I think this is the next frontier for MoreyBall He needs to get some or more analytics on the Refs Can you coach to the refs too? Rocket River *chuckle* yes. . .I DO!!!
It's not a bad idea. This season, I've really noticed that every Ken Mauer game is an anomaly in one way or another. Joey Crawford may be hot-headed but he tends to make decent calls until he is put in a position to choose between his ego and an impartial decision.
Only a Rockets fan would come up with this bull****. Woe is me. The refs are such meanies! Pathetic. The least we could do is take the ass kicking like a man.
i wouldn't be surprised if morey has already been doing it, but will just never make anything about it public for fear of some kind of backlash from the refs
Watching the game Last nite .. . . I just was so frustrated by the totality of everything. The clippers flop . . . .because it works The clippers complain . . .cause it works I mean we could literally have EVERY ROCKET at the three point line . . . yet Jordan is allowed to stay in the lane all game long. I thought [and posted] that Rudy T would have a conniption trying to point it out to the refs. [of Course McHale does nothing but drink his beer] The Rockets have to learn to work around the Refs One way is to play through it . . .. well they have to do that anyway but They can be better prepared for it. I was listening to XM and the host was complaining about Doc's complaining and 'incredulous facial expressions' and how he is tired of it A part of me wants McHale working the Refs more but . . . .. I don't want him to turn into Doc in that respect. . . .do more but don't be Doc level of whining Rocket River
I don't think the refs have 1% blame in us losing this series (they've sucked as much as they normally do). But it's still an interesting point, separate from this series. The NBA might be the most ref influenced of the four major sports. Therefore it would be interesting to know how much teams scout referee tendencies.
Did JVG once say that there were three teams on the court every game, and you needed to understand all three (or something like that)? I don't see any reason why tailoring your game to the refs would be any different than tailoring it the team you're playing. Considering the two Atlanta games, the Memphis game, and others this season, it seems ridiculous NOT to take the refs in to account. Now, of course, the stock answer would be to just win by so many points that you take the refs out of the equation, but a few bad calls could be worth 10-15 points you have to make up. Gotta be flexible enough as a team to preemptively make up those points in alternate ways if your default M.O. doesn't jive with a certain officiating crew.
If the Ref gives you starting center 2 ticky tack fouls in the 1st minute of the game. The Whole game is different after that. Rocket River
Refs didn't stop the Spurs from winning championships and competing for the decade. That's all I will say.
Aw JEEZ! Anyone who actually believes that the Rockets are down 3-1 because of the refs has a serious red koolaid addiction. The refs are allowing more physical contact because that's what refs always do come playoff time. The Rockets aren't playing even passable defense, are doing God knows what on offense and have shown NO fight or spirit or balls during the whole series yet folks here continue to whine about the refs. Last night they completely fell apart, quit and waved the white flag. It was a disgrace - especially that stupid hack-a-Jordan tactic. Blaming the refs is what whiny losers do when their team is not good to win.
It's not the whole pie, but it is a part of it. Dwight and the rest are not mentally tough enough to get passed the missed calls and play. They complain and wine, and then just quit. Harden too.
JVG said there are always 3 teams on the floor every night. Refs are certainly part of the equation. DD
If you want legitimacy to your complaints, at least go in depth into which refs exactly are doing what. There are 3 each game and they all are different.
The fact that they are so mentally weak is what I find so disturbing. I can understand that they don't have much experience with the pressures of the playoffs but neither have the Clippers yet they are the ones playing with poise and determination while the Rockets appear totally lost and whipped.
During the regular season Harden was fouled nearly every time he drove to the basket. Did everyone stop fouling him because it's the playoffs? The refs just don't call the game the same. That makes Harden less aggressive and a less aggressive Harden isn't much better than average. If there weren't different standards for different times of the year it would be a lot better. We would still be losing but not getting embarrassed.
Yeah , the refs do affect the game - especially that of Harden. When he is getting foul calls he's the most efficient player in the league , when he's not he's just a mediocre shooter. The refs have allowed the Clippers to be extremely physical against Harden and the Rockets in general , they have pretty much swallowed their whistles the entire series with the exception of game 2. Hardens FT's by game: 1) 5-6 2) 15-15 3) 5-5 4) 9-10 Then you have Howard picking up ticky tack fouls on the other end .... It's a game changer. To be honest this series hasn't been competitive enough to blame the refs .... but they do affect the game from the opening whistle by making or not making calls in how the players react to their calls or no calls. Harden goes to the bucket 5 times and is hacked each time with no call he has to adjust. Harden's adjustments end up throwing the entire offense into a funk because its all designed around him driving & creating open looks .... they don't do anything else. This is on the coaching staff & "Morey Ball" not attacking what the defense does give in mid range shots. A big is camped in the lane & the other players are camped at the 3 point line .... no movement , no screens off the ball to take advantage of what the defense is giving - They cant cover everything. I think its kinda silly how the regular season is played by one set of rules then when the playoffs start the rules change , what was a foul isn't & players just have to play thru it.
Listen to the McHale and Harden's post Game press conference...both make mention of poor officiating. The officiating was disgusting in game 4...especially the calls to get Dwight in early foul trouble. Maybe now that he's served his punishment, for leaving LA, next season they'll let him just play. Jordan flopped so bad on that 'Charge' that Vlade Divac was embarrassed. Barnes then gave a hard forearm shove to Dwight, who pushed him off...Both Dwight & McHale tell the refs to 'Call the First one.' Refs respond by saying, 'Didn't see it.' The Blake Griffin neck grab. The tiny contact that Dwight made with Griffin that made Flop out of bounds. The ejection...after everything the Clippers (& Dallas) got away with, swearing, baiting / trashtalking, complaining, yelling, screaming & charging refs, Dwight gets tossed for apparently tossing the ball in the direction of the officiating...really? TJ's Technical, Harden getting hacked, the holding 'bear hugs' on Harden off the ball...terrible bordering on corrupt. Heck even our own Josh smith was a good foot or two out of bounds when he saved a ball leading to an Ariza 3 in the 1st. Yes we are missing shots, getting beat on D...but playing 5 on 8 is hard, and a lot harder when three of those guys call phantom fouls ALL GAME against you, but nothing for you.
Doc Rivers always appears to be coaching his team and the refs. I do not remember a time in the 90's that a coach would be going over to talk to the to referees as I see Doc Rivers do it. Maybe Jerry Sloan from the Malone/Stockton era. A coach should mainly be shown coaching his players. The NBA has allowed coaches to go and try to get an explanation for just about everything then and there. At least do not show that on tv. In my opinion that takes away from the actual game being view on the set. Show more the players who are being whistled on.
