Miami Heat and stern win streak

[NoraG1]

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

You give the Heat too much credit when they have a pretty bad w/l record against elite/good teams

[NoraG1]

I agree with alot who talk about 'star' calls. The 2 biggest players that get away with just about anything is on Miami which could be a problem.

[BballTim]

I agree with alot who talk about 'star' calls. The 2 biggest players that get away with just about anything is on Miami which could be a problem.

  Kobe doesn't play for the Heat. 2 out of the biggest 3?

[Andrew]

What did they do to the Magic in their first meeting? Didn't they almost come back against the Celtics? Didn't they beat the Jazz in Utah?

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

You give the Heat too much credit when they have a pretty bad w/l record against elite/good teams

[bruinsandceltics]

What did they do to the Magic in their first meeting? Didn't they almost come back against the Celtics? Didn't they beat the Jazz in Utah?

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

You give the Heat too much credit when they have a pretty bad w/l record against elite/good teams

The Magic have lost 7 of 8 and aren't looking very impressive right now.

They "almost" came back on the Celtics. What the hell does that mean? The Celtics "almost" won the title last year. There is no award for that. Nice try.

The Jazz are not an elite NBA team.

[BballTim]

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

  Yes, if they played today, but not when Rondo comes back.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

I find it laughable that I never mentioned their win streak b/c I could care less if they won 20 in a row unless it's a win against us... BUT the calls at the end of the Mavs game were suspect. How do you know it was not "rigged", or at the least, the refs helping give MIA a better shot at the end... is it something new that a ref would intentionally give calls to a team (Tim Donaghy)? Just b/c Mavs pulled it out does not mean the Heat didn't have a hand but fell short even w/ help! Also, I do NOT have to give credit where it's due... is it a law that I'm not aware of? I'm not saying it's true but it sure wouldn't be a first or even the last!

[Neurotic Guy]

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

I find it laughable that I never mentioned their win streak b/c I could care less if they won 20 in a row unless it's a win against us... BUT the calls at the end of the Mavs game were suspect. How do you know it was not "rigged", or at the least, the refs helping give MIA a better shot at the end... is it something new that a ref would intentionally give calls to a team (Tim Donaghy)? Just b/c Mavs pulled it out does not mean the Heat didn't have a hand but fell short even w/ help! Also, I do NOT have to give credit where it's due... is it a law that I'm not aware of? I'm not saying it's true but it sure wouldn't be a first or even the last!

Blind faith is often a last refuge for the purposely naive.  

I believe in the NBA and I do not think for a second that David Stern is fixing games. You can call that blind faith in the sanctity of my favoite league if you wish.  But I doubt that this is really a naive point of view as there is no real evidence (only rumor) that Stern has ever 'ordered' a fix.  I am not a conspiracy theorist by nature and it will take a lot more circumstantial evidence than a 12 game winning steak by a team with 2 of the top 5 NBA players or a couple of questionable calls to convince me of a plot.  

2 NBA realities:
1) The refs on the whole are inconsistent and barely competent.
2) The Heat are good.

[Snakehead]

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

You give the Heat too much credit when they have a pretty bad w/l record against elite/good teams

To quote Tom Haberstroh on ESPN:

"the Heat and Lakers are a combined 2-8 (.200) against >.600 teams. The Clippers? 3-8 (.273)."

Not saying that is not a weakness but just pointing out that a mostly intact repeating champion Lakers team has struggled against good teams too.

And another stat from him:

Highest average win pct of losses? Heat (.676)

(meaning that the teams MIA have lost to have a .676 win pct which is the highest in the league for that stat, and higher than LA's)


Regardless, right now these stats don't mean too much because we don't have a big enough sample size.  Lets see how things look later in the season.


And star calls are nothing new.  When you have two of the very elite players in the NBA on the same team they are going to get star calls, get over it.  Everyone loves when their team gets star calls.

2 NBA realities:
1) The refs on the whole are inconsistent and barely competent.
2) The Heat are good.

Both true.  Especially this year with the new Tech rules.  But to say there is a conspiracy is just silly.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

I find it laughable that I never mentioned their win streak b/c I could care less if they won 20 in a row unless it's a win against us... BUT the calls at the end of the Mavs game were suspect. How do you know it was not "rigged", or at the least, the refs helping give MIA a better shot at the end... is it something new that a ref would intentionally give calls to a team (Tim Donaghy)? Just b/c Mavs pulled it out does not mean the Heat didn't have a hand but fell short even w/ help! Also, I do NOT have to give credit where it's due... is it a law that I'm not aware of? I'm not saying it's true but it sure wouldn't be a first or even the last!

Blind faith is often a last refuge for the purposely naive.  

I believe in the NBA and I do not think for a second that David Stern is fixing games. You can call that blind faith in the sanctity of my favoite league if you wish.  But I doubt that this is really a naive point of view as there is no real evidence (only rumor) that Stern has ever 'ordered' a fix.  I am not a conspiracy theorist by nature and it will take a lot more circumstantial evidence than a 12 game winning steak by a team with 2 of the top 5 NBA players or a couple of questionable calls to convince me of a plot.  

