http://www.nba.com/games/20050502/HOUDAL/recap.html DALLAS, May 2 (Ticker) -- The Dallas Mavericks put an end to the home-court disadvantage, but not without a little help. Benefiting from five missed free throws from Yao Ming and some remarkable good fortune, the Mavericks held on for a 103-100 victory over the Houston Rockets and a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference first-round series. Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Mavericks, who became the first home team to win and gained tenuous control of the seesaw series. They can advance to the conference semifinals for the fourth time in five years with - what else? - a road win Thursday. Dallas took the lead for good late in the second quarter but never felt comfortable with it. It nearly squandered an 11-point lead with 4 1/2 minutes to go by using the same small lineup that has turned around the series. A jumper by Nowitzki made it 97-91 with 1:49 to play. Tracy McGrady sank two free throws and Yao was fouled with 1:21 left. He missed his fifth straight foul shot of the period before draining one to cut the deficit to 97-94 with 1:21 remaining. Game Four hero Jason Terry missed a 3-pointer that was rebounded by Jon Barry, who had the ball slapped away by Michael Finley - whose feet were out of bounds. Jerry Stackhouse grabbed the loose ball and was fouled, sinking two free throws for a 99-94 lead with 56 seconds left. Yao, who scored 15 of his 30 points in the final period, had a follow dunk and two free throws around a huge follow shot by Nowitzki, leaving Houston in a 101-98 hole with 17 seconds to play. The Mavericks inbounded to Michael Finley, who was trapped in the corner by a pair of Rockets. Although neither defender touched Finley, a foul was called. Finley split two free throws and McGrady made a layup with 7.4 seconds left. After a timeout, Marquis Daniels threw a risky long pass into the backcourt that was nearly intercepted by Mike James, who fouled Terry with 4.8 seconds to go. Terry split the free throws, leaving the Mavericks with a three-point lead. McGrady was fouled in the backcourt by Stackhouse and missed the first free throw. He intentionally missed the second and somehow grabbed the rebound, dribbling to the arc before firing a jumper that hit the rim as time expired. Stackhouse and Josh Howard scored 17 points apiece for the Mavericks, who had six players in double figures. McGrady scored 25 points but made just 7-of-22 shots. The superstar swingman is one loss away from another first-round elimination. Wow... this even reported in nba.com.... so nba basically admitted thery are biased against Rocktes????
no, they basically admitted that the refs sucked cuban balls. EDIT: hey can anyone name all the refs for this game please
some more.... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...ls/playoffs/2005/05/02/fast.breaks/index.html PLAY OF THE NIGHT With Dallas leading 97-94 in the final minute of Monday's pivotal Game 5, Rockets guard Jon Barry had a key defensive rebound slapped away by Mavs forward Michael Finley even though Finley's feet were out of bounds. Jerry Stackhouse grabbed the loose ball and was fouled, sinking two foul shots for a 99-94 lead. It was one of two blown calls (along with a phantom foul on Scott Padgett) that went against Houston in the final minute of a 103-100 loss that left it trailing 3-2 in the series. Somewhere Jeff Van Gundy must be fuming -- especially after that $100,000 fine. Looks like all the media is reportin this. I wonder how David Stern will response???
anyone know bill simmons email? for some reason i can't find it on espn. he's pretty into the whole refs screwing up calls (or screwing a team) thing.
He, I'm watching NBA Daily on NBAtv (now known as the Gestapo Network) and there is absolutely no clip or mention of the Finley clearly-out-of-bounds play. Then I turn to the independent ESPN News station and yep, it's being shown. Heil Stern!
Didn't anyone else hear JVG yell at the ref "Dammit, I told you we weren't fouling!" after the Padgett phantom call? The ref did it on purpose. He knew that the Rockets wanted to trap n steal, but he didn't want to give em a chance... man that's so messed up. This series is being stretched out for $$$. It's being manipulated just like the draft "lottery" behind closed doors... Just like those goals that just happened to give way during Shaq's rookie season. It was all a way of promoting the NBA. How many goals has Shaq brought down since?
We should write to the League Office and complain about this. Here's the link: http://www.nba.com/webAction?actionId=surveyInitialize&target=/email_us/email_form_041027.jsp&surveyId=1152 ]Here's the link[/URL]
Question: I notice Dirk always hip checks McGrady off the pick and roll. I assume that is a foul - I know they have called much more minor infractions around the 3 pt line (Mike James' chest bump foul for instance). Dirk would have fouled out in the first half if they actually called them - can you see Yao getting away with those? The worst thing is that the pick and roll is VITAL in getting our offense setup. If McGrady can't turn that corner promptly the whole rotation bogs down. I don't know if I can bear to watch game 6 - this is painful. EDIT: That is a foul right?
I sent an email to the league office to complain. We all should and see what happens. Clearly Stern is not watching the game. The out of bounds play was painful.
I haven't read this whole thread...so I may be repeating others here...but... Van Gundy's comments warranted the highest fine ever??? seriously??? and we're talking about banning him from the game??? come on. seems to me Van Gundy touched a nerve. "thou dost protest too much." in a league where players have gone into the stands to fight with fans, it's Van Gundy who gets the threat of a ban. yeah...right. ridiculous.
Yes switching Dirk's 6th foul to Howard somehow when no way the replays showd differently they should have called it no foul or on Dirk it was not on Howard. The out of bounds call simply unreal how could 3 guys well 2 refs and the other was around the 3 pt line probably how do they all miss him being out of bounds UNBELIEVEABLE
Focking officials...Its one thing to lose based on pure play/energy, but that wasn't the case...It's been documented how horrible it was when it counted, but I bet Stern does nothing...I'm assuming JVG can appeal, because the largest fine in the history for a coach for comments...No fighting, choking,etc...Totally inexcusable how the Refs/league is on Cuban's jock... Hope these A-holes are Refering the next game or the next when we win on Thursday...
What burned me up even more was the play with about 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter, when the out-of-bounds to Houston was reversed after Stackhouse protested and the fans went nuts. How can the refs reverse that call after huddling up and re-thinking it and not do the same on the Finley strip of Barry when Finley was out of bounds? The phantom call on Padgett was hideous as well. Another key play was a bs loose ball foul on Yao to end the half when he and Howard collided in mid-air. Had Howard not been so much smaller than Yao, he wouldn't have been repelled backwards and no foul would have been called. A free throw and a Stackhouse three then followed. A four-point gift is nice when you win by 3 points, isn't it.
Yep, JVG obviously touched upon something Stern was extremely concerned about. Stern is just some power hungy loser that is draggin the league down with him. 1. Ratings have never been lower, ever. Last year's finals was the least watched finals in history, and it had Shaq/Kobe/Malone/ and GP in it. 2. He handed out 2 history making punishments this year. One against Artest and now JVG. 3. He is facing a potential lockout this summer, which would be a complete joke if they didn't learn anything from the NHL. Would this be Stern's 2nd lockout or was the 1st one under another commissioner. 4. And now he is trying to ban high school kids from coming into this league. HELLO!??!, David Stern should be on his knees in front of these high school kids, they saved his butt for years now, if it wasn't for Kobe, TMac, Garnett, Lebron, etc...The league would be in the dumps right now. Screw David Stern.
Stern is apparently pissed because VG wont rat out his informant. Thats why they are threatening the ban. I think Stern is just furious because, if this is true...that someone actually can confirm that the refs are targeting yao....then its a black eye for what is considered the most well-run league in all pro sports.
