NBA refs--Can someone do some kind of investigation or write an article about it?

What about the obvious clear path against the Rox that didn't get called? What about the 24sec shot clock that they missed. And there seemed to be just as much contact on the drive that Lillard had on Parsons as there was on Batum's block.

Bad calls go both ways. Open your eyes.

 

Agreed. I never thought the NBA was rigged, just heavily influenced sometimes. One reason why I admired the Houston commentators was because they used to acknowledge how unfairly Yao was officiated. I didn't watch the game the thread starter is referring to so I can't judge that.

ESPN takes up for NBA officiating. In other sports and college basketball, they make a huge deal or want rules changed over a questionable call or two. When certain NBA games have numerous lopsided calls favoring one team, they'd ridicule people for acknowledging it or say to win the game before that. Lakers/Jazz in 2008 and Spurs/Suns in 2007 had some of the lopsided officiating in recent memory. The Lakers got all kinds of calls over the Jazz in 2009 & 2010 as well, it's doubtful Utah would have beaten them those 2 years. I don't mind questionable calls or bad ones as long as it's not lopsided.

Kevin Blackistone said the Lakers weren't favored over the Spurs in 2008 because Kobe shot no more than a handful of free throws in one game. I don't agree that stars must shoot lots of free throws, especially when you can't name calls they should have gotten. Skip Bayless acted like there were only 2 bad calls favoring the Lakers in the 4th quarter of the 2010 finals. There were at least 11. He pointed out all the calls Cleveland got against Orlando in 2009. In 2008, Jay Mariotti said the Jazz/Lakers series was fair because Utah shot more free throws in one game. With the exception of game 4, the Lakers shot between 13 and 27 more free throws in 4 games, they shot 9 more in game 3.

ESPN is only critical of NBA officiating when using it for teams/players they like or dislike. They said the refs helped Dallas against Portland last year because Dallas shot more free throws one quarter. They didn't elaborate, nor did they name any specific calls. Other times they indirectly admitted Dallas gets unfair treatment because of Marc Cuban. ESPN blamed the refs for Boston winning game 2 of the 2010 finals, the officiating was bad for teams. They didn't say anything about the Lakers getting calls in the first games of the 2010 finals and 2010 WCF. One call is brought up to defend Phil Jackson for losing the 1994 ECSF, his teams have benefited from countless calls. Mike Greenburg kept using Amare's suspension for saying the NBA doesn't favor stars when most fans know the Spurs got away with so much in that series and other ones. I think David Robinson avoided suspension when he stepped on the court years ago. Ryen Russillo said that if the NBA was fixed then they'd fix every game. That would be too obvious, and most fans don't think it's scripted, just too much bias and influence.

 

Remember that 2002 Playoff game 6 between the Lakers and Kings? It was one of the most controversial officiated game ever. I believe the Lakers shot around 28 FTs in the 4th quarter alone. The Kings were getting beat up and no calls were made while the Lakers were getting calls just because they miss shots.

After that game, people erupted from across the country. Even people that were not fans of the Kings knew something was fishy about the game. Lakers fans even knew it themselves (even though they won't admit it) that all of those calls were too good to be true. I believe some people even press for the Feds to investigate the officiating of that game.

Tim Donaghy stated that the NBA wanted the Lakers & Kings series to go to game 7 so they had the officials make sure the Lakers win. Of course the NBA denies this allegations. Dick Bavetta was the main official for that game and David Stern covered his butt like no other. That's why David Stern would fined anyone in the league that just happens to mention anything about his beloved referees. I mean, everyone has their rights to voice their opinions, even if it was about some of the questionable calls by the refs. But Stern continues to silence everyone.

I hope one day the Feds will do an investigation on David Stern because there has been nothing but shadiness around him.

 

It would ignorant as hell to think something sneaky wasn't going on. Everything is about money..everybody is about money. You think Stern and others are in it for the love of basketball?

 

One of the top network executives is famous for saying, roughly, "the programming is only there to get you to watch the commercials," rather than the other way around. It's about money, and they will leave nothing to chance when it can be scripted instead.

 

Joey Crawford and Dick Bavetta need to GTFO.

For 20 years, every time I see one of them when the games come on, I say to myself, "Ah crap, this game is going to be called all jacked up in one way or another", and it never fails to come true. Maybe it's just because I'm more attentive to the reffing when they're working, but I honestly don't think so. When other crews without them work, it's nowhere near as bad.

 

I'm with the OP. Why can't some journalist or something take a really large sample so any nefarious trends can be identified? None of us have the time to do it. I'm sure it would answer a lot of fans' questions. To me, basketball's biggest weakness is that it's the sport that is the most influenced by the noncompetitors (refs). It is such a big part of the game, this should be under continual investigation - like preventive maintenance at a nulear plant. Ppl shouldn't be forced to shut up about it. Man, I hate David Stern.

 

Preach it man. I think you're 100% correct.

 

There are only certain teams that refs make favorable calls for. The Rockets and the Blazers aren't one of them. I don't think there was any cheating in that game. Just normal bad calls. The cheating happened in the Miami game which is one of those teams. You have to blow certain teams out or they will get the benefit of every call. Check last years finals when the NBA GAVE LeBron his title.

 

It all evens out. A much better measure than the eye test is the number of FT's the Rockets take vs. the opponent.

Oh. And there is no conspiracy.