112 Fouls In 96 Minutes?!?

[Bahku]

I know the NBA wants to squeeze as much as they can out of every game, but 112 personal fouls in 96 minutes of play is absolutely absurd. This is a physical game, and it should be allowed to be played that way.

I may be mistaken, but it seems like year-after-year the league allows less-and-less, and the game is getting slower and less exciting as a direct result. Please, NBA ... let them play ... we want our game back!

[Frezz]

Shouldn't Mr. Stern's goal be to entertain the masses and showcase great players? I don't understand it at all. Celtic and Laker fans will be excited cause their teams are in it, but if you're a fan of any other team and just want to watch basketball, why would you watch this crap? NOBODY is entertained by this. Completely unwatchable.

[GreenFaith1819]

I know the NBA wants to squeeze as much as they can out of every game, but 112 personal fouls in 96 minutes of play is absolutely absurd. This is a physical game, and it should be allowed to be played that way.

I may be mistaken, but it seems like year-after-year the league allows less-and-less, and the game is getting slower and less exciting as a direct result. Please, NBA ... let them play ... we want our game back!

But Bahku - if the Refs do that, that wouldn't really be fair, huh? Imagine Perk, Glen, Sheed and KG throwing their weight around with reckless abandon....you'd have some bruised Lakers.

The final fouls count was 41 to 26, but My word it was a lot more than that.

Sometimes, it really seems as if the Refs have been bought..it really does....when was the last time Kobe Bryant had 5 fouls??

And Ray was taken out of Game 1!

[FallGuy]

Yeah, I totally agree.

If I had more time/energy, I'd try and kickstart some sort of campaign. Everybody feels this way. We all talk about it all the time, no matter which team we pledge allegiance to. And yet no effective protest/communication has been lodged with the NBA.  Stern's been very effective just pretending like everything's fine.

Also - I think we can blame the Malice at the Palace for a lot of the state of today's officiating. And the rest is probably on game-to-game inconsistency and superstar protection.

Anyway, it's very frustrating.

[GreenFaith1819]

I mean, I watched Joey Crawford in Game One - the man is Full of Himself! I can understand a Referee calling a foul or whatever, but the way HE does it...slow-motion - for added effect. It makes me wonder.

[misha]

This is the only thing that ruins this series so far. Refs got to let them play.

[Bankshot]

The refs were ridiculous last night! The Lakers had I think 40 free throws to the Celtics 26.  Every time the Celtics went to the basket, it was called a block, but every time the Lakers went to the basket it was a foul on the Celtics.  No way the Lakers at 14 blocked shots.  Half of those were fouls.

[Greenbean]

If the Refs let them play, this series will be an all timer.

This series is being called just like the Cleveland series and I liked the result of that one!

Thinking positive here. Both games were played at OUR pace.

LA thrives when they are scoring over 100. Regardless of officiating, I still think the Celtics are dictating the pace of the games.

[wdleehi]

Don't worry.


Phil Jackson complained about the number of fouls called. 


The NBA officials will fall over-themselves to make him happy and call less fouls. 

[Drucci]

Yeah, the refs are out of control and it's bothering the players, it's obvious they often look tentative or shocked because they don't know what to expect anymore in terms of calls/non calls.

I mean, I was glad to see Kobe in foul trouble last night (payback for Ray's game 1) but come on, if we have to worry in every game because one key player is in foul trouble, it's kind of annoying. Just let them play and show them to what level physicality is authorized.

[FallGuy]

Don't worry.


Phil Jackson complained about the number of fouls called. 


The NBA officials will fall over-themselves to make him happy and call less fouls. 

Actually, that'd be great. Phil could be doing us a favor.

[wdleehi]

Don't worry.


Phil Jackson complained about the number of fouls called. 


The NBA officials will fall over-themselves to make him happy and call less fouls. 

Actually, that'd be great. Phil could be doing us a favor.

So true.


The Lakers are not going to be so efficient with their big men if the Celtics big men are allowed to be more physical.

[celticmaestro]

To be fair, in spite of this, the games have actually been quite entertaining (although I don't know how it is for the neutrals). Nonetheless, I agree that the game is getting slower and slower and people get away with less and less now. I respect David Stern, he knows his trade very well and he's an extremely intelligent man, but I can't help but think the Donaghy scandal is at fault for this as right now, the referees are more inconsistent than I can remember.

[Q_FBE]

Here is my theory on the foul calling epidemic. They go let em play in Game 3 and if the Celtics win the game, the quick whistles come back in Game 4.

In LA, the Laker shooters were getting bailed out with late whistles on at least 4 occasions. The Celtics had the upper hand last night but the game was kept artificially close by sending the Lakers to the line.

In the last three minutes, Rondo had the last word with 2 steals and some great offensive plays to help Boston walk out with a split.