Why Do the Refs Get A Free Pass?

[cisco]

I don't get it. After the Donaghy situation, I expected the press to be all over that story for most of the NBA season, but the season starts and NO ONE is talking about it! And because no one is talking about it, the refs can continue to botch games without anyone questioning them or being suspicious. Maybe if people paid attention and the pressure was kept on the refs and the NBA, we wouldn't have this problem with horrible officiating. And I'm not just talking about this game. This whole playoffs have been a joke.

The offensive foul on Pierce when it was clearly a blocking foul... just snatched the game away from the Celtics. It seemed like every time the C's made a run, the whistle blew to screw up the Celtics rhythm.

I just don't understand how the press dropped the ball on this Donaghy story. It's a crime the way the refs are officiating these games and the press is TOTALLY SILENT knowing that there is corruption in the league. They can't really believe the Donaghy was the only one, can they?

I just don't get how the league is getting away with this crap.

All that being said, the officials weren't the only thing that killed the C's. Rebounds and almost nothing from Ray was killer.

[Athanacropolis]

I agree 100% with every last thing you said, including the last sentence. It's ridiculous, and I am completely shocked that Donaghy was the only crooked ref, that the league didn't know about him earlier, and that there wasn't any more investigation. Give me a break. They run this league like it's the government.

[atang00]

You guys have to understand....its everywhere. Not even just against us. Other teams as well.

So many people are noticing bad officiating yet it continues game after game.

WHY? Who the hell knows....its getting to the point where its just too fishy.

What are fans going to do about it? Crap because they can't. Its the fans that are the only reason why the NBA is what it is. The ref's are clearly deciding games. Even a few die hard Laker fans admitted that the ref's favored them in game 5.

Anyone know if that charge on Pierce was called a blocking foul on LBJ, would it have led to two free throws?

If not, that still one posession and a possible 2-3 pt play. Take that into affect and fouling the Cavs to give them 2 fts is out of the picture as well. Huge difference.

[chakdaddy]

You know, if the NBA weren't fixed, then the Pistons don't get away with hacking us mercilessly, we go to the finals in '88, same story in '91, we probably would wind up with a franchise big man in Duncan or Oden, Jordan would have at most 2 or 3 rings...this league is a joke and I don't know why we even support or watch it.

[Athanacropolis]

atang, no one I know tonight claimed that only the Cs are getting screwed. The league is a joke across the board.

[atang00]

atang, no one I know tonight claimed that only the Cs are getting screwed. The league is a joke across the board.

I never said anyone is claiming anything.

I'm just trying to emphasize how this league is becoming such a joke with the bad officiating.

Something should be done but nothing is.

[Athanacropolis]

^^ On that we agree 100%.

[meatball sub]

If not for the refs the C's would be 8-3 at worst this postseason and we would've been watching game one of the ECF tonight.

[Banks2Pierce]

It just really makes you question your fanhood. Why are we rooting for a fixed outcome? It's like the wwe. I predicted this crap before the game started.

[SuperDeluxe]

Why the refs get a free pas? Because the refs are employees of the league. If they are getting called out, it's behind curtains.

[GreenGrizz]

The refs will get the free pass as long as David Stern is running the show.

[Joselo16]

how long will that be??? how long was the last commish in power for?

[GreenGrizz]

If we lose game 7, I don't think we will ever forgive David Stern.

[meatball sub]

It just really makes you question your fanhood. Why are we rooting for a fixed outcome? It's like the wwe. I predicted this crap before the game started.

It's actually pretty simple to predict the rest of the playoffs:

There will be 23 more games played this year. Two game 7's in the semi finals, 14 games combined in the conference finals and 7 more in the finals.

WCF: Lakers over Spurs in 7
ECF: Celtics over Pistons in 7
Finals: Lakers over Celtics in 7, our only home loss of the playoffs.

David Stern, you **** ****.

[chakdaddy]

As far as it being across the board...I don't think Lakers fans or '90s Bulls fans ever had much to complain about. There have always been anointed teams, usually with a superstar like Jordan or Shaq, and the league really pushes to have a dynasty. I think the league is going to establish the Lakers in that position this year anyway and into the next few years - they'll win at least 2 of the next 3. There's a chance they try to establish LeBron that way, but probably not entirely until they try to push him to NY. That said, I do think anti-Celtics is a main theme of the league's fix - it's like after #16, Stern drew the line and said no more breaks for the Celtics, ever.

[chakdaddy]

The refs get a free pass because they are following the script exactly as instructed.

I wonder how long until Van Gundy and Mark Jackson get dumped as commentators? They actually have done things like question the Gasol trade, rather than looking away quietly. Van Gundy is a much better commentator than coach.

[TommyPoints]

If we lose game 7, I don't think we will ever forgive David Stern.

It isn't going to happen. I really feel confident that we are going to win 7 handily.

[GreenGrizz]

Oh please, I didn't watch smackdown tonight because I know it is fake. Now you are telling me NBA is no difference???

[GreenGrizz]

I guess I should f*ck NBA, too

[Athanacropolis]

I guess I should f*ck NBA, too

Yeah you should.