I truely think NBA refs are biased when it comes to calling fouls. Did you see how Yao was going to dunk the ball and can't cause the guy blocking his arms?? And the refs call it a block...clearly show his arms was hit which prevent the dunking. Man I said this before and I'll say it again...when it comes to calling fouls, NBA are FREAKING BLINDMEN or even worse....they're totally biased toward certain players. They call fouls based on "superstar status." I have no doubt if it's Shaq making that dunk, he's going to get the benefit of the call no matter what. He get the so called "superstar status" treatment. But the point is, why the hell "superstar status" treatment had anything to do with making a foul decision. As a ref, you're supposed to treat every player FAIR and EQUAL no matter if they're superstars or not. If it's a freaking foul, you call it, point and simple. That's why i think they're making Shaq nearly invincible than he already is...don't get me wrong...Shaq is a great player BUT the refs are giving him nearly all the benefit of the calls...by that i mean if there are certain calls that the refs are doubtful...they always tend to call in favor of the better player....you see what i mean??? WHY??? Is this fair??? No WAY!!! There are times even if the defender clearly blocked Shaq, he still get calls for foul. So that's my point, refs calls are biased and don't call things based on fairness. That's why players like Yao don't understand why refs call things they just don't understand. There are times Yao set his feet and just stand there raise his arms and the offensive player plunge into him and get the call. Yao did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to get the call. I mean just because there is contact...doesn't mean there is going to be foul automatically. But these refs are freaking clueless, did they not see that it's the offensive player that initiates all the contact...that it is him that plunge into Yao?? Ok, now let's changed scenerio...let's say Shaq is standing there instead of Yao and the offensive player plunge into him. Now I have no doubt, they're not going to call it against Shaq...why?? Cuz he gets the freaking "superstar status" treatment!!!! It's not just this point that i want to bring up, there are so many little things that the refs call against Yao that is rediculous. It's like they're paying especially close to Yao when it come to calling foul. They're not giving him any benefit of call at all let alone superstar treatment. Like for traveling call against Yao in yesterday game...when it is something they don't really pay attention if you got the superstar treatment. And also how about the fact that defenders are hacking all over Yao exerting 100% of their energy...playing recklessly while Yao, the minute he exert 100% back, he gets call for foul. It's like he had to exert the same amount of energy as the little guy in order for the clueless refs to see that it is fair. It's stupid me.
Yah, a couple of times last night as I watched the ESPN broadcast, Steve "Snapper" Jones called the refs out a couple of times for their bad calls against Yao and other players in the game. I liked the fact that he did that, I think things will get better as long as people who are NOT associated with the Rockets organization/broadcasters start to point out these calls on national TV. Be patient guys, results will come.
Long live Snapper Jones! He's been a favorite of mine since his days at the USA Network. Every Rockets game I've watched with him, I've seen plenty of love given to us, almost as if we're his 2nd favorite team or something. But even if that were not the case, his observations are on the money and he has an entertaining style. Anyway, seems to be a continuing refrain around here, but it was an amazing no-call on the Griffin hack. I'd hate for Yao to become a complainer but I sure wouldn't have minded a T in that spot.
the foul they called on Yao when T. Hassel drove to the basket (late in the 4th) was just horrible. No way they call that foul on Shaq or any other All-Star calliber player. Hassel had no where to go and the refs bailed him out.
yao is by far the most unfairly officiated player i've ever seen and i have to assume in history. it's so bad that it clearly has an impact on his game. i can't imagine he has any idea what he's allowed to do.
Yeah, there are a ton of fouls called on YAO when the offensive player dips his shoulder and just lowers it into him and YAO is standing with his arms up. Should be offensive foul but YAO gets shafted just like on that dunk last night. Snapper did talk a lot about YAO last night. That was cool
The refs definately blew a ton of calls on Yao, but this is the first game I can remember (especially on the road) where they actually called players for shoving him in the back with 2 hands. Candy was on the bench the whole game because of those calls. Too bad Candy and EG are the only players they call it on.
