony Brown, 29 Mark Lindsay. Bulls' Noah; 2nd, 10:41.
The Indiana Pacers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Chicago Bulls, 80-76.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update
1. (49 pts) ump89, youthministeradam.
3. (48 pts) flasherasher.
4. (46 pts) Eagle_12.
5. (45 pts) Bino, Niicker, cyclone14, yawetag.

NBA Ejections: John Goble (1)

Referee John Goble ejected Knicks forward Rasheed Wallace for a second technical during the 1st period of the Suns-Knicks game. With 1:14 remaining in the 1st quarter, Wallace was called for a personal foul on Suns forward Luis Scola and a first technical foul for excessive dead ball contact on Scola. After Suns guard Goran Dragic attempted and missed the technical free throw, Wallace yelled, "Ball don't lie," and received a technical foul for unsporting conduct (overt actions indicating resentment to a call; prolongued/continued reaction [Rule 12-A-V-d-3]) in violation of the NBA's Respect for the Game guidelines, his second technical foul. At the time of the ejection, the Knicks were leading, 24-14. The Knicks ultimately won the contest, 106-99.

2012 TFFL: Day 33 (2 Games, 4 Technicals), Technical Fouls 225-228.
225: 71 Rodney Mott, 30 John Goble, 61 Courtney Kirkland. Suns' Beasley; 1st, 5:43.
226: 71 Rodney Mott, 30 John Goble, 61 Courtney Kirkland. Knicks' Wallace; 1st, 1:14 (consec-227).
227: 71 Rodney Mott, 30 John Goble, 61 Courtney Kirkland. Knicks' Wallace; 1st, 1:14 (consec-226).
Ejection: Knicks forward Rasheed Wallace ejected (second technical foul).
The New York Knicks ultimately won the contest, 106-99.

228: 23 Jason Phillips, 63 Derek Richardson, 31 Scott Wall. Magic's McRoberts; 3rd, 0:53.1.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update
1. (49 pts) ump89, youthministeradam.
3. (48 pts) flasherasher.
4. (46 pts) Eagle_12.
5. (45 pts) Bino, Niicker, cyclone14, yawetag.

Wrap: Phoenix Suns vs. New York Knicks, 12/2/12
Video: Wallace exclaims "Ball don't lie" after missed Technical free throw, receives #2 and is tossed

Call Analysis: 2012 MLS Championship Game

Following the Los Angeles Galaxy's 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo during Saturday's MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center, several Dynamo players questioned calls made by referee Silviu Petrescu during the match. The following includes several player and coach comments and subsequent video replay analysis of the respective plays' Qualities of Correctness.

48th Minute Offside Call: Robbie Keane Goal Negated
QOC: Correct Call / Video: David Beckham's free kick deflects to Keane, who is correctly ruled offside.
Analysis: Tommy Meyer attempts to deflect a free kick to Keane, who is offside at the time of last contact.

60th Minute Out-of-Bounds: Corner Kick to Galaxy
Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall: "It's a clear header by the other team. It's frustrating because it's close to the linesman and the referee both miss it."
QOC: Correct Call / Video: N/A
Analysis: Header attempts on descending drives wherein the offensive player jumps to a height greater than that of his opponent often provides a difficult opportunity to rule final contact. In this situation, offensive player Gonzalez's attempt was ruled to have deflected off his defender before bounding wide of the goal post. The ball's trajectory suggests this call was correct; lack of conclusive evidence suggests this call was not incorrect.

63rd Minute Foul: Second Keane Goal Called Back
QOC: Correct Call / Video: Omar Gonzalez is ruled to have fouled his opponent on a header.
Analysis: Though Gonzalez's arms may have been pinned or clamped between his opponent's bicep and forearm, if Gonzalez was ruled to have held his opponent and this was the primary action employed.

65th Minute Handball: Penalty Kick Awarded to LA after Illegal Use of Hands in Goal Area
Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark: "It definitely wasn't voluntary."
QOC: Correct Call / Video: Clark blocks Mike Magee's attempt by handling the ball
Analysis: Though the Laws state the corresponding infraction as requiring the player to "handle the ball deliberately," the official is instructed to consider, amongst other criteria, whether the ball has moved towards the hand/arm or the hand/arm towards the ball. Replays indicate Clark's arm appeared to move into the path of the shot attempt, rather than the ball moving toward an established position of his hand and arm.

