This League is such a JOKE

[mkogav]

It's not the refs.

It's Wade and LBJ, especially Wade. They know how to draw fouls. Just ask the Mavs from 06 about Wade getting to the FT line.

Sure, it seem like the Heat get all the calls, but that's how it works in the NBA.

The Heat understand how to win playoff series better than OKC b/c the Heat's big Two have been through playoff wars for 6 or 7 years. Props to the Cs who have taught LBJ and Wade some of their most difficult lessons.

The way the Heat close out the end of games is very reminiscent of the Cs. No matter how often they turn the ball over. No matter how many runs OKC throws at them. The Heat won't break. They keep getting to the hoop for a layup or foul.

The OKC players shy away from contact and don't drive to the hoop enough. They look a little green to me. That will change over time.

The most difficult part of the finals for me is the fact that I believe the Cs could have beaten OKC. It may have take 7 games and been a lot uglier, but #18 was right there.

Mk

[goCeltics]

it actually helps the enjoyment of the league to realise that the league is "manipulated", reality is sometimes overated when it comes to entertainment, just look at reality tv, most of that is "manipulated" but can still be enjoyed.

If you look at the nba for an actual competive sporting contest, your looking at the wrong place, stern killed all of that years ago.

[Celtics18]

I truly find myself to be an impartial observer in this series, and I thought last night's contest was 
really well refereed.  They let both teams play defense down the stretch without blowing the whistles on every bit of ticky tack contact.

Good job.

[CantBeRight]

Heat shouldn't be here in the first place if that foul on Rajon in game 2 was called.

[wiley]

Officiating tonight was fine. And why would the NBA want Miami to win this game? Their intersts far better served with series going 7. In every sport, for every team, in every chat room and every blog, people think there's a conspiracy against their wishes. The truth is much more benign, though I'm sure that's not what people want, even NEED, to hear in order for their world to make sense. NBA is the toughest because there are so many marginal calls every game. All this conspiracy talk is utter nonsense and completely depressing that people put do much stock into it. I think more highly of people, and don't get how a logical person can actually believe the fix is in. Sad.

I appreciate your side of the argument.  And I also would like to believe as you do.  But I can't believe my eyes.  I think the Heat are not as good as you think they are.  They look awesome.  They look like a million bucks when they are passing the ball and hitting 3's.  James is by the far the best player on the planet.  But, this Heat team is not that good.  They are being helped alot and the help makes them look even better and creates an aura of invincibility.

I also generally think more highly of people.  But I also tend to think people don't do things like sell their first class plane tickets while flying coach and pocket the money.  I mean I wouldn't do that.  My neighbors wouldn't do that.  But there are people who would do that.  And some of them are reffing the NBA finals.

[angryguy77]

Funny how Russell goes off and is active yet goes to the line 3 times. I'm having a hard time swallowing a guy being that active only getting 3 fta. Yeah, this was a well reffed game

[wiley]

Funny how Russell goes off and is active yet goes to the line 3 times. I'm having a hard time swallowing a guy being that active only getting 3 fta. Yeah, this was a well reffed game

When Breen announces that Westbrook's "been getting hit on his drives", that means he's been getting hit a lot.

[Celtics18]

The problem with the conspiracy theorists is that there aren't enough specifics mentioned to make the argument plausible.  Two or three questionable calls a game do not add up to a conspiracy.  Many of the calls, not just in this game, but most contested games, that cause people to claim the fix is in are generally calls that could go either way or when looked at closely were actually called correctly by the refs. 

I am absolutely convinced that the Heat are up 3-1 against the Thunder because they have outplayed them on the court, not because the league and the refs have rigged the whole event. 

[angryguy77]

The problem with the conspiracy theorists is that there aren't enough specifics mentioned to make the argument plausible.  Two or three questionable calls a game do not add up to a conspiracy.  Many of the calls, not just in this game, but most contested games, that cause people to claim the fix is in are generally calls that could go either way or when looked at closely were actually called correctly by the refs.  

