Video: Mickael Pietrus hits, flagrant fouls Pau Gasol
At the end of the fourth quarter, during the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the Orlando Magic in game four of the NBA finals, Pau Gasol received a pass from Trevor Ariza for an uncontested two-hand dunk, or so it seemed.
Out of nowhere, Orlando forward Mickael Pietrus flew into the picture with guns blazing. As Gasol went up the flying Frenchman laid a hit on Gasol with what only could be described as a “double hammer,” right in the middle of the 7-0 Spaniard’s back.
The 2009 NBA All-Star was obviously miffed and immediately confronted Pietrus after landing on the ground. Pietrus didn’t didn’t back down himself and the two faced off as teammates and referees got in-between them.
Pietrus was given a flagrant one foul Gasol was assessed a technical foul.
Check the video below at the 1:03 mark.
It doesn’t look that bad in real time, but fast forward to the instant replay angle at 2:05, and you can see why Pau Gasol was so fired up afterwards.
The question is whether this will be upgraded by the league from a flagrant one, to a flagrant two. According to the league’s definition, it seems likely:
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A flagrant foul-penalty (1) is unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent.
- A flagrant foul-penalty (2) is unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent. It is an unsportsmanlike act and the offender is ejected immediately.
Edit: It’s been announced that Mickael Pietrus won’t get any further discipline for his frustration foul. The Lakers are going to be pissed off.
Between Dwight Howard’s two miss free-throws at the end of regulation and Derek Fisher’s two crucial three pointers, the Lakers were able to pull out a 99-91 overtime win to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
I think Pietrus is one of my least favorite NBA players of all time. He is a poor sport and has anger issues that needs to be resolved. I think Dr. Drew needs to do some rehab on him.
June 12th, 2009 at 1:50 am
That foul deserves a suspension. There is no reason to do that. If the league is so interested in cleaning things up, then they need to penalize actions like that. I head John Barry say that Pau Gasol is to blame because he should have just run the clock out. That is like blaming a girl for getting raped.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:24 am
WOW. I couldn’t believe what I saw last night! Any time you hit a player with closed fists you should be automatically suspended. What a terribly immature move on Pietrus’ part.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:06 am
I would kill that bitch of pietrus… cheap bastard
June 12th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Anyone who plays basketball knows that when you are winning at the end of the game you don’t take a lay up or dunk like Gasol did. Otherwise you will take a cheap shot from someone. I’m not saying that it is right, but that is just the way that the game is played now. Gasol never should have taken that. You pull the ball out and waste the clock and get fouled and go to the line to shoot free throws. That is Gasol’s mistake.
June 12th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
zach you sir are an idiot and should never speak again
June 12th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Poor monkey…
June 13th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Pietrus you are a mather fucker, fucking
stupid french
June 13th, 2009 at 4:07 am
If NBA doesn’t applied a punishment to Orlando or Pietrus… then I’ll know something inside is dirty; no matter who is winning or loosing, the hole world saw Pietrus flagrant foul. NBA can’t hide their preferences…
June 13th, 2009 at 8:39 am
[...] Pau Gasol was fouled by Mickael Pietrus last night in game four of the NBA Finals, R-rated words went flying between the two players [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 8:34 am