The Rockets have averaged 20.2 fouls per game for the season. Their opponents average 19.9 fouls against them per game for the season. If you look at the 5 games since the all-star break, the Rockets have averaged 20.0 fouls per game, while their opponents have averaged 20.2 fouls per game. This means that the Rockets have been called for LESS fouls than their average for the season, and their opponents have been called for MORE fouls. So it is actually just the opposite. The Rockets are getting more calls than they have averaged for the season.
EDIT: The Rockets' opponents have actually averaged 20.6 fouls per game since the all-star break... not 20.2.
rockets cant play defense without the refs blowing a ticky tack fouls.. which ultimately send the other team in the bonus early the rockets during this recent stretch have had to play defense handcuffed, because the refs are only calling the ticky tack stuff on one side of the court. The Brooklyn game was the worst
It is more that Harden is playing injured and we are playing more small ball hence not getting into the paint because everyone is settling for jump shots outside of Motiejunas and Asik.
It definitely makes. Imagine that refs call 4 fouls in first 3 min in a quarter, then the whole quarter players have to avoid any contact that could lead to a foul, or in other word, two fts. To balance that, refs can call all the other fouls in last 4min in the quarter, then the oppo will have about 6-8min more solid defense time.
watch the 4th quarter of game 7 between the Celtics and Lakers to find the answer to your question the ticky tack fouls called againist the Rockets build up to team fouls, and handcuff the Rockets from playing physical defense, which allows teams to attack the basket at will without much resistance. They even called a foul on Asik( when he went straight up and down) on a drive by Affalo. And the refs are only doing this to the Rockets, expect a much more veteran team like the Mavs to take advantage of this biased officiating like an inexpiernced Magic didnt. I have been watching the Lakers on the LP recently( and I have discovered a strange trend in their recent wins). Whenever a team plays the lakers, you are not allowed to even breathe on Kobe, and after that 2nd foul, you pretty much play handcuffed, and he blows right by you for dunks, this happened in the Mavs game BIG TIME, which led to the OJ Mayo techincal. On the other end the Lakers are allowed to be as physical as they want...( example is Metta World Peace), he can reach and hold players without fear of getting getting called for multiple fouls( example was againist Dirk... which led to his technical).... this frustrates opposing teams and coaches. I have seen so many coaches recieve technical fouls againist the Lakers recently its not even funny The refs are againist the Rockets BIG TIME, its not just the Harden no calls, they are missing blatant travels, carrys by opposing teams.
If you honestly believe that, then you haven't been watching the NBA for very long. Is the foul on the floor or shooting? Does it put a crucial player in foul trouble? Are the same kinds of fouls being called consistently on both ends? I honestly don't think the refs have been much of a factor against us this year, largely because you have to at least attempt to play defense before you can complain about getting a raw deal on fouls. I do get annoyed when the refs just start calling everything real tight during a certain stretch of the game, effectively killing the flow and entertainment value of the game. Seems to happen about one quarter per game.
But if the Rockets and their opponents have been averaging the same amount of fouls as they have been all season, it just means they got other calls earlier in the game. It all averages out.
Number of fouls for/against doesn't prove anything. Drawing fouls is a skill, some teams are bound to do it better than others by simply putting themselves in the position to draw more contact. Harden is one of the best in the league at drawing fouls, the Rockets should have a wider margin of fouls called for them than they do. It's like the refs are subtracting foul calls from everyone else on the Rockets because Harden draws so many.
When it is called is everything. You can't tell me you are just as upset with a call on a random possession in the 2nd quarter than you are with one on the final possession of a tied game. Calls can break momentum and put teams in and out of a game. Timing is everything. Teams can respond to bad calls called early and adjust accordingly, however, if it's too late, the likliehood of a team being able to overcome the calls decreases significantly.