I am absolutely convinced that the Heat are up 3-1 against the Thunder because they have outplayed them on the court, not because the league and the refs have rigged the whole event.  

For me, it's not about "rigged" or "fix", it's incompetency and special treatment for certain players. I've said this before: the fact that the league does nothing to make it an even playing field for all players, is as bad as if there was a legit effort to fix the game.

I see no legit explanation of how Lebron can go game after game with so few fouls called against him. I don't understand how one team gets hammered with nothing called and the other goes to the line when there was just a little contact drawn.

It doesn't matter what or why, what matters is the problem at hand that stern won't address. I tend to believe that stern likes the star treatment because it makes the best look even better, and thus helps the league. So there maybe no conspiracy, but there is definitely willful inaction that is costing the league credibility.

I believe had last game been called even, OKC would have won despite their turnovers and miscues.  

[rondohondo]

The problem with the conspiracy theorists is that there aren't enough specifics mentioned to make the argument plausible.  Two or three questionable calls a game do not add up to a conspiracy.  Many of the calls, not just in this game, but most contested games, that cause people to claim the fix is in are generally calls that could go either way or when looked at closely were actually called correctly by the refs.  

I am absolutely convinced that the Heat are up 3-1 against the Thunder because they have outplayed them on the court, not because the league and the refs have rigged the whole event.  

it's stupid crap

-in game 1 of boston vs Miami the 5 techs ,

-Lebron having a total of 5 fouls the whole Indiana series ,

-In game 6 the PP up fake where he got fouled and the shot off(but the refs call it on the ground, ridiculous), then lebron does the exact same thing and gets the shot( PP was even complaining about this exact thing saying why does he get 2 shots and I don't)

-The total techs in the playoffs up to the middle of the boston series was something like Miam=6 , opponents=26

-oh yea the play in the Indiana series where Wade actually didn't get a call he runs collison down at full speed and give him a hard shot in the back right when collison is taking of and could have been badly injured. What does Wade get? a tech 1, doesn't get thrown out or suspended ....

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

-how about last nights game 4 of the finals?mid way through the 4th quarter Lebron,Wade and Bosh had a total of 3 fouls between them


I'm not saying that the refs completely control the outcome of games, but they can sure effect the game greatly by having one team in foul trouble and the other being able to play mugging style defense without getting called.


should I keep going? because we could be here all day

It's such nonsense, I am done watching any games in the NBA besides the C's.

[wiley]

The problem with the conspiracy theorists is that there aren't enough specifics mentioned to make the argument plausible.  Two or three questionable calls a game do not add up to a conspiracy.  Many of the calls, not just in this game, but most contested games, that cause people to claim the fix is in are generally calls that could go either way or when looked at closely were actually called correctly by the refs.  

I am absolutely convinced that the Heat are up 3-1 against the Thunder because they have outplayed them on the court, not because the league and the refs have rigged the whole event.  

For me, it's not about "rigged" or "fix", it's incompetency and special treatment for certain players. I've said this before: the fact that the league does nothing to make it an even playing field for all players, is as bad as if there was a legit effort to fix the game.

I see no legit explanation of how Lebron can go game after game with so few fouls called against him. I don't understand how one team gets hammered with nothing called and the other goes to the line when there was just a little contact drawn.

It doesn't matter what or why, what matters is the problem at hand that stern won't address. I tend to believe that stern likes the star treatment because it makes the best look even better, and thus helps the league. So there maybe no conspiracy, but there is definitely willful inaction that is costing the league credibility.

I believe had last game been called even, OKC would have won despite their turnovers and miscues.  

Very well said.  TP.  It doesn't require a fix to alter games.  It just requires a stupid, broken system of unwritten rules.  And then, invariable, the formula gets followed a little too closely and it looks like a full-blown fix.  That's one of the problems with formula over fairness for those who would rather hide the formula or sweep it under the rug.

