It still hurts

[bdsulliv]

This past series was a travesty. The refs absolutely handed games 3 and 7 to the Lakers. It should have been a Celtics win in 5, but the league sold out the game of basketball for revenue. The same thing happened in 2002.

We watch basketball because when you see a TEAM like the Celtics play suffocating defense, it is a beautiful thing. We watch because when you see a TEAM like the Celtics work together selflessly to overcome the three teams with the best records in the league, even though nobody gave them a chance, and they do it through hard work, effort, and defense, showing everyone the way the game should be played, it's a beautiful thing. We watch because guys like Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce actually are role models for hard work and work ethic. We watch because at its best, the game of basketball can teach us a lot about life.

But when you see a petulant, arrogant #### like Kobe Bryant get bailed out by the referees over and over and over again because he *expects* to be catered to, and thinks he deserves to win just because of who he is, it is a disgrace to the game. When you see Pau Gasol flopping around, essentially lying to the officials to draw fouls and get ahead without earning it, it is sickening. Its been three days and I am still inconsolable because the game I love has been forever tainted by this series.

[ACF]

The only thing we can do is move on and get 'em next time because as long as Stern's in power, this won't ever change. I'm not saying it's rigged and I'm not saying it's fixed but certain players and certain teams do get certain advantages. If you can't see that you are clearly blind. I still feel we lost Game 7 mostly on own accord, though. But that doesn't make it hurt any less.

[Levis107]

What has been killing me the most for me is that I am convinced we were intentionally robbed by the officials.  21 FTs for the Lakers in the 4th quarter when they only shot 37 for the game.  That tells me the refs began calling stuff they didn't call through the first 3 quarters. Also, 21 FTs in the 4th quarter!  That staggering number should be enough.  7 minutes left in the game when the Celtics went into the penalty...when you think about it, that comes out to about a foul against the Celtics on every possession to start the 4th quarter up until that point.  Did it look like the Celtics were hacking on every possession in the 4th?

[ShowtimeRedux]

What has been killing me the most for me is that I am convinced we were intentionally robbed by the officials.  21 FTs for the Lakers in the 4th quarter when they only shot 37 for the game.  That tells me the refs began calling stuff they didn't call through the first 3 quarters. Also, 21 FTs in the 4th quarter!  That staggering number should be enough.  7 minutes left in the game when the Celtics went into the penalty...when you think about it, that comes out to about a foul against the Celtics on every possession to start the 4th quarter up until that point.  Did it look like the Celtics were hacking on every possession in the 4th?

It absolutely looked like that.

[thebat]

I'm still hurting... It's no joke...

[Ohio Celtics Fan]

What has been killing me the most for me is that I am convinced we were intentionally robbed by the officials.  21 FTs for the Lakers in the 4th quarter when they only shot 37 for the game.  That tells me the refs began calling stuff they didn't call through the first 3 quarters. Also, 21 FTs in the 4th quarter!  That staggering number should be enough.  7 minutes left in the game when the Celtics went into the penalty...when you think about it, that comes out to about a foul against the Celtics on every possession to start the 4th quarter up until that point.  Did it look like the Celtics were hacking on every possession in the 4th?

It absolutely looked like that.

If you're talking in regards to the parade route the Lakers were taking to the line, okay.

If you're saying that they deserved said parade to the line, you're sorely mistaken, my friend.

[cdif911]

I don't get the leagues "financial incentive" to make the Lakers win the series. Maybe to get it to a game 7, but I'm not even on that side of the conspiracy theory.  If the league were fixed wouldn't you think the Cavs and the Lakers would be in the finals with Lebron winning his 1st title? Kobe is already a ginormous superstar, giving him another title doesn't make him any more marketable.  Lebron on the other hand needs it to solidify him as one of the best ever (which at this point he isn't)

I really don't believe in the conspiracy theories.  I do believe in bad reffing, but reffing isn't what gave the lakers this title. 

Did the refs give the Lakers 13 more rebounds in the game?  15 more offensive boards?  No it was hussle, size and the lack of Perkins.  If the Celtics win game 7, I bet every LA fan thinks the refs jobbed them too, but the truth is the team that played better on that day won the game, and won 4 out of 7 games to win the title. 

[chelsearules]

still hurts man still hurts... we got robbed of a chance at a win... no getting over that

[cdif911]

still hurts man still hurts... we got robbed of a chance at a win... no getting over that

robbed, I think not, we made it to the finals and lost...these things happen. There's no leaguewide conspiracy.  There may be some poor officiating, but that is not the sole reason the c's lost (and its not even the tipping point)

[BostonIrishGuy]

I agree we totally got ROBBED by the refs and by the Fakers. I'm still depressed since Thursday night, and I can't snap out of it. I hate the Fakers even more now. I know they are not the better team than our C's. 

[chelsearules]

still hurts man still hurts... we got robbed of a chance at a win... no getting over that

robbed, I think not, we made it to the finals and lost...these things happen. There's no leaguewide conspiracy.  There may be some poor officiating, but that is not the sole reason the c's lost (and its not even the tipping point)

i didn't say anything about conspiracy did i? doesn't matter why...no team wins against a good defense shooting 20 less fts in a game, 15 less in a quarter, 60 less in a series... 
it's an undisputed advantage...that's why they called freebies cos it's easier to hit them than to make shots. not the sole reason but a reason... maybe they'd had won anyway but we'll never know now will we?

[jeezem]

I think a player like Fischer, the way he defended Ray Allen, constantly grabbing him and flopping and throwing his arms up in the air every 2 seconds, should be a technical foul every trip down the court.  It is just stupid to watch.  Hey, why does that guy keep running into Ray Allen and then flailing like he's getting pushed off every 2 seconds?  Because the Refs let him do it game after game, but being the worlds biggest flopper really isn't supposed to be part of the game.

[celticinorlando]

i still cant see how one team shoots 19 FTs in one quarter and the other shoots 15 for the entire game....esp in the 4th quarter when the title is on the line.

[tenn_smoothie]

This past series was a travesty. The refs absolutely handed games 3 and 7 to the Lakers. It should have been a Celtics win in 5, but the league sold out the game of basketball for revenue. The same thing happened in 2002.

We watch basketball because when you see a TEAM like the Celtics play suffocating defense, it is a beautiful thing. We watch because when you see a TEAM like the Celtics work together selflessly to overcome the three teams with the best records in the league, even though nobody gave them a chance, and they do it through hard work, effort, and defense, showing everyone the way the game should be played, it's a beautiful thing. We watch because guys like Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce actually are role models for hard work and work ethic. We watch because at its best, the game of basketball can teach us a lot about life.

But when you see a petulant, arrogant #### like Kobe Bryant get bailed out by the referees over and over and over again because he *expects* to be catered to, and thinks he deserves to win just because of who he is, it is a disgrace to the game. When you see Pau Gasol flopping around, essentially lying to the officials to draw fouls and get ahead without earning it, it is sickening. Its been three days and I am still inconsolable because the game I love has been forever tainted by this series.

thanks - you summed it up well.

[PosImpos]

The Lakers were the better team (just barely), and they benefited from home court advantage - which they earned - and better luck; that's life.