Major problem with Stern tonight

[connerhenry43]

I love conspiracy theorists.  They make me chuckle -- 

that is right,. stern is not biased, and refs do not make mistakes. What a perfect world.

people who think that make me chuckle.

[crownsy]

I can honestly say that there is somewhat of a conspiracy in the NBA....... My theory is that Stern wants the Celtics-Hawks series to match the Detroit-Sixers series and has told his refs to do so..... why else would he be at the game tonight?I don't think he wanted one team ( the Celtics) to have an advantage once the teams meet...... it also adds some more drama to the playoffs in the east ( which have been pretty bland so far ).....

Hey, if refs can bet on games, Stern can definately be controlling the outcomes of games.

he was at the game because a team that hasnt been to the playoffs in a long time is there now.  additionally, most people expected the hawks to lose last night and not return to atlanta.  it should have been his only chance to see them in the playoffs in atlanta.

it is pretty silly to think he is having people guide the series in one way or the other.

did...did you see the maimi heat series when they won? or lebron last year in games 5 and 6?

why, thinking he's guiding series to be more exciting is almost as prepostrous as him not cracking down on officals who were assocaited with a known game fixer!

oh wait...

[Frontierboy]

people that don't think the games are fixed by the commisioner to earn more money ( more games, more money) are naive enough to believe that refs don't bet on games.

[nickagneta]

I saw the whole Greg Dickerson interview the way yall descibed it and yeah, if I was a Hawks fan and was picking up that interview on You-Tube or through other media outlets, I'd be pretty steamed right now.

As I said earlier this morning, much earlier, I don't understand Stern's stance of not believing Danny Ainge, Paul Pierce and the video proof of past use of the sign before games. What is he trying to prove?

If it was a menacing gesture you would probably be hearing nothing from Danny as Danny would probably let Pierce pay his penalty. I don't see the Washington GM running to DeShawn Stevenson's defense and in the past don't remember a whole lot of times where the GM of a fined athlete got so behind a player.

For suspensions, sure there have been tons of times when the GMs complained and ran to the defense of their athlete, going so far as pressuring for leniency during the appeal. But a for pocket change fine?! I've never heard of it, although that doesn't necessarily mean it has never happened.

Then the cocky way he addressed the possibility of an appeal and believing in Ainge's explanation was rather unprofessional for a man of his stature in my book.

[bringbackcousy]

Yeah, my bad too yall. I'm so peeved I forget what thread I'm in.

But to tie it in, when Dickerson asked about what he thought of the near fight and hand gestures, he said that he just wanted his players to be playing basketball and not all that other stuff.

But he never mentioned what he thought about the way the refs handled it. If ever there was an opportunity to praise his refs for the handling of calming down the situation and the handling by the refs in these matters as a whole this was that opportunity.

Stern said nothing but "Oh we'll review it. We'll review it tonight, tomorrow. We always review it."

Well David if you are always reviewing games then how in the world can't you see just how bad the referees are and how in many cases they are responsible for altercations because they are not doing their job properly.

If a tech was called on Horford last night maybe Pierce doesn't get up and maybe the bad feelings subside a little. But because the refs botched it last night they left a mess for the refs doing the game tonight. That altercation between ZaZa and KG was as predictable as the sun rising tomorrow.

Come on Stern how about you start to address the larger issues with your game and stop pointing the finger at the players when things mess up because you have incompetent refs who don't know how to properly call and control a game.

I think stern and the refs have let the playoffs get out of hand in terms of the physical play.  I am not talking solely about this series.  I am including the cavs/wizards, and even some of the western games (kidd with pargo, dampier's two handed shove of c paul when he was in the air..).  I cant remember so many times when guys were swinging freely at other players, on layups and generally trying to inflict pain (not necessarily injury, but pain).  Thats a problem.  I think stern and co. need to focus more on getting guys to dial that down a bit before you have fights rather then focusing on a hand gesture (and the fact that pierce's supposed gang sign got the same punishment as stevensons throat slash is just stupid). 

as you said, the kg thing was incredibly obvious that it was going to happen, zaza tried desperately to escalate it by bumping heads, and then someone (i think joe johnson) pushed cassell and he started to go after him.  thats a problem.  stern needs to get his refs back to focusing on their priorities.

and allowing myself to go on the tangent that i criticized you guys for, the reffing has been bad...but even with that the c's should be in a better situation then they are.  they need to remember what got them here, and that is defense and not jacking up 30 threes in a game. 

what about back in the day with the Celts vs the Lakers? or the Celts vs the Detreoit Bad Boys? The playoffs were built on playing tough and turning the volume up. It's what gets this time of year exciting!

Of course, this is all negated as soon as somebody gets hurt, but I love to see guys playing like this. I just wish it would be more team oriented instead of aiming at one player(Lebron in that series)

[yall hate]

Yeah, my bad too yall. I'm so peeved I forget what thread I'm in.

