Lakers and the NBA (Referees)

[Bastone]

It was a travesty what happened last night to the Sacramento Kings for a 2nd time in less than 1 week. The Lakers with the intentional assistance of the NBA & referees were awarded another win last night!

It is becoming glaringly absurd and repulsive how far the referees go to reward and promote the Lakers.  Last night for example, Shannon Brown was driving in the key and stepped on the Kings' Jason Thompson and then proceeded to travel.  The referees blew the whistle and called foul on Jason Thompson - what a travesty and joke the NBA is becoming!

On the last play of the game with Kings up by 2 pts and 4 seconds to play - Kobe sets a pick and simultaneously pushes off Sergio Rodriguez hard enough to send him to the floor and no call!  To make matters even more incredulous, Kobe catches the ball on the sideline in trey zone and as he catches the ball, HD slow-motion replay clearly shows his left foot is on the sideline and he then proceeds to drop a 3 on the Kings to win the game.  Slow motion also shows coach Paul Westphal staring at Kobe's feet for the whole time he had the ball and Paul never even bothered to look at Kobe's shot...just incredulous!  What shame the NBA should have, instead nothing!

As Paul Westphal so eloquently said in the post-game interview...."the NBA will see again how the Lakers have won."  Paul then said, "I wish we can get the knack the Lakers have."  A direct message to the NBA if I ever heard one.

NBA=Lakers+Cavaliers

I am so disillusioned with the NBA and its referees - I try not to be, but everytime I am almost over it, it keeps slapping me in the face!

[tb727]

Wow I'm really glad I missed this one.  I'm still sick to my stomach over the one in Milwaukee from a few weeks ago.

I'm as passionate and knowledgeable of a basketball fan as you'll find, but I must admit this stuff is really turning me off, to the point where I don't want to watch anymore...

[MaxwellSmart86]

Lakers have won EVERY single close game and OT games this season....EVERY ONE.....must be at least 5-6 games they could have easily lost.

[Change]

NBA cares a lot more having exciting finishes than Lakers winning. Refs call the game based on the actual scoreboard. A non-foul in 1st half is a foul in 2nd half. A foul in 1st half is a charge in 2nd half. It all depends on the score. They'll do just enough to keep the game close.

[LarBrd33]

It was a travesty what happened last night to the Sacramento Kings for a 2nd time in less than 1 week. The Lakers with the intentional assistance of the NBA & referees were awarded another win last night!

It is becoming glaringly absurd and repulsive how far the referees go to reward and promote the Lakers.  Last night for example, Shannon Brown was driving in the key and stepped on the Kings' Jason Thompson and then proceeded to travel.  The referees blew the whistle and called foul on Jason Thompson - what a travesty and joke the NBA is becoming!

On the last play of the game with Kings up by 2 pts and 4 seconds to play - Kobe sets a pick and simultaneously pushes off Sergio Rodriguez hard enough to send him to the floor and no call!  To make matters even more incredulous, Kobe catches the ball on the sideline in trey zone and as he catches the ball, HD slow-motion replay clearly shows his left foot is on the sideline and he then proceeds to drop a 3 on the Kings to win the game.  Slow motion also shows coach Paul Westphal staring at Kobe's feet for the whole time he had the ball and Paul never even bothered to look at Kobe's shot...just incredulous!  What shame the NBA should have, instead nothing!

As Paul Westphal so eloquently said in the post-game interview...."the NBA will see again how the Lakers have won."  Paul then said, "I wish we can get the knack the Lakers have."  A direct message to the NBA if I ever heard one.

NBA=Lakers+Cavaliers

I am so disillusioned with the NBA and its referees - I try not to be, but everytime I am almost over it, it keeps slapping me in the face!

pics? Couldn't see anything in the highlight replays

[greenhead85]

The GAME has been COMPROMISED for a long time now. I too is slowly losing interest in NBA basketball. Sometimes the only games (and team sport) I enjoy watching are the NCAA basketball/football, Euro soccer and Major League baseball.

Stern seems to believe that for the NBA to be popular around the world a superstar shall lead his team to the title and that superstar will receive a lot of favors from the NBA and its referees. They did it during the time of Magic in the late 80s, Jordan and the Bulls, Shaq (with so many charging fouls that were supposed to be called on him especially during the 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons) and LAL and now Kobe with his Lakers. They sell the NBA through Los Angeles - particularly the Lakers and woe to the Clippers. Don't be surprised when LBJ tastes his first title. It will LBJ who'll be selling the NBA to the world.

