Before I dive headlong into my topic I just wanted to take a moment to comment on the Suns/Spurs game - That was VERY good game, with in game adjustments evident on both sides of the ball for both teams almost from the first whistle to the end of the game. It showed what the new look Suns CAN do, but they have to bring that effort every single night, not just against the teams who deserve it. A nce ray of hope however!
Ok, now on to the topic at hand. I've been able to watch a lot of games this season, more so than the last couple years, and it seems to me as if the officiating this season has gone from bad to AAAAATROCIOUS! Is this just my impression or do you share it ?
Before you answer the question, ask yourself this, because I have been asking myself: Are we perhaps being more sensitive to the non calls and flat out WRONG calls this year because of the referee gambling scandal from the off season has made us want to catch someone else at it, or are the refs this year just not calling the kinds of quality games we are used to seeing?
I've seen players get hammered, bounced around like a pinata, commit clearly offensive fouls, and nearly all the time the Three Blind Mice either #### their whistles or call it the wrong way. I've seen more official conferences this year than in the past 5 years, and nearly every time they seem to get it wrong even when they all meet to discuss it.
I can point to one statistic this year as a measurement that something is clearly wrong with the officiating: This season thus far has seen more games in which one team has doubled (or more) the opposing teams free throw numbers than any season since the 1950's. More often than not one team will get a huge benefit of free three attempts while the other team can do the exact same things and get no calls. The "make up" calls for foulups seems to be nonexistant this season, or they only come along when certain superstars and media darlings are playing.
Is it just me ? Am I perhaps looking for something that's not there? I know we all want to blame the refs for our teams losing, but to counter that argument I would respectfully point out that I am not singling out a specific team or individual, the problem seems consistent across the NBA, even when you got two teams as bad as the Bulls and Heat playing one team seems to get all the calls while the other team gets none.
Why do I bring this up now you may be asking. Simple, the playoffs are right around the corner, when every game MEANS something, as it's just one more game away from going home or going on. Let's say we get a first round matchup of the Mavs and Lakers. Would you rather the game be decided by one team shooting 30 free throws to the other team's 12 or less? What if it's a series deciding game? In those kinds of games where all is on the line is it REALLY possible to have one team making all the fouls while the other team walks on water?
The NBA officiating crew this season seems to be almost myopic in their approach this season, like the scandal during the offseason has made them not care as much about their jobs as professional level referees. Ive seen players get hammered at the basket, no call, and then they call a technical on the player or the coach when he asks what the hell happened to their whistle. So the opposing team that is being very physical is getting REWARDED for hammering the other guy by getting a free throw or two when the other guy asks a question.
I don't get it. NBA officiating has always been dubious (more so than any other professional sport because NBA refs are the ONLY ones not publicly accountable for screwing up calls or games), but this season it's like they are thumbing their collective noses to any and every one who is watching. They're gonna call their game, their way, and if you don't like it here's a couple T's for your team's players that will entice you to change the channel.
The way the regular season has been officiated to this point, I must admit this is the one worrisome note I have heading in to the playoffs. We, the fans, have a shot at one of THE most memorable playoff seasons in the last 15 years.
Now if only it will be called right down the line, we can truly enjoy it. But will it be ?
There is a law suit I am keeping my eyes on that, believe it or not, may affect NBA reffing.
Michael Medved is a conservative talk show host who said something that a Islamic group didn't like, so this group posted clips of Medved on its website to criticize him, and solicit donations.
Medved is suing the group, saying they don't have the right to use is copyrighted broadcast without his express permission, particularly to make money.
How does that affect the NBA?
What if hundreds, or thousands of fans could use NBA video WITHOUT their express written consent for our own agenda without legal recourse?
What if, instead of blogging, we all could use video clips on YouTube to expose the biases, belligerence, and blindness of NBA refs?
Can you imagine after ever game, disgruntled fans posting video evidence of their gripes?
I was watching the Laker game last night when they called a foul on Gasol for tripping but he was positioned behind Odom and the player who was tripped was in front of Odom. The person who really tripped the player was Fisher not Gasol.