2 NBA realities:
1) The refs on the whole are inconsistent and barely competent.
2) The Heat are good.

You go right ahead and believe in the NBA, while they continue to do w/e makes them the most money! I never said that Stern was orchestrating it but a ref may have something on the line (money or w/e) that may come into play when officiating. I did say that there were suspect calls... yes, stars receive preferential treatment but that doesn't make it right! Yea, the Heat are good... except when they play teams that are noteworthy! The Heat have 3 of the top players in the NBA, but let's talk about the Jazz or another team b/c the Heat are not doing much more than all the other "good" teams.

[guava_wrench]

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

I find it laughable that I never mentioned their win streak b/c I could care less if they won 20 in a row unless it's a win against us... BUT the calls at the end of the Mavs game were suspect. How do you know it was not "rigged", or at the least, the refs helping give MIA a better shot at the end... is it something new that a ref would intentionally give calls to a team (Tim Donaghy)? Just b/c Mavs pulled it out does not mean the Heat didn't have a hand but fell short even w/ help! Also, I do NOT have to give credit where it's due... is it a law that I'm not aware of? I'm not saying it's true but it sure wouldn't be a first or even the last!

Blind faith is often a last refuge for the purposely naive.  

I believe in the NBA and I do not think for a second that David Stern is fixing games. You can call that blind faith in the sanctity of my favoite league if you wish.  But I doubt that this is really a naive point of view as there is no real evidence (only rumor) that Stern has ever 'ordered' a fix.  I am not a conspiracy theorist by nature and it will take a lot more circumstantial evidence than a 12 game winning steak by a team with 2 of the top 5 NBA players or a couple of questionable calls to convince me of a plot.  

2 NBA realities:
1) The refs on the whole are inconsistent and barely competent.
2) The Heat are good.

You go right ahead and believe in the NBA, while they continue to do w/e makes them the most money! I never said that Stern was orchestrating it but a ref may have something on the line (money or w/e) that may come into play when officiating. I did say that there were suspect calls... yes, stars receive preferential treatment but that doesn't make it right! Yea, the Heat are good... except when they play teams that are noteworthy! The Heat have 3 of the top players in the NBA, but let's talk about the Jazz or another team b/c the Heat are not doing much more than all the other "good" teams.

Really? Letting the Spurs win multiple titles makes the league money? What ledgers are you looking at?

You are making wild speculations and you only pick out events that you can twist to fit your preferred narrative.

Doesn't the fact that the Jazz are doing as well, or that the Spurs have the best record in basketball make you question whether you are getting carried away? Considering that all of our 5 starters are top 4 in voting by position, doesn't that make us one of the most popular teams in the league? We might be the second biggest draw in the NBA after the Heat with the roster we have assembled.

What is bizarre is how so many of the fans who complain about 'star calls' view this as a homer, complaining that the stars on their team are regularly cheated on calls. Which of the disagreeing fans are correct? Don't forget that our team has more star players than any other team in the NBA. That means if there refs call in favor of stars, we are benefiting a lot from this.

Don't the Celtics fans among these people notice that all they remember for Pierce are 'missed' calls not in his favor, while all they remember for Wade are 'missed' calls in his favor? Don't the Miami fans notice their opposite view?

When asking yourself "why are my perceptions on calls so skewed in the Celtics' favor", is it possible that the answer is not that we are being cheated, but that our perceptions are not that reliable? Especially considering fans of other teams typically have their perceptions skewed in favor of their own team. Watch Tommy complain about calls against Shaq now and compare them to his complaints in the opposite direction when Shaq was in Clev.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

I find it laughable that I never mentioned their win streak b/c I could care less if they won 20 in a row unless it's a win against us... BUT the calls at the end of the Mavs game were suspect. How do you know it was not "rigged", or at the least, the refs helping give MIA a better shot at the end... is it something new that a ref would intentionally give calls to a team (Tim Donaghy)? Just b/c Mavs pulled it out does not mean the Heat didn't have a hand but fell short even w/ help! Also, I do NOT have to give credit where it's due... is it a law that I'm not aware of? I'm not saying it's true but it sure wouldn't be a first or even the last!

Blind faith is often a last refuge for the purposely naive.  

I believe in the NBA and I do not think for a second that David Stern is fixing games. You can call that blind faith in the sanctity of my favoite league if you wish.  But I doubt that this is really a naive point of view as there is no real evidence (only rumor) that Stern has ever 'ordered' a fix.  I am not a conspiracy theorist by nature and it will take a lot more circumstantial evidence than a 12 game winning steak by a team with 2 of the top 5 NBA players or a couple of questionable calls to convince me of a plot.  

2 NBA realities:
1) The refs on the whole are inconsistent and barely competent.
2) The Heat are good.

You go right ahead and believe in the NBA, while they continue to do w/e makes them the most money! I never said that Stern was orchestrating it but a ref may have something on the line (money or w/e) that may come into play when officiating. I did say that there were suspect calls... yes, stars receive preferential treatment but that doesn't make it right! Yea, the Heat are good... except when they play teams that are noteworthy! The Heat have 3 of the top players in the NBA, but let's talk about the Jazz or another team b/c the Heat are not doing much more than all the other "good" teams.

