axeman23 wrote:Dr Aki wrote:There are explicit rules against diving at a football players legs this in rugby union, like get sent off (yellow/red card) rules because that **** is so dangerous and shooting 200 lbs of force into a players knees or legs is liable to injuring people.
Its a different sport with different aims. In the rugby example you gave, the guy rushing through is trying to prevent a field goal, which is quite often at the end of a game and ends up being the decisive play. In basketball, it's nothing like that: You just see the ball on the ground, unclaimed, and you GO for it: 1st minute, or 48th minute. THIS was just pure bad luck for Ivey, and I don't believe Anthony did anything wrong.
No, it happens all the time, not just in FG attempt situations. Like when a player is tackled but held up, has lost momentum and is stationary (and thus vulnerable), in a tackle, and a 3rd man comes in to put the ball carrier on the ground, often targeting the players legs to slow the play the ball down.
In rugby union, when a ruck forms, you're supposed to stay on your feet to ruck. Sometimes in the heat of the action, someone gets undisciplined, comes in from the side, and absolutely wrecks a guy's ankles/legs because he was doing the right thing and staying on his feet.