Should the NBA throw out the clear path rules?

[shoefly1]

I hate the way they officiate the clear path foul with a passion. A game will be 4-2, early in the first quarter and we have to wait three minutes on the replay. It's ridiculous. They should just make it a judgement call, if the foul was an attempt to stop a 1 on 0 fast break, give them the call. It makes for better basketball.

I'm against replay in general, just ruins the flow of the game. I also haven't noticed any increased speed with the replay center.

[BDSF1994]

You only get exceptional situation like Raps at Blazers once every year, no need to overreact.

In fact, refs have been mostly good tonight, even with Raps intentional fouling for a bit, the foul discrepancy is only at 4 in Blazers favor. I was expecting a 10+ in Blazers favor before the game starts.

The saltiness is real.

Also, I think you're forgetting a few different controversial moments!

Which is why I said the refs were mostly good. I expected the refs to favor the Blazers like they always do in Portland, especially against the Raptors, and I was surprised with the amount of calls the Raps got.

It is a fact that refs like to screw over the Raps, since they face less criticism from American media if they do that. Not to mention home cooking calls is a time honored tradition in Portland going back decades, no road team is gonna get calls there.

It is really all moot anyhow; refs or not, the Raps would have most likely lost anyway. At least the game was entertaining.

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

[dozendonuts]

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

Is this a clear path foul to you?

[BDSF1994]

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

Is this a clear path foul to you?

That's not where the foul occurred though. Lillard fouled when Ross (?) was still behind him.

My question is no matter where the foul happened, the Raptors had a man down court wide open, shouldn't that be "clear path" right away? If there is to be a rule change that should be it.

[whatchaknow]

Just get rid of fouls in general. Too much controversy

[dozendonuts]

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

Is this a clear path foul to you?

That's not where the foul occurred though. Lillard fouled when Ross (?) was still behind him.

That's exactly when the whistle blew.

[DaubAcen]

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

Is this a clear path foul to you?

That's not where the foul occurred though. Lillard fouled when Ross (?) was still behind him.

There was contact when Ross was still behind Lillard, but the foul was not called until Ross was past Lillard (you can see in the image when the ref raises his hand). Not to mention the call was originally called as a clear path.

[monopoman]

Just get rid of fouls in general. Too much controversy

I agree if some guy gets thrown down while he goes up for a shot that's just good defense.

[BDSF1994]

Is this a clear path foul to you?

That's not where the foul occurred though. Lillard fouled when Ross (?) was still behind him.

That's exactly when the whistle blew.

If you watch the Replay, Lillard clearly fouls before the Raptors player blows by him though. Whatever way you look at it, it was a tough call to make.

[dozendonuts]

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

Is this a clear path foul to you?

That's not where the foul occurred though. Lillard fouled when Ross (?) was still behind him.

My question is no matter where the foul happened, the Raptors had a man down court wide open, shouldn't that be "clear path" right away? If there is to be a rule change that should be it.

It should be clear path either way but the worst part is that they gave the Blazers a clear path on the exact same play. If Blazers don't get the clear path foul I say okay bad calls happen but they were fair about it. This way there is absolutely no excuse for it.

[rottenzombie]

The saltiness is real.

Also, I think you're forgetting a few different controversial moments!

Which is why I said the refs were mostly good. I expected the refs to favor the Blazers like they always do in Portland, especially against the Raptors, and I was surprised with the amount of calls the Raps got.

It is a fact that refs like to screw over the Raps, since they face less criticism from American media if they do that. Not to mention home cooking calls is a time honored tradition in Portland going back decades, no road team is gonna get calls there.

It is really all moot anyhow; refs or not, the Raps would have most likely lost anyway. At least the game was entertaining.

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

To be honest, I would feel like you do if I listen to the Blazers broadcasters all day long too.

Joking aside, the Blazers home court has always had the kind of intense atmosphere that could easily sway a ref's decision, and you have the history to warrant a certain respect that gets handed down from one generation of refs to the next. Home teams getting calls is an NBA norm, especially for a storied franchise like Portland, you might have just gotten accustomed to the way the Blazers got officiated so you don't notice it any more.

[BDSF1994]

Is this a clear path foul to you?

That's not where the foul occurred though. Lillard fouled when Ross (?) was still behind him.

My question is no matter where the foul happened, the Raptors had a man down court wide open, shouldn't that be "clear path" right away? If there is to be a rule change that should be it.

