The Refs just stunk

[Fan from VT]

Philly was so much more athletic than us in the second half. They just beat us for position on every loose ball and rebound; the only way we had a chance was to foul. We had to foul just because they were so much more athletic. They could have called more fouls against us.

[Celtics4ever]

Here is the formula, get the team you want to lose in foul trouble, give the other team many foulshots to keep them in a game.  I do not know how many games I have seen kept close or series extended using this very formula.

Were they more athletic?   Or did our guys all have foul trouble and could not compete?

[BRC-14]

Yahoo is saying that the 76ers came out and played their lowest morale level of basketball.

With no other choice, the Sixers brought the elbows and shoulders and subtle pushes. And unpredictably there followed the unraveling. It arrived in a forearm of Kevin Garnett brushing away an opponent on a loose ball. Then it followed a possession later in an angry Garnett drive toward the basket that brought much of Sixers forward Elton Brand’s hand latched onto his face.

All those "tricks" that the sixers brought should be fouls, plain and simple. I can understand being physical, but when the opposing team isn't allowed to be physical back without the whistle getting blown the game is being called one way.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--celtics-collapse-in-game-4-after-succumbing-to-sixers--tricks--series-tied-2-2.html;_ylt=AlOPbjBpZ169msCOYGNHzu05nYcB

[FLCeltsFan]

Both the Celtics and the Thunder game last night featured terrible officiating.  The Celtics ended up with a 19-36 deficit on free throws and the Thunder ended with a 28-42 deficit.  The Lakers scored 41 points, almost half of their points, from the free throw line.  Now, that's something to think about.   

I honestly believe the agenda last night was to call the game in favor of the underdog in hopes of extending both series a game or two.  Every game is money for David Stern.  Every game is money for the refs calling them.  That is enough motive for me to believe that it wasn't just called so unevenly on purpose. 

[Q_FBE]

Several Facts of Life:

1) Tim Donaghy is the Oliver North of the NBA. A true american hero. He can do a better job as President of the United States than the two candidates running for office this year.

2) The psychology of the fans and the players of the Celtics must be to reset their minds to zero zero and focus on the here on out...... Treat each game as single elimination and each play like it is the last of your career. You got two more days to prepare.

3) Referees don't usually win games but sometimes their decisions have a direct impact on the outcome of a game. In Game Two it did but Boston screwed themselves with a bad third quarter. Last night, they lost their composure and that is a terrible thing. I lost my composure in public when the bar tender started openly rooting for Philly in my face wearing a Celtics jacket. I left thirty three in cash on a 32.89 bill and stormed out of the bar and said keep the change chump and he told me never to show my face again and I flipped him the Bird. This was at 70 70 in the 4th quarter.

4) I watched the rest of the game at the mall from a distance appearing thoroughly dis-interested. And I was.

5) The fans have to start their superstition rituals ASAP to get their minds right.

6) I promise that we win the next two games no matter who is refereeing. It will probably be Knick Bavetta, Joey Crawfish, and Mark Wunderdick/Bill Kennedy for Game 6. KG drops 30 - 15 on the Suckers head the next two games. Help me Rondo gets two triple doubles and Ray Allen will go off on three point binge. Paul Pierce will Rock Chalk KU and life goes on to the ECF.

[chenaren]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbfy15VCB2g

 

[aporel#18]

It's frustrating to re-watch Bradley getting fouls for defending, but after watching Harden suffering the same, I think we'll be ok.

Move on, start caring for games and play 48 minutes. The Sixers may be athletic, but if the games are fairly officiated the Celtics win 9 times over 10.

Go Celtics!

[LooseCannon]

The NBA has a vested interest to extend series.   I seen subsidies before but the free throw subsidy was someone else here.  Stern let's these travesties and questionable calls persist yet the NBA claims to review every game.   Games like this do not make one confident that the officiating is on the level or the games not rigged.

If the NBA has a vested interest in extending the series, they also have a vested interest in the Celtics winning, so if they are rigging the officiating to make the series go longer, then there is every reason to believe they would also do things to give Boston the edge in later games.

[Celtics4ever]

We will see tonight...

[wiley]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbfy15VCB2g

 

pathetic.  42 is ridiculous and so is 70 total free throws.  Stinky product with clear interest in continuing the series.  Start the investigation congress.

[SHAQATTACK]

Boston has a tendency to become lazy protecting the ball.  The turnovers due to poor passes, grade school dribbling, plain old lazy ball control is killing us. 

Doc needs to talk about fundamentals to this team. Protect the ball and PLAY SMART.  This reduces the overall calls that can go against our team.