Here's how I see it. Houston has a lot of people and money. We don't need to win a lot of games to sell out. We don't have a star like Kobe, Durant, LeBron, Paul, Howard, Griffin or Wade who appeals to fans outside of Houston. Lin is the exception and he will be followed by Asian fans on the internet no matter what because he is the only Chinese NBA player and face it he was only good in NY. We have to be just good enough to sell most tickets every game and not good enough to sell out the really expensive seats which isn't hard in a big city. Factor in the gambling side which has multiple billions bet every season just on NBA games in Vegas and online. I think that's where the fix comes in and it sucks if you're a Houston sports fan because there are a lot of people who gamble on local sports teams EACH GAME in Houston including Lin fans. There was also a sold out crowd tonight that want to see a good game as well as many people watching on TV who will turn off the game if it's a blowout. Advertisers have contracts that state they will pay more if the game is within X points at this stage of the game.
I about had a heart attack when they called that charge against parsons in the 1st half, when durant just lunged himself backwards!! Just terrible! Something really needs to be done. Like I said we still had a chance to win the game, but not counting this game, refs have cost us probably 5-6 games this year. They're just bad all around the league. I think it's because of how fast it's getting. Maybe they should expand what can be reviewed..
We should've had game 3. The refs were part of it but so was Harden. Can't wrap my head around this loss but we fought hard. Hope we can win game 4.
That's exactly the strategy. Don't forget how pumped up and confident the recipient team gets while the victimized team gets thoroughly discouraged. That's usually enough to carry the day while the loose ball fouls are being equalized.
This, and he doesn't want anymore INJURIES! SO yes THIS! You know Crawford really gave all the calls to OKC last night, from Techs, to Fouls we got it all, even Garcia from THE BENCH got a Tech. THAT IS INEXCUSABLE, not by Garcia, but by Joey for doing that in the first qtr., after PERKINS set the pick. We didn't need to be calmed down, it was them, the team who had lost WB. Oh, and where were the Techs on Westbrook in game 2? The way game 2 and game 3 were called was WAYYYY different. I said it then I'll say it again. Harden misses a couple FTs, he take A TON. He took 20 in game 2, 15 in game 3. He missed 5 in game 3, but I won't blame misses on a Loss like that. If they were late misses maybe. Anyways YES he should have made let's say 12-15 last night instead on 10-15 (more around his %) so while he did get to the line, and has quite a bit, some might say A LOT. To me there have been way too many fouls NOT CALLED for Harden, and then a ticky tacky touch foul on the other end gets called. There isn't a fair game being called! Even Parson got hacked several times that went uncalled I thought. OKC got five more FTs than us, and they only missed 2 all night, while we missed 8. The refs wrapped it up in gift wrap as well, giving them those extra 5 FTs which doesn't look too "unequal."
Because most fans are delusional and want to believe there's some conspiracy against them. It's like a child that complains that you cheated when they lose. Whatever makes defeat more palatable to you I guess..
You realize if Durant's lucky 3 hadn't gone in we would have had the ball, up by 2, with like 35 seconds left right? Oh those pesky refs! Putting us right where OKC wanted us!
Yes Joey Crawford needs to turn it down a notch and stop acting like a grumpy old man on the court but i disagree with the game fixing/manipulating accussations. Look, if you think that Stern and the referees are rigging the league then stop watching/following the NBA.
Once again, I don't think it's rigged. But Crawford's majorly unbalanced reffing makes losses less palatable, if you ask me. I don't think it's specific to the Rockets.
I love fans like you who think theres always a logical explanation and conspiracies never existed. You must haven't watched any of Joey Crawford's previous games
Is that you Mike Fratello? Defending everything the NBA does, every ridiculous call, "OH GOOD CALL REF," regardless of if replay shows it was complete bs.
The NBA does NOTHING to dispell this...nothing. In fact they do the opposite. If anyone under their umbrella says one thing about officiating then that is a fine. They never come down on their refs. I remember when Hoculi made a bad call in a charger game. He actually was demoted because of it. One time I wish we would see the NBA come out and say. "He officiated this game the wrong way and we will deal with it." Sometimes it is out of control. Last night it was out of control at one point.
I don't think every call is right, but that's a long way from believing in some ridiculous conspiracy. Harden gets A LOT of bs calls.
It does seems Joey Crawford is always assigned to our crucial games. Maybe I am just paranoia, but man, don't you hate that clown.
Fans watch WWE even though it's fake and know it's fake. It's entertainment. Why do I need to believe this show is real and not entertainment? I don't think you read much in this thread, which is fine. Just look up 2001 WCF on Youtube, and one official did blow the whistle. But he was shunned like hell by the media, ESPN, and the NBA.
Look, I think this thread is more about "Joey Crawford and the games he has ruined" than "NBA is rigged", and for your entertaining purpose, I have presented you a highlight collection of the greatest ref ever lived: Joey Crawford called a foul on Camby when he is 10 ft away from Nash in a PLAYOFF GAME Joey Crawford fouls JJ Redick but blames Wade Joey Crawford fouls Damon Jones but blames Billups Joey Crawford doesn't like the result of jump-ball, so he says re-jump the famous Joey Crawford's "no laugh for old men" Ron Ron wants to call police on Joey Crawford Joey's victory dance and this really sums up what's up with old Joey, old brain don't really fit this faster and faster game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qor3xd5OUGo
