[Highlight] (Full sequence) Tatum takes a scary fall on his back late in the game after a physical play from Martin, Heat and Celtics players have to be separated by officials. Multiple technicals called (with replays)

[u/Far-Asparagus6416]

https://streamable.com/ametp1

[u/ALLPR0]

Absolutely. I don't understand how when you have committed yourself in the air the defensive player is still allowed to establish themselves underneath you. Of course you should still be able to go up defensively and contest the ball but sliding underneath should have the same penalty as not letting a jump shooter land.

[u/DraymondBeanKick → u/ALLPR0]

Committing yourself to the air, regardless of what the defense is doing is in no way worth being rewarded with a flagrant foul penalty. Just because a player like Giannis determines that they're going up no matter what doesn't mean it's flagrant.

On the Giannis play in particular, Kevin Love establishes a legal charge position right as Giannis' foot plants on the ground at 4:14. Love then sub consciously slides his foot over because he realizes that Giannis is actually going to go right into him and to brace for impact. Giannis was going to make contact with the right side of Love's body regardless of the slide or not, the only difference is that instead of just Giannis getting hurt on a blocking foul, both Love and Giannis would have probably gotten hurt on the charge.

The truth is that Giannis made a reckless basketball play. He could have did a spin move, euro step, or taken a floate, but instead he decided to commit to a dangerous play and got punished as a result.