In a strange way, the horrific officiating of this series gives me hope for the future. This isn't Kobe getting every whistle under the bright lights of LA at Staples Center. This is Oklahoma f'n City. It doesn't take an enormous market... rather, it takes a couple of dynamic stars possibly combined with an active home crowd. The biggest issue with NBA officiating is that the narratives are written beforehand. Everyone knew going into the last game of the season that the Lakers needed it for playoff positioning (possibly just to make it, period). Everyone knew going into this series that Durant vs. James in June was the league's ideal scenario. Everyone knew after the Westbrook injury that Beverley's aggressive play would be targeted (3 fouls in under a quarter, then a 4th foul moments into the second half). If the Rockets can go out and get another star, they're going to be one of the most marketable and hyped teams on the planet. When that happens, the machine will start to work for us. It's sad that the game is so dependent on this, but it's a bit better than the helpless feeling that happens if your key rival is the Lakers.
I know what happened in the 2001 WCF. And I know about Tim donaghy's accusations. He was shunned because the guy has zero credibility. He comes off as a disgruntled employee who was just trying to throw mud. Even if you could convince me that there was a fix on in that game 6 (you can't) you could never convince me that there is a league wide fix on every playoff series to get the more marketable teams through. I can point out several things from this series alone that destroy that argument. I think Crawford is a terrible official, but he's not rigging games.
http://www.google.com/search?q=%6E%62%61+%61%64%6D%69%74%73+%72%65%66%65%72%65%65%69%6E%67+%77%61%73+%77%72%6F%6E%67
Really? Have you read Tim Donaghy's book? Because I have, and I will say that he completely discloses his own personal shortcomings and takes complete responsibility for almost all of his actions (something that someone like Jose Canseco never has done). In fact, the majority of the book (even the parts where he discloses the personal vendettas or bias of other refs) was talking purely about how he used that information to place his own bets. Not blaming them for it, he actually defends their bias by saying that it is human nature to make personal relationships with other people (good or bad). If you think that because David Stern covered up a book that literally would have destroyed the entire credibility of the league is reason to not believe Donaghy, then you sir, are naively navigating life. PS Donaghy had irrefutable proof of these interactions. For example Joey Crawford loved Rasheed Wallace because Crawford's grandson's favorite play was Wallace and after a game that Donaghy was at with Crawford, Joey got Rasheed to give him a pair of signed, game-worn sneakers to give to his grandson. Ronnie Nunn had his favorites as well and was completely biased during his entire tenure according to Donaghy (Nunn got reassigned after Donaghy's FBI conversation was given to NBA lawyers in 2008).
So why did OKC get the Rockets in the penalty when it was Perkin's retaliation illegal screen that opened the game up?
Completely disclosing your own personal failings does not make you credible. I should clarify, I don't doubt that biases exist. That's human nature. I don't think these biases affect games significantly (with a few exceptions, like the Duncan/Crawford game) While ill be willing to believe that exists...at least as much as it exists with any sport that has officials...I find the idea that stern is fixing games to be laughable. Do any of you honestly believe the refs cost is that game? In the first half durant went god-mode. The refs didnt do that. In the second half we had EVERY opportunity to win, and failed to capitalize over and over. It took an insanely lucky bounce for them to beat us. They didnt fix it. There were some tough calls that put some of our players in foul trouble. Sucks. Same thing happened to OKC in game 2 and they still won. Why? Cause they hit their shots. Something the rockets refuse to do with any consistency.
Why are these things mutually exclusive? Why does it have to be all or nothing? Yes, Durant was awesome in the first half. That does not mean the officials didn't fail at their jobs. I think the Rockets were disadvantaged by at least 10 points in the first half due to extremely inconsistent officiating on one end of the floor compared to the other. Considering the game came down to one possession, and I believe that a fairly officiated game would have netted the Rockets significantly more points than that... yes, I believe the refs cost us that game. They cost us Game 2, too.
I didn't say the game was fixed. I think most people here don't believe that. What the argument is here (in general) is that the NBA has become heavily biased due to the top-heavy pressure put on them to deliver the most marketable teams to the later playoff rounds. Hence, the David Stern fix theory. Again, in Donaghy's book, he talks about how the NBA would actually do this: He said that before every game the NBA gives the officials a video of things the two teams have been doing lately that they want to call differently. He said when he did the Lakers/Kings series, the pre-game video was about 95% 50/50 calls that went for the Kings in the video, and the obvious implication was to make those calls go the other way. The other 5% of the video was something like obvious missed calls on the Lakers (someone stepping out of bounds and not re-establishing themselves before touching the ball). Think about it. They aren't saying "make sure this team wins" - that would be more obvious than Pete Rose betting on baseball. They merely implicate their intentions through the exercise of their command structure (what they allow the refs to view, how they fine/suspend referees, calls that get official statements/apologies from the league office, etc.).
you guys are srsly a bunch of effin babys crying. I cant stand when refs cry at refs, if you saw the game the refs gave the rockets almost every call in the 3rd and first half of the 4th grow up
The nba is a a hype machine. moreso then any other sport on the planet. then again so much lives and dies by the wills of a single player. Sometimes the perception of where a team should go plays a very important part.
People like you are exactly why the Joey Crawfords of the world exist. Because you make excuses for them and don't hold them accountable for doing their jobs.
I agree, game 5 was called pretty evenly. The refs made a few bad calls but not really more for one team or the other.
The refs are inconsistent. Star players get the benefit of the doubt. The game would be improved if they added a replay official who can flip a charge to a block and vice versa based on a quick replay. Replay official would get no extra time as it takes a little bit to setup play. Also, replay official could call techs for flops as it is easier to see on replay.
Seems like the tide has changed. Since RW is out, McMahon no longer feels that getting the Thunder to the finals is the right decision. I have never seen Durant not get that kinda call, ever; makes sense he was upset and got the tech. Or maybe McMahon is thinking that putting Lin into the next round would be better for the WWF. :grin:
charge call against parsons charge call against durant fair enough charge call against parsons almost lost us the game though
