Source: NBA Reviewing Officiating of Game 4

[Celtics18]

I have no problem with the NBA reviewing the officiating for game 4 (I thought they reviewed the officiating for every game).

When the league overturns the game and gives it to Miami, I'm going to be furious, though. 

[fairweatherfan]

This really is the fault of the NBA offices. They have allowed for the quality of their officiating to decline for years and years. What's the average age for an NBA ref? 55? 60? 65?

Joey Crawford was ancient in 2002 when he reffed the Kings and Lakers that has to have been fixed. 11 years later he is still officiating?

Crawford was 50 in 2002, and didn't ref that game.  Are you thinking of Dick Bavetta?  He hasn't reffed a major playoff game in 5 years or so.

[nickagneta]

This really is the fault of the NBA offices. They have allowed for the quality of their officiating to decline for years and years. What's the average age for an NBA ref? 55? 60? 65?

Joey Crawford was ancient in 2002 when he reffed the Kings and Lakers that has to have been fixed. 11 years later he is still officiating?

Crawford was 50 in 2002, and didn't ref that game.  Are you thinking of Dick Bavetta?  He hasn't reffed a major playoff game in 5 years or so.

My bad. I always get them mixed up.

[fairweatherfan]

This really is the fault of the NBA offices. They have allowed for the quality of their officiating to decline for years and years. What's the average age for an NBA ref? 55? 60? 65?

Joey Crawford was ancient in 2002 when he reffed the Kings and Lakers that has to have been fixed. 11 years later he is still officiating?

Crawford was 50 in 2002, and didn't ref that game.  Are you thinking of Dick Bavetta?  He hasn't reffed a major playoff game in 5 years or so.

My bad. I always get them mixed up.

No worries.  Bavetta was the shadiest of the shady - Donaghey was flat out criminal, but he didn't work nearly as many big games as Bavetta. 

Simmons had a great list several years back of sketchy playoff games Bavetta worked, including Game 6.  Regardless of the current crop, it's a great thing that he's almost out of the league and completely out of the playoffs.

EDIT: Found it - scroll down to "most disturbing subplot".  http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/020606

[Donoghus]

This really is the fault of the NBA offices. They have allowed for the quality of their officiating to decline for years and years. What's the average age for an NBA ref? 55? 60? 65?

Joey Crawford was ancient in 2002 when he reffed the Kings and Lakers that has to have been fixed. 11 years later he is still officiating?

Crawford was 50 in 2002, and didn't ref that game.  Are you thinking of Dick Bavetta?  He hasn't reffed a major playoff game in 5 years or so.

Yeah, that game was Bavetta, Bob Delaney, and Ted Bernhardt.

[NocturnalRebel]

I wonder if they're reviewing this because of LeBron fouling out or because of tha refs missing that 24 second shot clock violation. But while they're reviewing tha officiating they should review tha flopping too.

[nickagneta]

Regardless of the current crop, it's a great thing that he's almost out of the league and completely out of the playoffs.

Actually, I find the fact that he is still employed by the NBA and doing playoff games as rather disturbing and  shows that there's something seriously wrong in the NBA front offices when it comes to officiating.

[CelticConcourse]

Regardless of the current crop, it's a great thing that he's almost out of the league and completely out of the playoffs.

Actually, I find the fact that he is still employed by the NBA and doing playoff games as rather disturbing and  shows that there's something seriously wrong in the NBA front offices when it comes to officiating.

Though it is true that there aren't many qualified NBA referee candidates out there. And for a reason.

[feckless]

*Prepares to be crucified*

I thought a couple of the fouls on LeBron were kind of weak, especially the one of the Hibbert and1.  Watching it live, I didn't even see a foul, and upon watching replay, it was a touch foul at best.

His offensive foul at the end of the third (where he barreled into West, I think) reminds me of KG's moving screens.  LeBron/KG does it every game, why call it now?

Finally, the foul that got him out was, in my mind, a makeup call for the horrendous shot clock violation assessed to IND.  I didn't really like it because they chose to make up for it with 56 seconds left in a crucial playoff game.  For starters, I think Stephenson ran into LeBron, because Wade had rejected his pick, and I also don't think LeBron moved THAT MUCH.  Moving screens are rarely called, anyways.

