Haven't gotten much love from the refs at all tonight. But we have gone flat.
Dudley produces on a more consistent basis.So you guys still think Dudley should start over Brown?
The Spurs commit no fouls???
Oh Stern is in the building? We lost. Look for a 4th quarter lead dwindle down into nothingness as the refs swallow their whistles.
This is the NBA, and unfortunately for "guys" like Gortat, Morris, etc., you largely make your own luck. Even if you just go by the letter of the rule book, the call is going to go to the aggressor, because he's usually the guy who dictates the tempo and physicality of the game. That's why I can't stand watching Boris Diaw play, and it's why it is repulsive to watch Diaw get position on the Suns' bigs.
The first time this idea really set in for me was in the 2010 playoffs when we swept the Spurs and played the Lakers to a competitive 6-game series. Because we had players like Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, and even Lou Admundson, the Suns were getting away with the same type of "blatant" fouls that the Spurs have gotten away with for over a decade now. When a team comes out and shows that going to defend with their feet, beat the offensive player to a spot, and then get up in the dude's grill without fouling, it establishes the expectation in the referees' minds that this team is playing tough, physical basketball. And once that perception is fomented in the refs' minds, it changes the way they see some physical plays, and they give the benefit of the doubt to the team that has established itself as the aggressor.
I'm not saying the refs called a perfect game tonight or that they ever do; but if your center consistently avoids the rim as if it's made of barbed wire and would rather prance away from contact and throw up a swooping lefty finger roll because he's afraid of bumping bodies with Eva Langoria's ex, then you shouldn't expect the refs to call the game in your team's favor.
Did anyone hear why Grant isn't playing tonight?
He has some type of knee injury.
Shannon Brown was smothered and covered like some hash browns at Waffle House. Frye gets the ball at the top of the key, open all day, looks over at Shannon and waits for him to get seperation, Brown got fouled on the 3 and was bailed out but come on man. Frye Guy went clutch mode for a stretch last year, if Shannon is hot, Frye should be thinking he himself will have some open looks. Top of the key wide open is money. Drop them daggers, take the shot, WTF Frye?Frye isn't even looking for the shot, really wierd.