But to tie it in, when Dickerson asked about what he thought of the near fight and hand gestures, he said that he just wanted his players to be playing basketball and not all that other stuff.

But he never mentioned what he thought about the way the refs handled it. If ever there was an opportunity to praise his refs for the handling of calming down the situation and the handling by the refs in these matters as a whole this was that opportunity.

Stern said nothing but "Oh we'll review it. We'll review it tonight, tomorrow. We always review it."

Well David if you are always reviewing games then how in the world can't you see just how bad the referees are and how in many cases they are responsible for altercations because they are not doing their job properly.

If a tech was called on Horford last night maybe Pierce doesn't get up and maybe the bad feelings subside a little. But because the refs botched it last night they left a mess for the refs doing the game tonight. That altercation between ZaZa and KG was as predictable as the sun rising tomorrow.

Come on Stern how about you start to address the larger issues with your game and stop pointing the finger at the players when things mess up because you have incompetent refs who don't know how to properly call and control a game.

I think stern and the refs have let the playoffs get out of hand in terms of the physical play.  I am not talking solely about this series.  I am including the cavs/wizards, and even some of the western games (kidd with pargo, dampier's two handed shove of c paul when he was in the air..).  I cant remember so many times when guys were swinging freely at other players, on layups and generally trying to inflict pain (not necessarily injury, but pain).  Thats a problem.  I think stern and co. need to focus more on getting guys to dial that down a bit before you have fights rather then focusing on a hand gesture (and the fact that pierce's supposed gang sign got the same punishment as stevensons throat slash is just stupid). 

as you said, the kg thing was incredibly obvious that it was going to happen, zaza tried desperately to escalate it by bumping heads, and then someone (i think joe johnson) pushed cassell and he started to go after him.  thats a problem.  stern needs to get his refs back to focusing on their priorities.

and allowing myself to go on the tangent that i criticized you guys for, the reffing has been bad...but even with that the c's should be in a better situation then they are.  they need to remember what got them here, and that is defense and not jacking up 30 threes in a game. 

what about back in the day with the Celts vs the Lakers? or the Celts vs the Detreoit Bad Boys? The playoffs were built on playing tough and turning the volume up. It's what gets this time of year exciting!

Of course, this is all negated as soon as somebody gets hurt, but I love to see guys playing like this. I just wish it would be more team oriented instead of aiming at one player(Lebron in that series)

first, i am 23 so back in the day was before my time.

second, the nba was and is different now. 

I also dont buy that bs about turning the volume up.  turn the volume up on the level of play, not the intent to hurt people.  I am excited to supposedly watch the best teams play for it all, not a ufc match. if i want that, ill turn on spiketv.

[MrsNumba17]

that commish needs to whiten his dentures.

[kgiessler]

What is extremely odd is that he didn't consider Horford's gestures menacing.  Watching that clip again...is Horford gesturing?  Definitely.  Is he being menacing?  Certainly.  How is it not a menacing gesture?

[ACF]

If I'm having to pay $25,000 for a "menacing gesture" then I'd make it worth the money and make it "The Finger" Know what I'm sayin?

For that kind of money...
I'd moon someone!

[Andy Jick]

I agree...I would have gotten my money's worth as well...

[celtsrp33]

Stern just needs to be consistent.  J Kidd didn't get a suspension, so KG shouldn't. 

[Fitzy1522]

Did anyone else pick up on Dickerson insinuating that Stern rigs the playoffs?
GD: So will we see you in Boston?
DS: Well I wasn't planning on coming to Boston until the later rounds, why are you going to need me in Boston?
GD: Well regardless of tonight there's a game Wednesday in Boston, but no we won't need you until the later rounds...unless that is you know something I don't know, huh?

Dickerson is hilarious, he'll say anything, he doesn't care, I love it.

[paintitgreen]

If I'm having to pay $25,000 for a "menacing gesture" then I'd make it worth the money and make it "The Finger" Know what I'm sayin?

For that kind of money...
I'd moon someone!

For $50, I'll call him a chicken lover.

[CelticG1]

that dickerson stern interview was one of the most awkward things i have ever seen. Has david stern ever been interviewed before. Dickerson just kept asking him questions, pretty simple and obvious questions and he was being uninformative, unfriendly, and completely clueless. I wanted to jam my finger in his eye when he made that comment about the appeal process and how he wasn't "buying" the blood sweat and tears symbol thing

[Andy Jick]

If I'm having to pay $25,000 for a "menacing gesture" then I'd make it worth the money and make it "The Finger" Know what I'm sayin?

For that kind of money...
I'd moon someone!

For $50, I'll call him a chicken lover.

reminds me of an episode from South Park.