Really? Letting the Spurs win multiple titles makes the league money? What ledgers are you looking at?

You are making wild speculations and you only pick out events that you can twist to fit your preferred narrative.

Doesn't the fact that the Jazz are doing as well, or that the Spurs have the best record in basketball make you question whether you are getting carried away? Considering that all of our 5 starters are top 4 in voting by position, doesn't that make us one of the most popular teams in the league? We might be the second biggest draw in the NBA after the Heat with the roster we have assembled.

What is bizarre is how so many of the fans who complain about 'star calls' view this as a homer, complaining that the stars on their team are regularly cheated on calls. Which of the disagreeing fans are correct? Don't forget that our team has more star players than any other team in the NBA. That means if there refs call in favor of stars, we are benefiting a lot from this.

Don't the Celtics fans among these people notice that all they remember for Pierce are 'missed' calls not in his favor, while all they remember for Wade are 'missed' calls in his favor? Don't the Miami fans notice their opposite view?

When asking yourself "why are my perceptions on calls so skewed in the Celtics' favor", is it possible that the answer is not that we are being cheated, but that our perceptions are not that reliable? Especially considering fans of other teams typically have their perceptions skewed in favor of their own team. Watch Tommy complain about calls against Shaq now and compare them to his complaints in the opposite direction when Shaq was in Clev.

The funniest part of everyone of your posts, you always ASSUME... I know we get preferential treatment as well, that's obvious! On t.v. do you want to see the best players and teams? The Heat were losing a lot, who wanted to watch that? Heat start winning, they get more viewers which in turn means more money. We as fans of the other teams want them to lose but ppl really start to watch them when they are competitive... if the NBA doesn't make money off viewers, why sell tickets or televise the games. Again, I'm not saying there is a whole conspiracy going on with Stern and the refs but it wouldn't surprise me either... you want the best players to be seen, no one pays attention to losers.

[Andrew]

First off, its no "us" since you were on the Heat, Suns, Cavs forums for Shaq. I am the biggest Shaq fan but I don't pretend to root for the Celtics. Anyways what is with all these conspiracy theories? I believe officials are generally making calls they see, there is human error in everything. I haven't seen a blatant game being taken over by refs since the Lakers-Kings days...

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

I find it laughable that I never mentioned their win streak b/c I could care less if they won 20 in a row unless it's a win against us... BUT the calls at the end of the Mavs game were suspect. How do you know it was not "rigged", or at the least, the refs helping give MIA a better shot at the end... is it something new that a ref would intentionally give calls to a team (Tim Donaghy)? Just b/c Mavs pulled it out does not mean the Heat didn't have a hand but fell short even w/ help! Also, I do NOT have to give credit where it's due... is it a law that I'm not aware of? I'm not saying it's true but it sure wouldn't be a first or even the last!

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

First off, its no "us" since you were on the Heat, Suns, Cavs forums for Shaq. I am the biggest Shaq fan but I don't pretend to root for the Celtics. Anyways what is with all these conspiracy theories? I believe officials are generally making calls they see, there is human error in everything. I haven't seen a blatant game being taken over by refs since the Lakers-Kings days...

I think its laughable you aren't giving credit where credit is due because most of you are blinded by homerism. The Miami Heat won 12 games in a row because they played better than their opponents, just like the Celtics. They won against the Wizards because the Wizards are young and inexperienced and made stupid fouls down the stretch. The Dallas game wasn't rigged, it was a game of runs and the Mavs had the last run. No biggie...but I think if the Heat and Celtics played today, entirely different game....any team could win

I find it laughable that I never mentioned their win streak b/c I could care less if they won 20 in a row unless it's a win against us... BUT the calls at the end of the Mavs game were suspect. How do you know it was not "rigged", or at the least, the refs helping give MIA a better shot at the end... is it something new that a ref would intentionally give calls to a team (Tim Donaghy)? Just b/c Mavs pulled it out does not mean the Heat didn't have a hand but fell short even w/ help! Also, I do NOT have to give credit where it's due... is it a law that I'm not aware of? I'm not saying it's true but it sure wouldn't be a first or even the last!

Everyone and their mother knows I am a fan of Shaq's... I go hard for any team he plays on, even if I don't like one of his teammates I get behind them. Call me a bandwagon fan (inferred), but that is totally false b/c I have stayed on one wagon even before he came to the NBA.  What that has to do with my feelings about officiating I do not know. As far as the "us" thing goes, really your opinion matters not! How is it pretend? So, I root for only Shaq as if he alone can beat 9-10 rotational players alone? You go off on a wild tangent b/c you think by questioning my fan-ship it's going to gain you some sort of "backing". I keep it real 100% no matter the forum I'm on, I let it be known that i follow Shaq... I guarantee you that if Shaq was on this team but never had a chance to see the court, I would still cheer/root just as hard as if he were!

Oh BTW: I rooted for the Magic and Lakers too! I don't care if you like it... I'm not cheering for you!