93rd Minute Penalty: PK as GK Hall Holds And/Or Recklessly Trips Keane to Earn Yellow Card
HOU Manager Dominic Kinnear: "I do think that Tally Hall touched the ball before Robbie Keane went down."
HOU GK Tally Hall: "I did touch it before. I know there was contact, but the referee can't see everything...If I hadn't touched it, I think it would have been a fair shout for a penalty, but because I got something on it, I think I'm probably OK there."
QOC: Correct Call / Video: Complete sequence of Keane's stoppage time goal to ice the contest
Analysis: Law 12 specifies referees shall judge play, if a trip is to be ruled, in relation to 3 levels of severity.
1) No Booking for Careless conduct—which includes lack of attention or acting without precaution.
2) Yellow Card for Reckless conduct—a player acts with complete disregard to the danger to his opponent.
3) Red Card for Excessive force—far exceeding necessary use of force; in danger of injuring an opponent.
If holding is to be ruled (and in addition to a direct free or penalty kick), no booking is required unless:
1) Yellow Card for Unsporting behavior—clearly prevents opponent from gaining possession or advantage.
2) Red Card for "DOGSO"—Denying an Obvious GoalScoring Opportunity by holding an opponent.
Referee Petrescu may also have been correct to issue a red card for DOGSO in this situation; however, because the violator was a goalkeeper, the DOGSO and excessive standards are elevated.

Wrap: Houston Dynamo vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS Cup), 12/1/12

2012-13 TFFL: Day 32, Technical Fouls 216 - 224

Day 32 of the NBA season featured 10 games which produced 9 technical fouls.

216: 48 Scott Foster, 74 Curtis Blair, 45 Brian Forte. Nets' Bogans; 2nd, 10:27 (double-217).
217: 48 Scott Foster, 74 Curtis Blair, 45 Brian Forte. Heat's Allen; 2nd, 10:27 (double-216).
218: 48 Scott Foster, 74 Curtis Blair, 45 Brian Forte. Heat's Spoelstra; 2nd, 5:49.
219: 48 Scott Foster, 74 Curtis Blair, 45 Brian Forte. Nets' Johnson; 4th, 8:56.
The Miami Heat ultimately won the contest, 102-89.

220: 13 Monty McCutchen, 20 Leroy Richardson, 79 Kevin Scott. 76ers' Turner; 2nd, 0:47.9 (double-221).
221: 13 Monty McCutchen, 20 Leroy Richardson, 79 Kevin Scott. Bulls' Noah; 2nd, 0:47.9 (double-220).
The Chicago Bulls ultimately won the contest, 93-88.

222: 17 Joe Crawford, 33 Sean Corbin, 68 Marat Kogut. Hornets' Anderson; 4th, 8:44.
The Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately won the contest, 100-79.

223: 49 Tom Washington, 6 Tony Brown, 44 Eli Roe. Mavericks' Mayo; 1st, 6:15.
224: 49 Tom Washington, 6 Tony Brown, 44 Eli Roe. Mavericks' Carlisle; 1st, 1:37.
The Dallas Mavericks ultimately won the contest, 92-77.

TFFL Standings Update

1. (49 pts) ump89, youthministeradam.
3. (48 pts) flasherasher.
4. (46 pts) Eagle_12.
5. (45 pts) Bino, Niicker, cyclone14.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 31, Technical Fouls 210 - 215

Day 31 of the NBA season featured 11 games which produced 6 technical fouls.

210: 24 Mike Callahan, 16 David Guthrie, 29 Mark Lindsay. Raptors' Kleiza; 3rd, 9:02.

The Toronto Raptors ultimately won the contest, 101-97.

211: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 20 Leroy Richardson, 26 Pat Fraher. Celtics' Terry; 1st, 10:56.

212: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 20 Leroy Richardson, 26 Pat Fraher. Trail Blazers' Matthews; 2nd, 1:56.

The Boston Celtics ultimately won the contest, 96-78.

213: 48 Scott Foster, 56 Mark Ayotte, 74 Curtis Blair. Hawks' Smith; 1st, 0:52.1.

The Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately won the contest, 113-111.

214: 43 Dan Crawford, 47 Bennie Adams, 44 Eli Roe. Thunder's Westbrook; 2nd, 1:43.

215: 43 Dan Crawford, 47 Bennie Adams, 44 Eli Roe. Jazz's Corbin; 4th, 7:02.

The Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately won the contest, 106-94.

TFFL Standings Update

1. (48 pts) ump89.

2. (46 pts) Eagle_12.

3. (45 pts) Bino.
4. (44 pts) youthministeradam

5. (43 pts) flasherasher.

Flopping: Gerald Wallace Receives Warning (7)

The NBA has issued a warning to Gerald Wallace (Brooklyn Nets) for violating the league's anti-flopping rule. Wallace's actions in faking a foul drew an incorrect offensive foul call from Crew Chief Derrick Stafford.

Discipline 7, Violation 1 Warning: Wallace's flop [Video]; Nets-Knicks, 11/26/12.