Did anyone hear the interview with Hugh Hollins on the Dan Patrick show today? Hugh Hollins, retired NBA referee, basically said that all the refs make sure that they know when the big time playes like Shaq have 5 fouls, so they can be sure and not call a foul on them unless it is blatently obvious. Patrick brought up Oliver Miller and asked if they count his fouls. Hollins said No, he is in there to foul so they call everything on him. What a joke NBA refereeing is. It's turning games into popularity contests.
I was shocked Less talented teams have an even greater hill to climb. It's Shoeless Joe all over again...
Pretty new to NBA basketball eh? This has been going on for awhile now, just watch a Bull's game during the 90s.
I've been around basketball for over 30 years. I know it has been going on for a long time. I just thought it was interesting that a retired referee is 'confessing' because the league steadfastly denies that there is favoritism shown by the refs.
It's been pretty obvious for a long time. Although I bet the NBA isn't too happy about him saying it in public. In a way, it makes sense. Do you want to see Shaq and Garnett foul out wiht touch fouls in the middle of the 4th? But my problem is that it's gone too far, to the point that players don't know what they can get away with, the calls are too inconsistent, and it becomes a big joke, like Lakers-Kings a couple of years ago. About Oliver Miller- he WANTS to be called for the foul. Imagine Shaq dunking on his head after the refs don't call it. I'd be mad.
To be clear, he said he made sure they didn't call "ticky tack" fouls when a player had 5. I don't think that's so bad. The only problem I had is he said they only did it for the superstars. But nothing wrong with telling your crew not to call "ticky tack" fouls. When you write, "so they can be sure and not call a foul on them unless it is blatently obvious", it makes it sound like they don't call fouls unless everyone can see its a foul, like the fans. I remember in 00-01, Francis was having a great game, something like 20 points in the first half, and he got a tech early in the game for arguing with a ref. As soon as the second half started, he went by Stocton again for a dunk and he yelled. He got a tech and kicked out. Now techs are different, but it was ridiculous to give Steve a tech for something players do all the time, and kick the player people came to see out the game for something so "ticky tack". Even Calvin and Bill said the refs must had forgotten he had an earlier tech because they wouldn't have kicked him out for something so trivial. I got no problem with this. Another thing, people make the comparison to other sports, but it's really not the same. The NBA is really the only sport where a player can get kicked out of the game through normal play, fouls. No other sport has a rule like that, causing the refs to be careful they don't eject superstars. Believe, no league wants its superstars out of the game. An fans don't either.
b*stard refs, i remember they fouled out yao ming in the playoffs, if it was shaq or kobe with 5 fouls they wouldnt have called a 6th.
oh ya, anyone else remember yesterday when shaq had 5 fouls and threw madsen to the floor when getting a rebound, but no call.
Just the superstars on your team. Honestly, if "superstar treatment" was not wrong, why would the league deny it?
Here is a perfect solution to the foul problem. For playoffs only: Increase the # of fouls before disqualified to 10 If you get 10 personal fouls you deserve to get kicked out. I know Lakers will hate this because of the Hack-A-Shaq but he just needs to hit his freethrows.
I kinda mentioned this in the Lakers-Wolves thread last night: On the way home from work listening to the game, when Shaq got his 5th foul, Tim Legler on ESPN radio mentioned Ed Rush went to the scores table and asked how many fouls does Shaq have fueling Tim to argue that it shouldnt matter to him and the refs should call it how they see it regardless. Then they mentioned that the refs are given stat sheets at halftime which includes fouls. Thought that was interesting to hear.
I guess their definition of "ticky tack" includes Shaq backing into the defender who is standing 3 foot away flat footed, and knocking the defender off his feet. "Ticky tack" also includes climbing Ervin Johnson's back for a rebound. "Ticky tack" also includes tripping Steve Francis, as well as grabbing Yao's wrist on the jumper. The calls are totally ridiculous. They are making the game where a team has to play out of it's head to even have a chance against teams like the Lakers and then they are still gonna have a rough time because the refs aren't gonna send Shaq to the bench. It is to the point where it is effecting the outcome of games and that is way over the line. It is destroying the league and making teams have to trade away most of their roster just so they can acquire a superstar player or two so that they get favorable officiating. The idea of true team basketball is going down the drain in favor of having a Kobe or Shaq dominate the game, because they get away with stuff that other players do not. I watched several games this season, some involving the Rockets and some not involving the Rockets, where the officiating turned the whole momentum of the game, because they should have sat Shaq down, but they wouldn't call it. Now the other team realizes they aren't gonna call him out so then they become tentative knowing that if they try to go inside, they are gonna get raped by the no calls. It takes the fun out of the game.
Not only do refs not call fouls on superstars, but they also give superstars bogus calls. How many times does Kobe drive to the hoop, throw up a wild shot, and he gets a foul call because he misses the shots. Superstars get foul calls repeatedly whenever they miss. And the refs make it obvious - they wait and see the ball miss before blowing the whistle. The officiating of NBA games is atrocious. That's why I like college basketball better - they actually follow the rules.
Doesn't make it any less of a joke. If Shaq is the best player in the world then why does he need the extra advantage of officiating bias?
It's surprising that they said it, but does it surprise anyone that they do this? This is the very reason why teams from L.A., N.Y. and Chicago get preferential treatment, why the Jordan Rules seriously elevated Michael's play, and why teams from smaller town like Sacramento and Minnesota will always, when push comes to shove, get screwed in big games against teams from the major markets.
I listen to the radio last night driving back home. (I live in LA.) The Lakers fans and the radio host kept bashing the refs for screwing the Lakers by giving the Twolves preferential treatment. Disgusting Lakers homers!
