Despite claims that David Stern would cheat in order to ensure a Lakers-Celtics finals, which is a ridiclous claim, I'm not so sure Stern is guiltless when it come to the referees. These are supposed to be the cream of the NBA officiating crop. The "missed calls" concerning the Celtics is unbelievable. First there was the non call when Lebron James almost ripped the Jersey off of Pierce. Tonight it was a Piston holding Garnett's arm for a good three seconds and flagrantly so and Garnett gets called for the foul for pulling it free. Pierce was mugged going up for a 14 footer and no call. In between the Lefoul misscarriage of justice going on in the NBA about not calling fouls on Lebrick, the Celtics can't catch a break. The officiating is simply the worst in the history of the NBA is how my dad sees it and I can't dispute him.
While crybabies claim Stern is favoring the Lakers and Celtics what appears to be more closer to the truth is that a bunch of referees have laid down some big money against the Celtics. I honestly think a good number of NBA referees are on the take.
Kevin Garnett had a great all around game. No arguement here. But there have been those who claim that Garnett has some choke in him. The thought wandered back into my mind tonight when Detroit made their run and Garnett missed an icing free throw then short armed an uncontested shot that he normally is automatic on. Before this series is over he will need to come up large in stress time.
Ray Allen came up big in a routine loss in Boston and reverted to his choker ways tonight, only making shots after the game was in the bag. Allen was 2-12 before the game was in the "this one is over basically" time. Going to earn your money under pressure this playoffs Ray?
Sam Cassel is going out just like Gary Payton. He may hit a big shot here and there but he's a turnover waiting to happen, he's shoot happy, he's everything that they didn't need from a veteran point guard. Retire Gollum. You're embarassing yourself.
Chauncey Billups was 1-6, (4 assists) spent much of the 4th quarter on the bench. His muscle pull must not be as healed as he says it is. The Celtics are not the Magic. If Billups tanks this series as he did the East finals last year, the Pistons are done.
Flip Saunders is weird. The more Rick Hamilton goes off the less Saunders calls his numbers. Is Saunders on the the pipe?
All these complaints from a rookie fan. What is the world coming to? I'll make you a deal. I'll drop all the other complaints if the NBA will just find some referees that aren't on the take and will call a fair game.
It seems to me like the refs are screwing over the Lakers the most and favoring the Celtics in games I've seen, but I didn't see tonights Pistons-Celtics game so I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
the referees are doing the Celtics no favors trust me. In my opinon and I am a Laker fan, the Celtics are getting the shaft the most of any team in this year's playoffs.
Last edited by NiqueDodson on May 24th at 8:58 PM.
Billups' struggles were the primary reason they lost. Why do you think Rodney Stuckey played throughout the 4th? Because you're right; Billups is still hurt, and it shows. I'm concerned about how the C's will plan for the trap which threw them off in the 4th. I think they need Garnett to facilitate as the center, because the best way to beat the trap is by getting it in the middle and going from there.
I do not say that the Celtics are better than the Pistons. Obviously these are the top two teams in the NBA for wins in the regular season and the Pistons are always in the East finals seems like.
But I do think the referees are giving the Celtics a huge shafting.
BIG win for the Celtics tonite. Perk Was large and in charge tonite and the Pistons have no answer for Garnett. It's funny, Billups looked ok to me going for 19pts in game 2. He must of hurt it again tonite....please, the Celtics played lockdown D until the 4th quarter when the game was well in hand.
What I really enjoyed were the "fair weather mary" Piston fans booing their team and filing out by the hundreds in the 3rd quarter. A truly pathetic sight
As a Laker fan I really don't care who wins the East and I see them as fairly even. My point is the poor officiating that seems to mostly go against the Celtics.
The Pistons were only down 11-13 pts with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Why trap and get your defense all discombubulated scrambling all over the place and give Boston open shots and open lanes?
I can understand if there were only 4-5 minutes left but you still have an entire quarter and your only down by 13. The Pistons were trapping on EVERY Celtic possession and they got tired. If Saunders wanted to trap, he should have done it intermittently, that way you can catch Boston off guard. Instead Boston knew what was coming every time down the floor and they made Detroit pay. Pierce and Allen hit timely threes because they were wide open off of the Pistons' trapping.
Boston was able to score on the Pistons' trapping defense to maintain its lead when the Pistons should have just made the Celtics work hard for their shots and slowly cut down the deficit by being patient.
YOu would never see the Lakers do what the Pistons did in the fourth quarter. That's why L.A. will win the title and Detroit won't. Bonehead coaching calls by Saunders just like that one could cost his team the series.
Nique,
Didn't see the game was doing the family thing but I'll take your word for it because in all my years(which you know how old I am so not going to publicly display it) I've never seen officiating any worse than it has been for these playoffs. Makes one wonder what's realy going on.
there is no such thing as a "level playing field" in the NBA.
the refs are not calling the game by the book, and they are influencing the outcome of games.
even a rook like nique dodson can see that.
yo nique,
you see how stern forced the players and coaches to wear in game microphones while they are "at work".
maybe we can get stern to turn on his webcam and wear a mic while he does his job.
i'd also like to mic up these referees so that the fans can see and feel what goes through an NBA refs mind "while at work".
if it's fair to see, and hear every move the players and coaches make "while at work". shouldn't we get the same opportunity to see how david stern behaves "while at work"?
