KG ejected from tonight's Knicks game

[Rondo2287]

"The Kevin Garnett rule"

The "He Knew This **** Was Coming, So Rasheed Decided He Might As Well Retire Rule"

TP. Quoted for Truth.

What disturbs me is how Rajon Rondo is able to keep his cool when he has veteran teammates on his squad who in the same situation would just flip-out and get a technical foul or get ejected. Huge props for him being able to maintain his composure out there, especially seeing how he is prone to being the victim of hard fouls because he is good at finishing in the paint.

While I agree, I also want to point out that I feel like his veteran teammates feel as though they have earned the right to question some calls. When you are in the league for as long as KG, Paul, and JO you have seen alot of good calls and alot of bad calls and can tell the difference.  This tenure in the league should also come with some respect shown from the officials to the veterans though, which wasnt the case last night.

[Cman]

"The Kevin Garnett rule"

The "He Knew This **** Was Coming, So Rasheed Decided He Might As Well Retire Rule"

TP. Quoted for Truth.

What disturbs me is how Rajon Rondo is able to keep his cool when he has veteran teammates on his squad who in the same situation would just flip-out and get a technical foul or get ejected. Huge props for him being able to maintain his composure out there, especially seeing how he is prone to being the victim of hard fouls because he is good at finishing in the paint.

While I agree, I also want to point out that I feel like his veteran teammates feel as though they have earned the right to question some calls. When you are in the league for as long as KG, Paul, and JO you have seen alot of good calls and alot of bad calls and can tell the difference.  This tenure in the league should also come with some respect shown from the officials to the veterans though, which wasnt the case last night.

Well, they gave it in heaps to Amare Stoudamire! 

[GreenBlood23]

Well, I'm optimistic that this rule is applied evenly. I'm glad KG got ejected now, vice on Oct 26 or beyond.

J-u-s-t A-p-p-l-y I-t E-v-e-n-l-y..........hint hint Kobe, Dwight, etc.....

It already isn't. I caught the laker's moscow game and Kobe whined after every call on him/ no call just as much as he always does, no Tech.

Celtics have a rep, and were going to suffer for it under these new rules.

Even with today's game, Amare was doing more complaining in a more expressive way and never got a tech. Much more excessive than how J.O got his tech or KG's 2nd tech. Expect the same pampering to happen with NBA's other babies: LJ, DW, DH and KB. 

[Greenbean]

I really hate the complaining that goes on in the NBA. Each team should have a designated complainer, the coach. It really is annoying and I see why Stern wants to do it. If a hardcore NBA fan cannot stand the constant complaining by the players, then how the heck to casual fans feel about it? That being said, it has to be policed evenly and probably more gradually. Maybe we start by calling something like a defensive 3 second tech that results in free throws but cant get you tossed.

The other problem is that it is too subjective to hold so much weight. This is where referee competency comes in. There is enough grey in the rule book for these chumps to massacre. Stern just gave them some more.

So in short, while I agree that the league needs to do something about players complaining about refs, the exectution is poor. There also should have been some kind of give and take by making a concerted effort to improve the refereeing.

[LilRip]

imagine if this happened to the Celtics. i'm assuming the board would go wild and Tommy would get a heart attack from the rage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHm1gKz4J6U

i'll describe what will happen if you can't be bothered to watch it. in this clip, George Hill gets called for a reach-in foul in what appears to be a pretty clean strip of Eric Gordon with 27secs remaining and the Spurs holding on to a 2-point lead. He reacts to the bad call by the officials and *surprise surprise!*, he gets T'd up. Clippers have a chance to take the lead because they've just been given 3 free throw attempts, but they make only 1 of 3 (BALL DON'T LIE! lol). But in a very un-ball don't lie turn of events, Kaman comes up with the offensive rebound off the missed free throw and scores to give the Clippers the lead.



- LilRip

[snowball]

very depressing power move by dictator Stern
especially considering the proven controversy
of rigging games by refs and the major role
the refs had in denying the Celtics the NBA championship.

[MBunge]

I really hate the complaining that goes on in the NBA.

The complaining is a by product of the subjective, sometimes ridiculously so, nature of NBA officiating.  I'll admit that NBA refs probably have the toughest job of all sports, but no other officials in any sport do their jobs like NBA refs do.

The example I always use is that if a home plate umpire did his job like an NBA ref, he'd not only have a different strike zone for every player, he'd also have a different strike zone in every inning and would sometimes just randomly change the strike zone in the middle of an at bat.

Further insulating NBA refs from the negative reaction to their bad calls is not going to do anything to improve the game.

Mike

[housecall]

The officials probably have a short list of players who they plan to set the tone of the NBA season with by the swiftness of KG's ejection.I would say KG probably tops the list.  

[Greenbean]

I really hate the complaining that goes on in the NBA.

The complaining is a by product of the subjective, sometimes ridiculously so, nature of NBA officiating.  I'll admit that NBA refs probably have the toughest job of all sports, but no other officials in any sport do their jobs like NBA refs do.

The example I always use is that if a home plate umpire did his job like an NBA ref, he'd not only have a different strike zone for every player, he'd also have a different strike zone in every inning and would sometimes just randomly change the strike zone in the middle of an at bat.

Further insulating NBA refs from the negative reaction to their bad calls is not going to do anything to improve the game.

Mike

I know it is the chicken or the egg argument.

This is why I said there should have been a measure to improve the officiating along with a measure to limit the complaining.

Yes the refs are bad, but at the same time some players in the league can keep their mouths shut. Why cant others?

I know my Celtics are among the worst but I have the green shades on at all time so I never notice their complaining.

