I don't think that was a foul, and I would have said the same thing if the situation were reversed.

I'm glad a foul was not called, because Dirk should have either drove or jumped into Bowen after the pump fake to draw an easy foul. Then Manu or (gasp) Finley would have hit the game winner.

That being said, I think there was clearly contact on the lower arm, and a foul could have been called legitimately. I'm glad the refs let them play instead of calling the foul.

Another angle:

from behind

from behind right side

Nothing but wrist...

the jump ball

and the video at 2:10

http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?content=video&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbacom/recaps/recap_p225_dalsas.asx#

that one call is not nearly as frustrating as duncan running into a motionless dampier (arms straight up) and getting the call over and over again.

but oh well thats basketball unfortunately.

mock, I have complained about 2 calls - 1). Dirks obvious charge into Duncan where they called Duncan inside the restricted area and it wasn't even close, and 2.) The hand check on Bowen with under 8 seconds to go.

These are 2 of the worst calls I have seen in crunch time in a critical Playoff game.

I have also admitted that the refs made a terrible call by resetting the shot clock on Parker backboard jumper and giving the ball back to the Spurs.

mock,

Let's be clear. Only Mavs fans can whine about officiating. When Spur fans say a peep it is blatant hypocrisy, even when most objective fans and even many Mav fans agree with them.

BTW, Damp and Diop are foul machines against Duncan because he is about 10x quicker than they are and 100x the smarter basketball player. He is an expert at getting people out of position with his footwork and positioning and drawing contact. He is also probably the best in the NBA at being deceptive with the ball in the low post. They aren't quick enough or smart enough to anticipate where Duncan is going and thus they are often moving when they contact him or they are caught inside the circle. Your entire body has to be planted to either draw a charge or no foul when there is contact. This is also a major reason why teams simply don't try to single cover Duncan for the most part. He has the best post moves since Hakeem. Does he whine? Sure. Does he often get the benefit of the doubt on calls? Sure. So does every other superstar player. Not just because of their status but because officials often assume the scrub player is more likely to have committed a foul if it looks close. If the Mavs are going to play Duncan one on one and let him shoot 20 or so shots in the paint they are going to rack up a lot of fouls.

Stop b*tching. Leave that to SA and their fans. Losers make excuses.

all the mav fans picking that block of all things to cry about show lack of objectivity or a lack of basketball knowledge

the fact that many of you are further advocating dirk flopping instead of taking the winning jumper says a lot

did someone say flop?

*cough* GINOBLI *cough*

look it up.

I have always been critic of ginobilis flopping.

however the same people thaat are huge dirk fans hate manu for his flopping

its called hypocrcy

So you are not a Manu fan? Why don't I believe that?

While Bowen clearly gets Dirk's wrist, the refs wont call that and I dont blame them. That was a great play that Dirk could have avoided by just going to the basket which was open.

I love how manu plays ball out. I love how he makes the little adjustments like kobe said.i love that he is a great passer and exciting with the ball. I love tht he is tough nd aggressive on d and that he makes clutch plays.

I hate that manu flops way too much.

So you can be a Manu fan despite his flopping, but if we criticize his flopping, we can't be Dirk fans without being hypocritical? Please elaborate. I don't understand.

I don't care for either team and I predicted a blowout win (obviously wrong) by the Spurs yesterday.

But that could easily be called a foul on Bowen.

Mavs fan here and I'm glad they let them play whether it was a foul or not. Two reasons: without instant replay or something, it didn't appear to be a foul in real time and I'm just a big fan of letting them play.

I'm a big fan of letting them play as well. If the refs had let them play in games 3 and 4, the series is 3-2 SA.

Excuse me, but Dallas TOOK game 4 and let's not forget who threw, or should I say kicked, game 3 away for SA

Dallas would have taken game 4 if the Dirk would have had to take a shot and make it instead of having the refs put him on the line for a hand check.

The were handed the game by the refs and David Hasselhoff.

There was more contact on that Bowen foul in game 4 than half the fouls Duncan draws.

San Antonio had a shot to win game 4 at the end and missed.
Dallas had a shot to win game 5 and missed.

That was all ball; it's so obvious it ain't even funny; I don't care who you are...it was all ball.