If you want to see a travesty...

[capologist]

Originally posted by se7en
But here is my question. Why did they start the game at 8:15 Pacific Time instead of the normally scheduled 7:30?

Because the early game was in the Central time zone instead of Eastern?

 

[SUTTILL]

This offiiating is exactly why I hope the Suns don't get matched up with the Lakers in Round 2. Hopefully, the T-Wolves will pull it off.

Whither Brian in Mesa??

 

[Chaz]

It is not like the calls were a big suprise.

After the same type of calls last year in the Western Conference Finals game 6 I am not suprised.

I wish someone would finally knock the Lakers from the playoffs. The problem is a team has to defeat the Lakers and the refs.

Shaq and Kobe are great players but it is difficult to have respect for them when the game doesn't seem fair. The worst part is they have come to expect these calls they have been conditioned (as have many of the leagues top players) to expect these calls.

I thought it was funny when Kobe got called for the foul on Trent. He left his feet and there was more contact than the 4 point play in regulation, but Kobe was complaining. I don't think he likes it when it is called both ways.

 

[Dback Jon]

Didn't get to see the game, but the Sports Talk this morning in Nashville actually stopped talking football for once to talk about the travesty the game was. I am soooo glad the T-wolves pulled it off.

 

[NDSunsfan]

like others have said, this thread is saying everything i was thinking while watching the game. i try not to blame the officiating, but last night's game was unbelievable. and how about this------s. o'neal--1 personal foul??????? that's is the only number you have to look at to know the refs are biased, either intentional or not. are you kidding me? one foul? the refs were bad but when the announcers and the guys on the post game show (barkley rocks) comment on it, it has to be bad.

i'm not a big hockey fan, but am becoming a playoff nhl fan because of the success of the wild and watched a great 5ot game with the ducks and the stars last night. their games have a lot going for them that the nba could use.
1. the refs swallow the whistle with the game on the line. there was only one power play in the 4+ overtimes. no call always wins out over bad call. why can't nba refs figure that out?

2. no tv to's in overtime. there is constant action in playoff ot in the nhl. beats the heck out of all the to's during crunch time in the nba.


like a few others have said in this thread, a game like last night's almost makes me want to quit being a fan of the nba.

can you imagine how we would have felt if it had been the suns instead of the wolves? i don't even like the wolves and i was fired up last night (at 1:30 am). this triple header action-1 eastern time, 1 central time, 1 pacific time thing is hurting my efficiency today.....

let's go suns.

the game last night really solidified my eternal hatred of the lakers and all that is LA.


brad (i'm sleepy)

 

[Chaplin]

Ok, just my little observations...

Travesty is too nice a word, that was a bucket of garbage. That foul on Sczerbiak against Genarro Pargo was one of the worst calls I've ever seen. In overtime, no less! In a playoff game! How the HELL can calls like that be made?

I live in Los Angeles, and it was extremely refreshing to listen to local radio, where they were adamant--we're talking ANGRY--with the officiating going both ways. They were screaming about those last 3 fouls on Garnett and the foul on Kobe at the end of regulation.

 

[elindholm]

Great letter, capologist! Very powerfully written. I love the over-the-top metaphor in the last paragraph.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
What's sad is that Lakers fans think that the the ref's are handing the game to the TWolves.

Lakers Fans = Pethetic

First, it's pathetic that you cannot properly spell P A T H E T I C.

Second, which Lakers' fans did you consult for your above statement? Gimme a break. I am one of the biggest Lakers fans in the World, and I couldn't believe some of the BS calls. I would rather have my team lose than win because of the officials.

The only noticeable call not called the other way was Marc Jackson bloodying Rick Fox's nose being a no-call. And the foul which landed Shaq on his back could have been called a flagrant because the player didn't go for the ball, he simply hit Shaq.

Otherwise, the fouls called against KG were really weak and the phantom foul when Pargo missed his lay-up. U * L Y.

But it's even more BS to come in here and say that Lakers fans thought the game was being handed to the Wolves. Pull your head out next time before speaking out your arse.

Go Lakers (without the refs)

And again, good luck to your Phoenix Suns. Beat the Spurs.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa


And the foul which landed Shaq on his back could have been called a flagrant because the player didn't go for the ball, he simply hit Shaq.

Spoken like a true Laker fan.

That wasn't a flagrant. Give me a break. Joe Smith hit Shaq in the arm ONLY, momentum carried both of them further under the basket, and Shaq slipped when his foot hit the floor. He was also helped a little bit by the slight undercut of Smith, which was NOT intentional at all. Just momentum and the fact he was smaller than Shaq contributed to it.

 

[Chaz]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
First, it's pathetic that you cannot properly spell P A T H E T I C.

LOL



Sorry Brian but the play where Shaq fell was not close to flagrant. Shaq extended to try and dunk and he was off balance and slipped. It looked ugly but....

Foul, yes Flagrant, no

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Spoken like a true Laker fan.

That wasn't a flagrant. Give me a break. Joe Smith hit Shaq in the arm ONLY, momentum carried both of them further under the basket, and Shaq slipped when his foot hit the floor. He was also helped a little bit by the slight undercut of Smith, which was NOT intentional at all. Just momentum and the fact he was smaller than Shaq contributed to it.

I just said it could have, I never said it should have.

The way that the officiating was going, I was surprised it was not called.

 

[capologist]

Originally posted by Chaplin
I live in Los Angeles, and it was extremely refreshing to listen to local radio, where they were adamant--we're talking ANGRY--with the officiating going both ways. They were screaming about those last 3 fouls on Garnett and the foul on Kobe at the end of regulation.

Wow. When even Laker fans agree about something like this, that's extraordinary.

Originally posted by elindholm
I love the over-the-top metaphor in the last paragraph.

Actually, it's an under-the-bottom metaphor.

 

[SECTION 11]

Um, didn't the T-Wolves win last night?

 

[capologist]

Originally posted by SECTION 11
Um, didn't the T-Wolves win last night?

Um, does that vindicate the officiating?

 

[Chaz]

Originally posted by SECTION 11
Um, didn't the T-Wolves win last night?

Don't try and confuse us with facts!

 

[JS22]

With our luck, the Suns will have that set of officials tomorrow.

Dont say that!! Ill be at the game tonight and would really love to restrain from running on the court and beating the crap out of the officials.

 

[jbeecham]

I'll be there too, although it'll be a little harder for me to run onto the court from the upper deck.

 

[capologist]

It will be interesting to see how last night's game affects Wally Szczerbiak's development. This is the sort of thing that could destroy a young player.

From now on, he will always be acutely aware that, especially in big games against top opponents, playing aggressive defense can get him called for a foul, even if he doesn't touch the other player at all, or even come close.

Will this cause him to become more tentative on defense?

I'm sure everybody will advise him to forget about last night and just keep playing hard defense, but something like that must be hard to forget.

 

[capologist]

Originally posted by jbeecham
I'll be there too, although it'll be a little harder for me to run onto the court from the upper deck.

Parachute!

 

[KloD]

We all saw that this game was handed to the Fakers and they failed to take advantage. One thing I thought I'd point out that I didn't see anyone else mention.

Shaq and Kobe each picked up thier 1st....yes 1st foul in the final 2 minutes of the game. They each finished with 1 foul even through OT. Ok, that alone tells me the crap that they get away with. Shaq...1 foul? I wouldn't have even needed to see that game to know there is something wrong.

 

[azdeftone]

Shaq and Kobe 1 foul about says it all. This game came close to being as bad as Game 6 against the kings in the WCF last year. The lakers constant bitching about calls when they all go their way is just ridiculas.