Lebron hasn't committed a foul in nearly 2 weeks & 5 games

puffyusaf#2 wrote:It makes perfect sense..... Kobe doesn't get a foul call in his favor for games at a time and Lebron doesn't get a foul called against him for games at a time. Seem Legit.

Yep. In other news, water is wet, fire is hot, and grass is green. Move along.

The most physically imposing player of all-time, who averaged 22 rebounds for his career along 30 points a game, never fouled out in 14 years. I'll buy some ref bias, sure. But that record puts everything to bed.

Streak over. He fouled Ibaka!

gill wrote:Streak over. He fouled Ibaka!

Probably only because it was getting talked about...

hig wrote:

gill wrote:Streak over. He fouled Ibaka!

Probably only because it was getting talked about...

yeah that foul was bs it was a clean block!!

Iceberg Slim wrote:The most physically imposing player of all-time, who averaged 22 rebounds for his career along 30 points a game, never fouled out in 14 years. I'll buy some ref bias, sure. But that record puts everything to bed.

Only problem with that is that was a different NBA. In today's game Kobe got called for a foul on JR Smith because Smith's foot hit Kobe. MWP fouled out on a playe where he never touched the guy. In today's "no touch" NBA how can the most imposing player not get a foul for nearly a month?

puffyusaf#2 wrote:

Iceberg Slim wrote:The most physically imposing player of all-time, who averaged 22 rebounds for his career along 30 points a game, never fouled out in 14 years. I'll buy some ref bias, sure. But that record puts everything to bed.

Only problem with that is that was a different NBA. In today's game Kobe got called for a foul on JR Smith because Smith's foot hit Kobe. MWP fouled out on a playe where he never touched the guy. In today's "no touch" NBA how can the most imposing player not get a foul for nearly a month?

This.

Wilt scored 100 points, he averaged 50/25. If we compare those to anyone today, there's no one close to great in the NBA.

Also, to further put it in perspective, when Wilt scored 100, the day after it was a minor news blip. There simply wasn't the type of international, multibillion dollar interconnected across various industries entertainment goliath that there is today. The reason we talk about ref bias, specifically 'superstar treatment' today, is because it exists and because there is an actual incentive for it. We can debate the purity of the sport all day long, but at the end of the day, calls get changed to protect star players, calls get changed to protect close games, guys like Jodie Meeks will never ever get the same types of calls that guys like Kobe or Lebron get.

And yes, I think this is also directly related to how and why the NBA has gotten 'soft'. Before there was millions of eyes on it at all times who really cared if some elbows were thrown? who really cared if someone got pushed or tripped or whatever? You obviously had refs and regulation to keep it sporting but when you're not talking about billions of dollars running through and intense 24/7/365 media scrutiny, it's a lot easier to let things go overall.

Like I said, I'll buy some ref bias. But that record still puts everything to bed, point blank. Sure, the rules are different now. Touch fouls are WAY more common. The league is soft in my opinion because of it. With that said, I think it's possible for guys who are extremely physically imposing, to channel themselves defensively and play with supreme discipline. Bill Russell showed that. Wilt personified it. And he WASN'T liked. Has Lebron done this? I couldn't tell you. I haven't watched him since December 8th, every play, every night. But it's possible. Wilt was a prime example of that. His feat was more impressive than anything I've ever heard almost. Especially because he was a center and a shot blocker. Lebron's streak is crazy and very questionable. Wilts streak is asinine.

And so were the numbers he posted back then, but they aren't good indicators of the game today. Anything is possible within reason. LeBron playing great defense and not fouling ONCE is beyond reason. There are no great defenders in the league that can do that. Not Dwight, not Tyson Chandler, not Tony Allen, not Shane Battier, etc. etc. etc.