The refs had one of their little conferences then they continued with the foul being on Gasol. I mean what were they looking at? Jack in the front row? The scoreboard? Because it was obvious that they weren't looking at the play.
I think if the refs can't get the calls right then its time to look for new ones that will.
That reffing crew was anti-Gasol that night. Pau was getting hammered all night with no calls, including on the critical final possessions of that very close game.
Kobe was too a bit, but because he has whined so often when replays show he didn't have anything to whine about, I can see why they don't give Kobe the benefit of the doubt anymore.
Well, it's nice to know that Im not as blind as the refs appear to be LOL
I saw that Laker's game you guys mentioned and while I am no Kobe fan I had to admit he had a case, and Gasol basically was getting mugged down in the low post all game long without a call being made.
I know that the NBA before each season begins has a Referee "combine" where they review the new rules and what they want particular attention paid to that season, and another during the all-star break, but it's like they are being told to pick one team on each game and give that team all the calls, and do this every night.
It's staggering to me just how bad the officiating has been this season, and really makes me worried about the playoffs (CONT)
Listen carefully to both the local and national radio and television commentators, and how many times they bring up the officials during a game. I tried it a couple weeks ago (I was bored and thought I would test out my theory).
During the Suns/Sonics game not long ago the local radio broadcasters mentioned the officiating crew and their conferences and bad calls an incredible 32 times in a 48 minute game! During a TNT broadcast recently of the Spurs/Mavs the crew mentioned the officials 27 times in a 48 minute game.
When the announcers have to make a comment more than once every two minutes on the average regarding the official's conduct during a game, you got a problem with the officials! (CONT)
At first I thought it might be newer officials but it seems to me that even the veteran officials are guilty of this. I can't put a finger on why things are standing out as being this bad this year, but it really is worrisome come the playoffs.
I find myself wondering whether or not this year's NBA champ will be the best basketball team or just the best free throw shooting team.
I have no axe to grind on this, but as a fan of the overall NBA product, it is a cause of concern to me, because the playoffs are what the NBA is all about, and if they are tainted (again!) by lousy officiating as last year's playoffs were, all these great teams and a great regular season will be forgotten in the midst of "Refgate", and no one wants to see that.
I briefly saw a clip of the foul on Sasha which ended up giving he Kings the win. It wasn't the best look, but he was already on the ground and the offensive player tried to jump over him. Any opinions as to if that should have been a foul?
I haven't completed all the research (lots of games to review), but I have only found 1 team that won a game when the other team had a 21 or more free throw attempt margin.
That was the Warriors win last week over the Hawks, where they got 10 fts to 40 for the Hawks! 4X the visitors' free throws for the home team. All the Warriors had to do to win was shoot 55% from the floor, including 17-32 from 3-pt range.
Truth is, if you shoot between 75-80% from the line, that's 15 to 17 points in your favor, which is why it is so rare for a team to overcome.
The fans are the losers...
Last edited by nba is the worst on March 10th at 9:20 PM.
If you look at it, it's always the veterans that don't get fouls called against them.
Even watching the Celtics game tonight, Paul Pierce made a semi-push off Iguodala, and even Mike Gorman, a CELTICS commentator, said that it was an offensive foul.
But then Kendrick Perkins is clearing space for himself, and someone literally runs into his elbow - and he's called for a foul.
There's seemingly no rhyme or reason to the pattern of calls this season. Sometimes the games are called fairly down the line (not often enough IMO), other times there is a huge difference in fouls called one team to the other.
If you consider that even in cases where two teams are playing completely opposing styles both teams should still get about 20-25 FT's per game, and that 50 FT spread is being given 80/20 to one team, then you have a problem when it happens all the time.
I am a big basketball fan, tho I admit I prefer the NBA to college, mainly because the NCAA has even more stupid rules than the NBA does. I enjoy other sports as well, tho I do admit I prefer the playoffs than the regular season for most sports other than the NBA.
My favorite teams in the NBA ?
1. Phoenix Suns
2. Dallas Mavericks
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Los Angeles Lakers (Tho I can't STAND Kobe)