Did I enjoy seeing LeBron foul out?  Absolutely.  But some of those calls against him very shaky.  And like I mentioned, that SCV made my eyes bleed.

. I was thinking the same thing on the 6th foul and KG doing the same thing.  The difference is they tend to call KG for at least an obligatory illegal screen call per game.  Lebron does not.

I believe Lebron on his 6th foul, while setting a pick saw the opportunity and deliberately stepped on Stephenson's foot to slow him down or trip him, and it was the right call!

Anyone gone to youtube to see Wade's dirtiest plays recorded?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Absolutely ludicrous that they don't decide to review the officiating until LeBron fouls out of a game. Gimme a break.

Yes, he's a great player, but he's not a defensive savant.

[nickagneta]

Absolutely ludicrous that they don't decide to review the officiating until LeBron fouls out of a game. Gimme a break.

Yes, he's a great player, but he's not a defensive savant.

I would be more interested in the league reviewing how Lebron was able to go over 250 straight minutes, playing the way he does, without committing a foul than hearing about them investigating officials because Lebron fouled out of one game. How does a guy go to the hole with no regard for human life or play in your shirt defense or come flying across the court for a block without once committing a foul for over 5 games?

That isn't being investigated but Lebron getting a 6th foul in one game is? Madness I tell you. Pure madness.

[fairweatherfan]

Absolutely ludicrous that they don't decide to review the officiating until LeBron fouls out of a game. Gimme a break.

Where are you getting it from that this is an unusual move, or that this is just about LeBron?  There were plenty of dubious calls all over the place last night. 

And my understanding is they review the officiating every game - I know for a fact officials get notes and grades from the league after every game.

[jambr380]

I love love love the way Indiana has played the Heat so far in this series. Watching them end quarters poorly and stupidly turning the ball over is very frustrating, but I love the way they fight back by playing so physically and play so well at the end of games [except, of course, game one].

I am with everybody else here. It is a joke that the league publicly said they were going to review the officiating all because the game didn't go the Heat's way...as for Wade, I can't think of a player who I dislike more. He is good, but not elite anymore and he is about the cheapest player in the league. I also can't stand how he falls down on literally every shot / lay-up. Lebron should really consider leaving after his current contract.

[nickagneta]

Absolutely ludicrous that they don't decide to review the officiating until LeBron fouls out of a game. Gimme a break.

Where are you getting it from that this is an unusual move, or that this is just about LeBron?  There were plenty of dubious calls all over the place last night. 

And my understanding is they review the officiating every game - I know for a fact officials get notes and grades from the league after every game.

I don't think it is a stretch that on the day after Lebron fouls out and complains about the fact that he fouled out right after the game, that it is just coincidence that the NBA leaks that they are taking a look at these fouls and the officiating as a whole for game 4, that people come to the conclusion that the NBA is doing it because their media darling and number one drawing ticket complained publicly about the officiating.

When other stars have complained, they get fined the next day. The league doesn't leak the fact they are taking a look at the officiating, especially if they review the officiating after every game anyway. Why let it be known you are doing it now if it is something commonly done?

[fairweatherfan]

Absolutely ludicrous that they don't decide to review the officiating until LeBron fouls out of a game. Gimme a break.

Where are you getting it from that this is an unusual move, or that this is just about LeBron?  There were plenty of dubious calls all over the place last night. 

And my understanding is they review the officiating every game - I know for a fact officials get notes and grades from the league after every game.

I don't think it is a stretch that on the day after Lebron fouls out and complains about the fact that he fouled out right after the game, that it is just coincidence that the NBA leaks that they are taking a look at these fouls and the officiating as a whole for game 4, that people come to the conclusion that the NBA is doing it because their media darling and number one drawing ticket complained publicly about the officiating.

When other stars have complained, they get fined the next day. The league doesn't leak the fact they are taking a look at the officiating, especially if they review the officiating after every game anyway. Why let it be known you are doing it now if it is something commonly done?

I don't think it's a stretch to think that the league isn't "leaking" anything, but that after a game with a ton of controversial calls, including but not at all limited to a star fouling out, members of the media might be a lot more likely to ask if the league is reviewing those calls.

Even if LeBron doesn't foul out last night's officiating was pretty embarrassing for the league - even taking out all subjectivity they completely blew that shot clock violation at the very least.