In general I want to say that the referees have been doing a fantastic job calling this series. Throughout the regular season, I thought LA had an extreme advantage due to beneficial calls the refs made. In the first three games we have seen: 1) Malone has not drawn fouls that he didn't deserve. 2) Kobe has not drawn fouls that he didn't deserve. 3) Shaquille has been called for an offensive foul 75% of the time he commits them (this was especially apparent in game 2). 4) Yao and Shaq have been allowed an appropriate amount of contact that has kept the low post play interesting, and kept it a part of the game outcome. My only complaints for the refs are (and these are relatively minor things that haven't had much impact on the game outcomes): 1) Fisher is allowed too much leeway on Francis. Francis is a bit of a baby about the contact, but I still think Fisher is getting away with too much. 2) Lakers are getting away with more "inadvertant" blows from flying elbows, etc than the Rockets are. I think Yao needs to loosen a few of Malone's teeth soon, and Francis needs to give Fisher a little clear out nose job (a la game 1). Go Rocks. Beat LA.
Yeah, non-calls are usually matched by a non-call on the other side. It's been a fairly rugged and physical series.
we've been treated amazingly well by the refs so far. i am very pleased to see us getting a fair shot at these guys. now if by some miracle this got to game 6 with us up 3-2, all bets would be off. probably for a game 7 also. but we most likely won't be faced with that problem.
I think the refs SUCKED in game 3!!! the fakers got way too many calls inside. and that foul on coby in 3rd quarter where it was clear to see that he lost control of the ball was terrible. the Rox guards only got the calls with less than 2 minutes to go in the game as opposed to the fakers who got them all night.
actually i thought tonights game was well-reffed except for some questionable calls, like i thought steve was fouled by shaq on the exchange were he and malone fell and malones calf hit steve in the head. Other than that it seemed pretty well reffed of course without the obvious 3-sec calls but both yao and shaq get away with it more, but its more important for shaq to be in the lane longer than 3 seconds for positioning
About the elbow into Yao's back: I know the result was pretty awful looking, but Malone had position, he didn't extend his arm to make contact. He just stood there and held his ground as Yao dove backwards into him. The commentators raved about the WWF move, but I thought that was more about the commentators policy of never taking anything they say back and admitting they said something incorrectly. They called it a rough move before they saw the replay, so they just stuck with that description. The only thing that I thought Malone did intentionally tonight was the elbow to Boki, and he was called for a foul on that one (could have been a more serious call, but that is what the refs usually give for that particular type of play since it would be open season for overly pesky defense by guards under the basket). Of course, Malone is always "accidentally" hurting people, so I don't think he can EVER get the benefit of the doubt. After you have hurt as many people as he has, the refs HAVE to assume he is doing it intentionally. No matter how fair the games are called, we can rest assured that will never happen. ***The good thing about Malone's antics is that refs have not allowed them to effect the outcome of the games.
I watched some replay. I think Boki did a great job of flopping. He must watch to much Fisher's game. But Malone did extend the elbow out on that occasion on Yao. Some of the replay also should Malone is shoveling, grabing when Yao is try to establish a position.
Yao needs to attack the basket more in the next game to get to the free throw line. If he can hit some jumpers off the pick and roll it will be even better.
I did see Yao moving his arms in a forward motion on that football block that GP got wiped out on. I think the refs are doing a good job in all honesty, Fish does get some leewya against Francis because 1) he's a good defender with a good rep 2)the refs dont like SF.
At least,shaq fouled yao three times in 4Q,but he just go away. when yao hit that left hand hook shot,shaq hugged yao¡®s waist!
I didn't realize it was that big of a difference. Honestly, I guess I have started getting used to that treatment. Any stat that lopsided kinda stinks, but I can't blame it on this group of refs because it has been happening for two years straight. Go ahead and make that Number 3 on my complaints.
