Now I hear people all ways say that Jordan pushed Russell off in '98 to get his shot off! Now I want to ask y'all what you think. First I want you to forget whatever you've seen in the past or thoughts you've had about The Shot! I just want you to listen to my case and watch the video and make a decision from the evidence provided. lol Then if you have the game you can watch it in slow motion to be sure about what I'm asking you to see.
Now I say that Jordan didn't push him off. From top camera view and from directly behind Jordan it looks like a total push off, but if you look at it from the baseline camera, where you can actually see Jordan's hand, it tells a totally different story!
1. When you look at Jordan's hand it's totally open and not in pushing position.
2.Jordan's hand drops straight down as he's preparing to retrieve the ball off his crossover! There is no follow through as it would be if he were pushing Russell. Again Jordan's hand drops straight down, in fact if you look closely you'll see that Jordan's hand actually hits Russell in the back of his shoe.
3.If you watch the game (and the entire series for that matter) Russell had been over playing Jordan to his right because Mike refused to crossover to his left until that moment.
I think he pushed. It's much clearer from the view from behind. I think the view from behind is more accurate than the top side view. But I don't think there was enough contact to warrant an offensive foul for a last second play of a finals series. I'm happy that the refs decided to let the players decide the final outcome of a crucial finals game.
I think it's impossible to tell if he follows through from the top view angle because 1. the quality of the video is very poor 2. the camera is very far away. That's why I believe the camera from behind is much clearer where it does look like he pushed and followed through.
Posts: 1770 | Location: Irvine, CA | Registered: 07 January 2006
Originally posted by KCi: I think he pushed. It's much clearer from the view from behind. I think the view from behind is more accurate than the top side view. But I don't think there was enough contact to warrant an offensive foul for a last second play of a finals series. I'm happy that the refs decided to let the players decide the final outcome of a crucial finals game.
I think it's impossible to tell if he follows through from the top view angle because 1. the quality of the video is very poor 2. the camera is very far away. That's why I believe the camera from behind is much clearer where it does look like he pushed and followed through.
From behind Jordan or behind Russell? Which view are you talking about?
from behind Jordan. I think Jordan pushed him slightly. Not nearly enough to make Russell fall, so Russell flopped imo. But theres no way Jordan didn't at least make a slight pushoff.
Posts: 1770 | Location: Irvine, CA | Registered: 07 January 2006
Originally posted by KCi: from behind Jordan. I think Jordan pushed him slightly. Not nearly enough to make Russell fall, so Russell flopped imo. But theres no way Jordan didn't at least make a slight pushoff.
Ok! That's cool but I want you to look at the view from when Isiah starts talking. That's the view that shows Jordan's hand the whole time.
I think the push was so slight that it was like you said, basically just sliding down Russell pants to his shoes. Isiah was totally hating though lol. That was an absolutely incredible finish, no asterisk whatsoever imo, Jordan made like 3 absolutely critical plays to finish the game.
Posts: 1770 | Location: Irvine, CA | Registered: 07 January 2006
Yea ok i see, your talking about the view from behind Russell, from that view, he looks like he barely pushed,Russell was basically flopping from that view. No call was the right call, Jordan is the man.
Posts: 1770 | Location: Irvine, CA | Registered: 07 January 2006
Originally posted by KCi: Yea ok i see, your talking about the view from behind Russell, from that view, he looks like he barely pushed,Russell was basically flopping from that view. No call was the right call, Jordan is the man.
Russell went on Best Damn Sports Show and said Jordan shoved him out the way! I think it's total b.s.! I lost a lot of respect for Russell after that.
Was there contact, yes. Jordan's hand was on Russell's waist when he went into his crossover. To say that Jordan pushed a 200+lbs. man with ONE HAND while doing a crossover right before going into a winning jumpshot in the finals with time running down is rediculous. Russell flopped and he overplayed Jordan on that play. Russell was overplaying Jordan the whole series. Jordan left him in the dust over and over and over....Russell needs to man up and admit that he was apart of Jordan's clutch legacy.
Even I being a huge M.J. fan hav to admit that there was contact and it was an offense foul, but what ref is going to call that ticky foul on the last time Jordan touched the bal and his last shot ( iknow it wasn't his last shot but alot of people thought it was) But what ref would call that foul.
Originally posted by ImLikemike2328: Even I being a huge M.J. fan hav to admit that there was contact and it was an offense foul, but what ref is going to call that ticky foul on the last time Jordan touched the bal and his last shot ( iknow it wasn't his last shot but alot of people thought it was) But what ref would call that foul.
Jordan pushed off, though slight as it was. When you have a person moving laterally at that speed, the slightest nudge can force that individual to lose balance and create space and an advantage. That's what Jordan did. He gave a slight nudge that made it impossible for Russell to regain balance and defensive positioning. If Jordan created that off balance with a sharp cross-over dribble, then fine. But, he didn't. He used his hand to slightly nudge Russell to create the advantage. He pushed off.
That being said, I like the fact that it was a no-call. In that instance, a foul call should not be something that should help determine the outcome of that game. Let the players decide at that moment. To me, it should be a blatantly obvious foul for it to be called. If Russell hadn't lost balance and challenged the shot and slapped Jordan's shooting hand after the ball was released, I likewise wouldn't want a foul call made.
Again, let the players decide unless there's no choice but to make a call. While it was a push-off, it wasn't the type that should affect the game. Jordan still had to drain the jumper, and he did.
Looking at from where the video count is 2:08 to 2:17 I don't see a push or a nudge. I see Jordan planting hard with his right leg crossing Russell over as his left hand slides down Russell's body.