It is hard enough to beat the other team upon reaching the finals.  When one team has to win twice, so to speak, the psychological disadvantage is usually, though not always,insurmountable.

[wiley]

The problem with the conspiracy theorists is that there aren't enough specifics mentioned to make the argument plausible.  Two or three questionable calls a game do not add up to a conspiracy.  Many of the calls, not just in this game, but most contested games, that cause people to claim the fix is in are generally calls that could go either way or when looked at closely were actually called correctly by the refs.  

I am absolutely convinced that the Heat are up 3-1 against the Thunder because they have outplayed them on the court, not because the league and the refs have rigged the whole event.  

it's stupid crap

-in game 1 of boston vs Miami the 5 techs ,

-Lebron having a total of 5 fouls the whole Indiana series ,

-In game 6 the PP up fake where he got fouled and the shot off(but the refs call it on the ground, ridiculous), then lebron does the exact same thing and gets the shot( PP was even complaining about this exact thing saying why does he get 2 shots and I don't)

-The total techs in the playoffs up to the middle of the boston series was something like Miam=6 , opponents=26

-oh yea the play in the Indiana series where Wade actually didn't get a call he runs collison down at full speed and give him a hard shot in the back right when collison is taking of and could have been badly injured. What does Wade get? a tech 1, doesn't get thrown out or suspended ....

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

-how about last nights game 4 of the finals?mid way through the 4th quarter Lebron,Wade and Bosh had a total of 3 fouls between them


I'm not saying that the refs completely control the outcome of games, but they can sure effect the game greatly by having one team in foul trouble and the other being able to play mugging style defense without getting called.


should I keep going? because we could be here all day

It's such nonsense, I am done watching any games in the NBA besides the C's.

Yeah, the tech differential is pretty astounding all by itself, especially for a team that complains like the Heat.

[Celtics18]

The problem with the conspiracy theorists is that there aren't enough specifics mentioned to make the argument plausible.  Two or three questionable calls a game do not add up to a conspiracy.  Many of the calls, not just in this game, but most contested games, that cause people to claim the fix is in are generally calls that could go either way or when looked at closely were actually called correctly by the refs.  

I am absolutely convinced that the Heat are up 3-1 against the Thunder because they have outplayed them on the court, not because the league and the refs have rigged the whole event.  

For me, it's not about "rigged" or "fix", it's incompetency and special treatment for certain players. I've said this before: the fact that the league does nothing to make it an even playing field for all players, is as bad as if there was a legit effort to fix the game.

I see no legit explanation of how Lebron can go game after game with so few fouls called against him. I don't understand how one team gets hammered with nothing called and the other goes to the line when there was just a little contact drawn.

It doesn't matter what or why, what matters is the problem at hand that stern won't address. I tend to believe that stern likes the star treatment because it makes the best look even better, and thus helps the league. So there maybe no conspiracy, but there is definitely willful inaction that is costing the league credibility.

I believe had last game been called even, OKC would have won despite their turnovers and miscues.  

I tried to watch the game last night objectively, and I didn't see the egregious errors in the officiating.  Could you point to some of the specific bad calls?

[kp4000]

It's been a while the league has been a joke. Where have you been? I'll agree David Stern has done a lot of good for the NBA the past 20yrs, but he's also done some bad.

[slamtheking]

I have no idea why any of you continue to torture yourselves by watching the finals.  

Once the C's were knocked out (they should have won it in 5 if Game 2 wasn't blown by the refs but even though the officiating wasn't great in games 6 & 7, the C's played poorly), I just stopped watching.  Much more peace of mind now.  A bit bored waiting for the draft but no more headaches with watching badly-officiated games.

it would also help to drive the point home with Stern/NBA if viewership dropped off when teams enjoying obviously-favorable officiating get passed through to the playoffs.  that's the only way to change the system.  (I'd say contact the advertisers and say you won't purchase their products due to their support of a questionable product but let's face it, that's not going to happen).