The fact is there are always players who feel entitled to every call and they dont shut up about it for the whole game. It is annoying for everyone watching and playing. If you feel the need to say something, make it quick. The theatrics and sheer volume of the complainig is what gets me PO'd. My best friend, who was an all state ball player was the same way. He was awesome but at times no one could stand playing with him because he wouldnt shut up about the refs. Well high school refs are 200 times worse than NBA refs. Eventually it would affect the calls we were getting. Maybe if no one complained as much, the refs would be more objective.

I understand the nature of the complaining but I also think guys could take measures to control themselves. It would help all involved.

[Greenbean]

I really hate the complaining that goes on in the NBA.

The complaining is a by product of the subjective, sometimes ridiculously so, nature of NBA officiating.  I'll admit that NBA refs probably have the toughest job of all sports, but no other officials in any sport do their jobs like NBA refs do.

The example I always use is that if a home plate umpire did his job like an NBA ref, he'd not only have a different strike zone for every player, he'd also have a different strike zone in every inning and would sometimes just randomly change the strike zone in the middle of an at bat.

Further insulating NBA refs from the negative reaction to their bad calls is not going to do anything to improve the game.

Mike

I know it is the chicken or the egg argument.

This is why I said there should have been a measure to improve the officiating along with a measure to limit the complaining.

Yes the refs are bad, but at the same time some players in the league can keep their mouths shut. Why cant others?

I know my Celtics are among the worst but I have the green shades on at all time so I never notice their complaining.

The fact is there are always players who feel entitled to every call and they dont shut up about it for the whole game. It is annoying for everyone watching and playing. If you feel the need to say something, make it quick. The theatrics and sheer volume of the complainig is what gets me PO'd. My best friend, who was an all state ball player was the same way. He was awesome but at times no one could stand playing with him because he wouldnt shut up about the refs. Well high school refs are 200 times worse than NBA refs. Eventually it would affect the calls we were getting. Maybe if no one complained as much, the refs would be more objective.

I understand the nature of the complaining but I also think guys could take measures to control themselves. It would help all involved.

Also I think at times the insane reactions to the calls can alter how we judge the validity of the call.

When I watch the celts, if Rondo complains about a call, I know he is probably right. If I believed KG or Perk was right about every complaint I wouldnt bother watching the NBA.

[Chris]

Also I think at times the insane reactions to the calls can alter how we judge the validity of the call.

When I watch the celts, if Rondo complains about a call, I know he is probably right. If I believed KG or Perk was right about every complaint I wouldnt bother watching the NBA.

Oh, absolutely.  And I also think Tommy has gone a long way in making C's fans oversensitive to refs.  When you have a guy constantly yelling about how terrible the refs are, it is bound to rub off a little.

[Fafnir]

Also I think at times the insane reactions to the calls can alter how we judge the validity of the call.

When I watch the celts, if Rondo complains about a call, I know he is probably right. If I believed KG or Perk was right about every complaint I wouldnt bother watching the NBA.

Oh, absolutely.  And I also think Tommy has gone a long way in making C's fans oversensitive to refs.  When you have a guy constantly yelling about how terrible the refs are, it is bound to rub off a little.

Very true, but there are still legitimate times to be upset.

I don't like seeing KG tossed so quickly from the game. I also don't like watching one team win the game at the line when both teams are playing the same physical defense. (stupid Game 7)

[MBunge]

Maybe if no one complained as much, the refs would be more objective.

I understand the nature of the complaining but I also think guys could take measures to control themselves. It would help all involved.

According to Kareen Abdul-Jabbar, he never comitted a found of any kind in his entire career.  This problem isn't all that new.

I actually think that some of it is that players have little leeway to "police" the game themselves anymore.  Forget about fighting when you think a guy's being too rough with you, you have to worry about how hard you foul somebody today.  By forcing players to rely totally on the refs to keep the game under control, they can't help but become more sensitive to and frustrated with the officials.

Mike

[2short]

very depressing power move by dictator Stern
especially considering the proven controversy
of rigging games by refs and the major role
the refs had in denying the Celtics the NBA championship.

ZAP!  Why give refs the "power" of their decision on who is making a face to give a t.  Which ref was it that was out to get duncan a few years ago...this man needs more power?
the nba was better when teams would fight, break it up and resume play
stern has made a celluloid league, more popular, yes, more money for nba and owners yes but being a fan for many decades now it really has gotten thinly washed

[Chris]

Maybe if no one complained as much, the refs would be more objective.

I understand the nature of the complaining but I also think guys could take measures to control themselves. It would help all involved.

According to Kareen Abdul-Jabbar, he never comitted a found of any kind in his entire career.  This problem isn't all that new.

I actually think that some of it is that players have little leeway to "police" the game themselves anymore.  Forget about fighting when you think a guy's being too rough with you, you have to worry about how hard you foul somebody today.  By forcing players to rely totally on the refs to keep the game under control, they can't help but become more sensitive to and frustrated with the officials.

Mike

I think its more just the coverage by the media, and an overall sign of the times.  There are a lot more eyes on the game now, and much more coverage by new and old media.  You didn't really see this nearly as much in the past not because it didn't happen, but because you litterally couldn't see it.  Either the game wasn't on TV, or they didn't have 50 cameras following every little thing.  And of course when you have one beat writer for each team, they won't have much time to comment on this stuff, compared to 10 different beat writers, and 700 bloggers, who need to make a big deal about everything.  

It used to be a dirty little secret, now it is in everyones faces, and it frankly looks bad for the league when the players are constantly being portrayed as whiny, entitled little babies.  So, this is the NBA's way of stopping the articles like this one http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2010/04/20/is-kevin-garnett-a-fake-thug/

I am not saying it is a good idea...but I can at least understand the logic behind it.