I have watched numerous professional team sports like this one, soccer (thru the Serie A, English Premiere and Spanish La Liga), NFL and MLB and nothing beats the INTEGRITY OF THE GAME of the last three that I just mentioned. IF you watch international basketball games like the Olympics and other FIBA-sponsored tournaments, it is the dominance of team plays that wins games than the performance of a superstar. Obviously, basketball in the NBA gives weight on a superstar for every team. That is the reason why I cannot decipher our Celts winning the title this season. Our Big Three is not selling enough in the world market versus the likes of Kobe, LBJ and Dwight. One more factor that is going to favor the Lakers is the team's employment of international players like Gasol and Vujacic who'll further increase the popularity and sale value of the NBA. The same is true with Cleveland (ie Varejao and Z).

Not until we acquire another marquee player that we'll get to see our Celts win another one again.

[nickagneta]

Looked like an obvious push off on Kobe that will never ever be called in the final seconds of a game. I've seen stuff as bad in every single close game I've watched this season by every team and player out there.

Couldn't tell anything about the out of bounds but given that it happened in front of the entire Sacramento bench and there wasn't even one player or coach that moved to signal Kobe stepped out, I find that claim rather dubious.

[kfdodgerfan]

http://lakersmedia.com/Flash/kings-at-lakers-11-kobe-bryant-game-winner.html

Watch the video again. Clean pick by Kobe. Rodriguez wasn't expecting it and fell like a **** to Kobe's might.

Also, the coach was watching Kobe's feet the whole time and then looked up. Notice how the coach didn't say a word about his feet being OOB? That's because they weren't.

If you want horrible refereeing, go back to the 2008 finals where the C's got all the calls.

[RebusRankin]

Kobe's feet touched the line. Got to build the legend though. 

[kfdodgerfan]

Both ref and the coach were watching Kobe's feet before the launched the game winner. No doubt his feet weren't touching the line.

The angle that was covered, you can't clearly see it and those who complain about it just want to complain about it.

[KungPoweChicken]

Looked like an obvious push off on Kobe that will never ever be called in the final seconds of a game. I've seen stuff as bad in every single close game I've watched this season by every team and player out there.

Couldn't tell anything about the out of bounds but given that it happened in front of the entire Sacramento bench and there wasn't even one player or coach that moved to signal Kobe stepped out, I find that claim rather dubious.

It was an obvious flop. The Kings had the game in the bag, but they lost, and it was their own fault.

[j804]

This isnt even the worse part, worse part was Kobe travelling practically the whole [dang] game. I could count about 7 clear times he was carrying the [dang] ball like crazy.

Disgusting!

[nickagneta]

Looked like an obvious push off on Kobe that will never ever be called in the final seconds of a game. I've seen stuff as bad in every single close game I've watched this season by every team and player out there.

Couldn't tell anything about the out of bounds but given that it happened in front of the entire Sacramento bench and there wasn't even one player or coach that moved to signal Kobe stepped out, I find that claim rather dubious.

It was an obvious flop. The Kings had the game in the bag, but they lost, and it was their own fault.

Possibly, but the player that in your opinion flopped, was pretty much standing still when Kobe ran right at him and put his hand in the guy's chest at which point separation occurred. Kobe probably fouled him and the player probably acted some, but either way with 1.5 seconds left on the clock, it's not getting called.

And as I said before, I don't think he stepped out because no one on the Kings bench responded like he might have.

Simply put, Kobe won it and the Kings blew it based on that play.

[kfdodgerfan]

The Kings make both of their FFs with 4 left to play, the game is over. No matter what the refs say or do. Thus negating any conspiracy anyone has about the refs and the Lakers.

[scoop]

As Paul Westphal so eloquently said in the post-game interview...."the NBA will see again how the Lakers have won."  Paul then said, "I wish we can get the knack the Lakers have."  A direct message to the NBA if I ever heard one.

NBA=Lakers+Cavaliers

I am so disillusioned with the NBA and its referees - I try not to be, but everytime I am almost over it, it keeps slapping me in the face!

I watched Westphal statements post-game and they didn't sound anything like that. He said similar things, but he wasn't suggesting what you're implying he was suggesting. He didn't even come close to blame the officiating for the loss of his team.

I thought the officiating was decent and the mistakes were more or less evenly distributed. In that last shot, there was a moving screen from Kobe, but Rodriguez should have known better than flopping, the refs never call moving screens in those moments. Had he hold his position and Kobe wouldn't have a wide open shot.