shall we wait with complaining about the refs untill after the games. we will have al the offseason for complaining about the refs
I doubt the Refs are gonna call this one for one side...ther ewill be too many people tuning in to see the great matchup of the centers, much liek the old Hakeem-Shaq finals (anyone rememeber the failed "Taco Bell One-on-One?)..... This will probably be the most watched series, due to the centers, the laker-lovers and the laker-haters. The NBA will want this one on the up-and-up, because it presents a big opportunity for broadcast $$ in China. If anything, they may give Yao a slight advantage....
Yeah, we typically get a fair shake on nationally televised games. I'm not gonna go into the series expecting to play 5-on-8. I think the refs will swallow their whistles a whole lot and just let the players play ... unless it starts to get ugly & out of hand. I'm not quite sure which team will benefit more from a physical game. Well, I'd hafta give Shaq a slight edge over Yao in that regard, but we'll probably see Cato being the one to bang on Shaq when we're on defense, so again I'm not real sure who will benefit from a more physical game.
Yao doesn't know how to make his fouls count yet. He gets too many fouls on offense. I want Yao to crush Kobe when he is going in for a layup. Until Yao learns that, he won't get any respect from the refs or anybody else.
Can't wait to hear Bill Walton in these games: "Shaq is so powerful, so dominant. He's the epitome of greatness. He's making Yao look like a boy out there." Then, when Yao starts playing well: "You're looking at the future of the NBA and we can barely even pronounce his name. Yao Ming, such style, such fortitude. Able to go toe to toe with Shaq and say, 'Take that.'" And Sean Elliott: "The Rockets stink. The Rockets suck. I hate the Rockets, ever since they rescinded the trade that would have made me a member of that organization. I'm still bitter. The Rockets don't know how to win. My throat is getting dry from slamming them so much. Someone hand me some water."
see attached memo I found from the league offce **************************** TO: League Officals FROM: David Stern RE: Lakers vs. Rockets - Playoffs 2004 Attentional all officals. Swallow your whistles or lose your jobs. Oh, and remember that you are not bigger than the game - don't get cocky like the baseball ups - because I am a hell of a lot better organized that Brother Bud ! Thank you Mr. Stern P.S. Have a nice day ************************************
The Lakers benefit from noncalls by a landslide. 1. Shaq is better off dunking with 3 people hanging off him than he is taking 2 shots from the stripe. 2. Shaq is also much better when he can bulldoze defenders while going to the basket without worrying about charging calls. 3. Yao has a great touch from the line and would like to be shooting a lot of FTs. 4. If Yao can foul Shaq out, our defense will have a much easier time. (Of course, if Yao fouls out, I don't think VG has a Plan B.) 5. Karl Malone is at his best when he's kicking defenders in the chest and knocking them out with wild elbows. 6. Good Rockets defense is predicated on well-organized help defense. Good Lakers defense is predicated on contact. If this game were to be called fairly (something I won't expect in Games 6 and 7), we're better off with lots of whistles on both sides than no whistles. But, the refs probably will swallow their whistles, and most people will be happy they let the players play -- even when some of the things the players are doing aren't legit.
you guys remember the 99 series between houston and LA? hakeem was in foul trouble the whole series. remember olajuwon complaining that the refs didnt let him play? the calls in that series were so one sided towards the lakers and it was so freakin obvious
yeah, how could i forget? Hakeem would just stand there, take the contact with his hands up, get dunked on, and get called for the foul. It seemed like he was in foul trouble in every game.
The Refs just need to keep an eye on Shaq bulldozing defenders. By Rule: the defender has the right to stand his position with their hands up. I don't see how Shaq's bulldozing doesn't get called everytime. It's unbelievable.
If the refs "let 'em play," this will hurt us immensly. Yao is much more affected by fouls than Shaq is. The non-calls will really disrupt our game.
I bet Yao will be in foul trouble in the first game... This time if there is a huge lopside to the foul calls..it'll get noticed. playoffs!
That really sucked. Shaq would just bulldoze his way in and kill Dream. Never one offensive foul. Only good thing, the refs just this season seem to have started to call that more. If the refs don't call fouls...except that blatent shoulder down bulldozing of Shaq, then we'll be okay. As long as they don't call a bunch of cheap crap on Yao like they do all season long.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Rockets are persecuted. Let's blame the refs even before the series begins, blah, blah, blah...
Nobody said the Rockets are persecuted, people are saying that anyone who plays the Lakers are going to be in foul trouble. Personally, I say wait and see, but that '99 series was ridiculous. Hakeem kept getting 2 fouls the first few minutes of the game. I'd like to think the Rockets will get some slack so that the NBA can actually have an entertaining series.
I have been privileged to see a secret NBA document that all ref's have signed. This document says that at least one technical will be called on francis and it doesnt matter what for. It also states that anybody that doesnt have yellow in their uniform will not win the game. So it looks like the season is over and time to start packing for the summer.
