Heat's preferential treatment: too much?

[Army_of_One_Nation]

To those of you who don't think there's a hidden agenda on the part of the refs: how do you explain LeBron going FIVE CONSECUTIVE GAMES without committing a single foul three years ago? He played over 180 total minutes in those games, but not a single foul. Interesting.  

http://sportsbybrooks.com/are-nba-refs-refusing-to-call-fouls-on-lebron-23222

I read this, too. It's a shame.

[Fafnir]

To those of you who don't think there's a hidden agenda on the part of the refs: how do you explain LeBron going FIVE CONSECUTIVE GAMES without committing a single foul three years ago? He played over 180 total minutes in those games, but not a single foul. Interesting.  

http://sportsbybrooks.com/are-nba-refs-refusing-to-call-fouls-on-lebron-23222

I read this, too. It's a shame.

He does get a kind whistle on defense, but he's also a masterful defensive player.

He doesn't get beat off the dribble often, doesn't overcomit, and effectively uses his length and quickness to recover on his man and in help situations. For all of his talents LBJ's defense is one which he deserves perhaps the most praise. He was challenged by Mike Brown and Silas to get better and he has. He also plays it more consistently than just about any other star offensive player.

[RyNye]

He doesn't get beat off the dribble often, doesn't overcomit, and effectively uses his length and quickness to recover on his man and in help situations. For all of his talents LBJ's defense is one which he deserves perhaps the most praise. He was challenged by Mike Brown and Silas to get better and he has. He also plays it more consistently than just about any other star offensive player.

But he is also permitted to be more physical and aggressive on defense than any other player, that's the point. He doesn't get called for blatant reach in fouls that other players get called for. He knows it. Yes, he isn't a shlub defensively, he still has the brains and talent for it, but the fact that he doesn't get called really inflates his defensive efficiency. I have seen dozens of games where he gets steals or blocks that should have been fouls of one sort or another. Of course, he also gets clean ones. But the point is a lot of other players could be good defenders if they could play as physically as he does without getting called.

[xmuscularghandix]

Lebron and Wade have both decided to stop shooting three pointers so that there is a constant pressure on the opposing defense, they are attacking 100% of the time. So no i don't think the treatment is too much, when elite players attack the rim they either score or get fouled. Paul Pierce knows how to do this too.

Lebron: 1 3PT attempted in 7 games
Wade: 1 3PT attempted in 6 games

they aren't taking stupid perimeter shots pretending to be something they're not. They are pulling their ears back and attacking.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Of course they get preferential treatment, just like Kobe, and Carmelo, and every other "superstar" since Jordan. Wade and James do attack the rim a lot, so they're bound to get a bunch of calls even with good officiating, but yes, they do get extra help, which is ridiculous -- they don't need it, and how can you be expected to defend these guys without having some leeway to bang 'em a little?

[MBz]

Lebron and Wade have both decided to stop shooting three pointers so that there is a constant pressure on the opposing defense, they are attacking 100% of the time. So no i don't think the treatment is too much, when elite players attack the rim they either score or get fouled. Paul Pierce knows how to do this too.

Lebron: 1 3PT attempted in 7 games
Wade: 1 3PT attempted in 6 games

they aren't taking stupid perimeter shots pretending to be something they're not. They are pulling their ears back and attacking.

I was just going to say this and the bottom line is this, they are so good, that if you want to stop them getting to the rim, you have to foul them.  Plain and simple, they're too strong, athletic and talented for anyone in the league.

[Lord of Mikawa]

Without Wade and Lebron, that treatment seems to go away for the Heat.

[CelticG1]

He doesn't get beat off the dribble often, doesn't overcomit, and effectively uses his length and quickness to recover on his man and in help situations. For all of his talents LBJ's defense is one which he deserves perhaps the most praise. He was challenged by Mike Brown and Silas to get better and he has. He also plays it more consistently than just about any other star offensive player.

But he is also permitted to be more physical and aggressive on defense than any other player, that's the point. He doesn't get called for blatant reach in fouls that other players get called for. He knows it. Yes, he isn't a shlub defensively, he still has the brains and talent for it, but the fact that he doesn't get called really inflates his defensive efficiency. I have seen dozens of games where he gets steals or blocks that should have been fouls of one sort or another. Of course, he also gets clean ones. But the point is a lot of other players could be good defenders if they could play as physically as he does without getting called.

Yeah no doubt he gets to play more p physical. He is already a great smart defender but he more than anyone else is allowed to play more physical on defense which is ironic since he can draw the weakest of fouls .

Just watching when he and Pierce go at it Pierce is not allowed to play as physical as James. I think people will go a little overboard on the objectivity sometimes but of you just watch one of their marcos out literally is called differently for each player. Amd when someone already has the physical tools lebron james has out gets ridiculous that he becomes the beneficiary of even more calls and none calls

[Finkelskyhook]

He doesn't get beat off the dribble often.

This may be where the messiah and Wade have the biggest advantage on the other end.  Both travel virtually every single time they have possession of the ball.

Both virtually never get called for it.

It's easy to beat your opponent off the dribble when you don't have to dribble to get to a spot.

[Celtics4ever]

When the HEAT plays it's more WWE than B-ball.  The refs did show up at the finals though and they did not look so good.

[Lord of Mikawa]

I remember last year when we played our third season game against the Heat. A stat showed that their "Big" 3 at that point in season had as many free throw attempts as our entire team. Mind you this was in January if I was not mistaken. Something is seriously wrong with that.