Ohhh yes that call was utter crap. But what I thought was funny was right after they called the foul, the camera under the goal did a close up on Yao's face and I swear I read his lips say "Bull$heet!" I was mad about the call, but then I was laughing and cheering louder after I saw his reaction.
Shaq gets beat up out there.That guy is fouled almost every time he goes to the rack,and doesn't get the benefit of the call.The same thing happens to Yao.I guess these guys are harder to officiate.While I agree the superstar treatment does exist for many players,I think both Shaq and Yao's enormous physical edge sometimes works against them.
NBA referees are some of America's greatest citizens ~ if anything Yao should receive more foul calls per game.
The reason Shaq gets beat up is because his "signature move" that has given him his career is a foul. Bowling someone over with your shoulder and dunking has been Shaq's main move his whole career and the NBA has allowed it. He should NEVER complain about calls.
The thing about Shaq is, he's also allowed a lot of offensive foul which the refs don't call, he can just throw bodies around and get a clean dunk. While yao does it, it's a offensive foul even though it's just a little it of contact.
Yup. Part of the reason that those calls were made on Candy man last night is the fact that he is Candy Man. He has a reputation with the refs, so they are gonna call it on him. The rest of the centers get away with it. That's Yao's problem usually. The refs assume that he commits a lot of fouls and automatically blow the whistle and hand them to him even when he hasn't. I'm not saying those fouls on Yao by Candy were not fouls. They were. But they are never called when other players commit the same foul over and over against Yao. If the refs would just call that one simple 2 hands to the back foul on Yao's defenders, Yao would get all of them in foul trouble and would dominate. It's really pretty simple. The league is not ready for Yao yet. When they get ready, they will have meeting in the offseason where they review tape and Stern will splice together play after play after play after play where Yao is getting beat on with no call and tell the referees to call those fouls. Wala, and then all of a sudden everyone will think his game has taken a quantum leap. Yao was not on the league's radar screen this past offseason. I think he will be on their screen this next offseason and I would look for him to start racking up the points and boards next year with the newfound freedom and the fouls being called more and more against his defenders. This will even be more true if the Rox get in the playoffs and rattle around and make some noise and are knocked out by some team because Yao is sitting on the bench in foul trouble.
The atrocious reffing on yao has gone past the point where you say "oh yao's isn't aggressive, so the refs dont reward him". He is simply put, disrespected by the refs at levels that mirror the respect Jordan got from the refs.
Shaq's speed for someone his size is amazing.I honestly believe that most of the time he is beating defenders to the spot,and they are still moving.Shaq is so strong finishing, guys fall away like bowling pins.Just because it's power basketball doesn't mean Shaq is committing the offensive foul.He uses his freakish physical ability to his advantage,but within the rules,most of the time IMO.
Like during the Lakers glory years in which Shaq basically repeatedly elbowed his defender in the face while making his move during the finals.
This has been a problem for awhile... It's not like we can do anything about it though..it's all up to Yao and the Rockets to send the NBA a message or something
i still think the worst call was when yao missed that dunk over eg due to his forearm getting the crap slapped out of it. eg was nowhere close to even touching yao's hand. the refs are really a joke when they officiate yao. HOWEVER, he did actually get the benefit of that one continuation call which shouldn't have counted. it was nice seeing yao get a call for once.
Yeap, the announcer was really getting on the case. That "block" was NOWHERE near the ball. It looked like the defender just swatted Yao's arms...but his reaction was cool. Does anyone know knocking out a ref = how many game suspension?
Yao missed a lot of 1 hand and 2 hand slams in the past and most certainly recently....They finally see fit to show on replay why!!!! I myself never saw a replay on a missed Yao slam before....Kudos to the whoever had the courage to do this, was it Steve Jones?? Really glad this happened on national TV, global audiences probably saw this and having discussions like us.
