Earlier today, the NBA issued the following statement concerning the controversial Derek Fisher-Brent Barry non-call that ended Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals: With the benefit of instant replay, it appears a foul call should have been made,” league spokesman Tim Frank said Wednesday. This begs an obvious question: Why, exactly, would the league publicly [...]

Talk about a late whistle. Twenty-four hours after he collided with the San Antonio Spurs ' Brent Barry with Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on the line, the Los Angeles Lakers ' Derek Fisher was called for a foul. "With the benefit of instant replay, it appears a foul call should have been made," said a statement by NBA spokesman Tim Frank. With the Spurs trailing by two, ...

In the latest example of a slowly (but surely) increasing trend, the NBA admitted yesterday that Derek Fisher did, in fact, foul Brent Barry prior to his last-second 3-point attempt that missed, resulting in a Spurs loss in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The foul, as you already know, was not called, and these last 36 hours following that critical decision by the game’s ...

So you know that controversial ending in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals? My colleague Brett Edwards argued there not a foul; last night, the NBA respectfully disagreed . Trailing 93-91 on Tuesday night, the Spurs inbounded the ball with 2.1 seconds left to Brent Barry , who was bumped by Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher on the floor. No foul was called, and Barry missed badly on ...

If they’re watching the replay, wouldn’t they see that technically Barry traveled first? Oh well, the league claims a foul should’ve been made: ESPN : Barry then wound up with the ball in the center of the floor on a play called for Manu Ginobili and faked Fisher in the air but struggled to get off a 3-point heave at the buzzer after Fisher came down and bumped Barry.  ...

Joey Crawford's no-call on Brent Barry to end Game 4 is getting the most attention this morning as everyone points their fingers, yet again and rightfully so, at NBA officials. Yes, it was probably a foul, but it happened on the floor and there's no telling what would have happened after that. Then, of course, there's the Derek Fisher shot that hit the rim which was seen by everyone else ...

Was that a foul? Yes. Should it have been called? Yes. It was on the ground and should have been two free-throws. Am I surprised that it wasn't? Nope. I am a firm believer that a foul in the first minute should be a foul in the last minute. But, c'mon, how long ago did we all learn that this is not the case in the NBA? How many times have we seen people drive the lane with the game on the ...

As we get close to the Dog Days of Summer, a time where the MLB rules supreme while sports folks are waiting for the football season to kick-off, the sports news begins to enter a slow-down mode. I suppose that explains the great deal of discussion surrounding the way the Lakers/Spurs game ended last night. Did Derek Fisher foul Brent Barry? What call would you have made in that situation?  ...

Let me preface my obligatory post on the Fisher/Crawford/Barry conspiracy with some full disclosure: I like the Lakers; I don't particularly like the Spurs. I want the Lakers to advance; I'd rather not see any more of the Spurs in this lifetime. Also, I'm sick, which is why I'm late weighing in on this. With that in mind, I'm pretty sure that was a foul. No amount of ...

Ok so if you are a Spurs fan you are probably irate right now that your team is down 3-1 in this series. During the final moments of last nights game the refs blew a call that would’ve at least given the Spurs to the chance to tie the game. Brent Barry got the inbound pass and he does a pump fake to catches Derek Fishers of guard, Fisher jumps up and comes down on Barry but they ...

San Antonio Spurs fans, L.A. Lakers haters, and NBA Fan Guy may see a foul in the closing seconds of Game 4 Western Conference Finals last night. Contact was made, that cannot be denied. Derek Fisher jumped to defend Brent Barry's three-point shot attempt, Barry pump-faked, drew body contact from Fisher, dribbled once to his right, and then heaved a prayer from five feet behind the line that

Sure it might have been a foul, and Duncan might’ve travelled so let’s just say the NBA officiating is what it is. I’ve stopped thinking about how they should change the refs or ways in which they can be more consistent. Fact is, it will never be perfect. Had the foul been called, the ensuing argument could very well been that Fisher jumped up and actually avoided Barry. ...

Did Derek Fisher foul Brent Barry? Did Barry travel? Should have the refs called a foul in the closing seconds? After game 4, there will plenty of questions thrown around about the last 2.1 seconds of play which mainly involved Brent Barry of the Spurs and Derek Fisher. In my opinion, it was a foul, but if you are going to call the foul then you have to call the traveling violation on ...

I suppose another way of asking the same question is: should the refs be blowing the whistle that late in the game? In case you missed the close play or want to see it again, here it is , because it’s pretty clear there’s a lot of contact. That looks a lot like a foul, and I’ll go on the side that says Brent Barry should have been put on the line. But ...

Lakers up two, 93-91, Spurs to inbound the ball with 2 seconds left and a chance to tie or win with a three  ... What excuse could a referee possibly have for missing that call on Derrick Fisher? It's almost as bad as some of the noncalls against Philly in the 2001 Eastern Finals against the Bucks. We know the small market blues well here in Milwaukee, and now the NBA ...

Trailing 93-91 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final with the Lakers, San Antonio’s Brent Barry (23 points, 5 rebounds) collected an inbounds pass with a few seconds remaining. Despite being mugged by Derek Fisher after a pump fake, Barry failed to draw a foul. Spurs In No-Flop Shocker . For instance, Manu had been in this situation, the contact from Fisher would’ve been ...

Spurs lose as Brent Barry doesn't force officials to call a foul on Derek Fisher.