I think the problem with the play where the refs said it was out on Dwight, Dwight didn't argue it enough to make the ref review it. I think Dwight needs to argue that one more passionately and if he gets thrown out of the game because of arguing what was a bad call that in the end probably cost us a chance of winning the game then so be it.
He had a tech already...so why risk take the risk?....that's what was on his mind at the time..but I agree with you.that was a big possession. This team is too nice at times..we need to argue over calls the way the blazers do after every single foul. I works with the refs
If he argued he would've been given another Technical & ejected. We are not allowed to argue, show emotion or get hit with an elbow, or we get T'd up. That Double Technical was as much of a joke as the Phantom call on Dwight.
What makes it worse is that games are far from entertaining because of it. I have not enjoyed a single game. Sure, they were all nailbiters but if it was up to the referees, we would've been swept. We get called for touch fouls, they do everything possible to stop Howard and he gets nothing. I blame McHale and our players for not protesting more and being more physical, getting a bit gritty is what I would love but I'm sure we would pay for it dearly. Mo Williams, Matthews and especially Aldridge get away with a lot. Who on our side gets away with something?
I don't think protesting is necessarily the answer - we'd just hurt our own chances of winning or gaining favor with the refs. Instead I think the Rockets should gather the bad calls footage as evidence for the League office to force neutral referee-ing for the next three games. Harden got away with some holding as the offensive player forcing false foul calls on Wesley Matthews. That he is forced to do it to make up for no-calls on Matthews' actual hand-checks is a different issue. Beverly was hand-checking Lillard a lot in the first couple of games and it wasn't called every time. But I made this thread because including those blatant Rockets favoring decisions, I STILL feel the refs are favoring the Trailblazers, tremendously so in this game. I firmly think the Rockets would have won this game if the calls were neutral.
The way the refs call Harden reminds me of the Dallas series were it was clear the refs got specific intructions how to call Yao. Harden really does not get calls when he drives even less than any other player on the floor. It looks like the refs were instructed to call fouls as little as possible on Harden. The T on Howard was also interesting. I have posted a thread in the NBA Dish about the officiating (http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=249618&page=6). It is not only the rockets series.
It seems to me that Matthews, especially seems to get away with murder. It was like he had 12 fouls last night. The play to start overtime where Dwight had the ball on the ground and Matthews fouled the crap out of him was so bad. It also seems like every "questionable" call vs Dwight automatically goes Portlands way. Its sad when a all star gets less respect that a mediocre player like Matthews. And seemingly Dwight cant say a word without a technical but Portland complains just about every play and nothing. I have no problem losing to a better team but when the NBA will be sending us a second apology letter involving the same player over 2 very costly calls its a little fishy.
I have to say, the officiating felt really bizarre. Some of the calls are scratching head worthy. They weren't even difficult. How did they call the ball off DH's leg I will never understand.
Indeed, these are the type of calls were there are only 2 possibilities: 1: They indeed have an agenda and try to influence the game 2: They are just incompetent.
That transition 3 shouldn't have happened either. Remember, Beverly grabbed one of the Blazers with BOTH hands in order to get a foul called to stop the game & clock. He looked directly at the ref, fouled, and raised his hand. No call, swish 3pter.
I noticed this during game 2. Dwight was wide open for a dunk and no one was near him and they called a foul. They would rather put him on the line then give him two free throws. Then the Harden three that should have been continuation. I don' care anymore. We lost the series and it's time to move on.
The officiating has been atrocious. Some other things I'm surprised no one has touched up on: -4 fast foul calls on Asik in the 3rd quarter--changed the pace/momentum of the game and took him out. -The BS flagrant foul on Parsons yet no flagrant on LMA for his whack on Lin in game 2 was it? -Blazers, particularly matthews/LMA, crying after each call and few if any technicals? (Though I think they did finally T up matthews yesterday if I'm not mistaken) Yes it's easy to blame the officiating when the Rockets certainly did nothing to help themselves. Missing 10 FTs doesn't help, nor does having an incompetent coach (understatement of the year). But the fact of the matter is, this series truly ought to be 3-1 Rockets if not for the refs. It's simply astounding--that's not even a hyperbole as you can connect it to at least 3 or 4 discrete, real blunders by the officiating that directly swung the game. If the refs are simply incompetent, why is the NBA not addressing this? Why are they not training younger, sharper, more agile referees who can keep up and be more cognizant? Add a 4th ref just for the out of bounds calls if need be. Have certain plays be automatically reviewed upstairs the entire game like in the NFL. There are easy solutions here that would NOT compromise the "integrity" of the game/officiating. What good is transparency if it yields to inertia?