It should be clear path either way but the worst part is that they gave the Blazers a clear path on the exact same play. If Blazers don't get the clear path foul I say okay bad calls happen but they were fair about it. This way there is absolutely no excuse for it.

Bottomline there never should've been a Clear Path controversy anyway had the ref called a foul on Lowry when he hip checked Blake going for a loose ball with like 17 seconds left in regulation (not to mention on the side-view replay it looked like Lowry might've been the last to touch the ball also).

[dozendonuts]

Bottomline there never should've been a Clear Path controversy anyway had the ref called a foul on Lowry when he hip checked Blake going for a loose ball with like 17 seconds left in regulation (not to mention on the side-view replay it looked like Lowry might've been the last to touch the ball also).

If we're gonna get into it then let's talk about Valanciunas being mauled in the post multiple times with no calls and then getting a tech for no reason at all.

[BDSF1994]

Which is why I said the refs were mostly good. I expected the refs to favor the Blazers like they always do in Portland, especially against the Raptors, and I was surprised with the amount of calls the Raps got.

It is a fact that refs like to screw over the Raps, since they face less criticism from American media if they do that. Not to mention home cooking calls is a time honored tradition in Portland going back decades, no road team is gonna get calls there.

It is really all moot anyhow; refs or not, the Raps would have most likely lost anyway. At least the game was entertaining.

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

To be honest, I would feel like you do if I listen to the Blazers broadcasters all day long too.

Joking aside, the Blazers home court has always had the kind of intense atmosphere that could easily sway a ref's decision, and you have the history to warrant a certain respect that gets handed down from one generation of refs to the next. Home teams getting calls is an NBA norm, especially for a storied franchise like Portland, you might have just gotten accustomed to the way the Blazers got officiated so you don't notice it any more.

Idk, I get flashbacks of last seasons Rocket series.. The Beard... Oh the Beard... How does that guy not have whiplash after every game?

[BDSF1994]

Bottomline there never should've been a Clear Path controversy anyway had the ref called a foul on Lowry when he hip checked Blake going for a loose ball with like 17 seconds left in regulation (not to mention on the side-view replay it looked like Lowry might've been the last to touch the ball also).

If we're gonna get into it then let's talk about Valanciunas being mauled in the post multiple times with no calls and then getting a tech for no reason at all.

Lol we can spend all night discussing the terrible calls that happened tonight because the refs were just THAT bad. This is an NBA problem.

Honestly though, I hope for a Portland-Toronto Finals this season with both teams fully healthy (DeRozan and Lopez).

[rottenzombie]

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

To be honest, I would feel like you do if I listen to the Blazers broadcasters all day long too.

Joking aside, the Blazers home court has always had the kind of intense atmosphere that could easily sway a ref's decision, and you have the history to warrant a certain respect that gets handed down from one generation of refs to the next. Home teams getting calls is an NBA norm, especially for a storied franchise like Portland, you might have just gotten accustomed to the way the Blazers got officiated so you don't notice it any more.

Idk, I get flashbacks of last seasons Rocket series.. The Beard... Oh the Beard... How does that guy not have whiplash after every game?

Speaking of that, when I was watching the series, I was genuinely surprised that Harden got so few calls. I was fully expecting him to get 15+ FTs every game, especially when you guys were really putting the straitjacket on him.

And of course the Rockets fans were ready to riot over the refs issues, but that is just Rockets fans being Rockets fans.

[DavidSterned]

Which is why I said the refs were mostly good. I expected the refs to favor the Blazers like they always do in Portland, especially against the Raptors, and I was surprised with the amount of calls the Raps got.

It is a fact that refs like to screw over the Raps, since they face less criticism from American media if they do that. Not to mention home cooking calls is a time honored tradition in Portland going back decades, no road team is gonna get calls there.

It is really all moot anyhow; refs or not, the Raps would have most likely lost anyway. At least the game was entertaining.

As a Blazer fan, that's news to me. Seems like we barely get calls go in our favor ever. We're a bottom 1/3 team in the league in FTA differential and still on average get less FTA at home than our opponents. I know I'll get the "jump shooting team" response but when Lillard attacks he rarely gets the whistle and he gets hit quite a bit.

To be honest, I would feel like you do if I listen to the Blazers broadcasters all day long too.

Joking aside, the Blazers home court has always had the kind of intense atmosphere that could easily sway a ref's decision, and you have the history to warrant a certain respect that gets handed down from one generation of refs to the next. Home teams getting calls is an NBA norm, especially for a storied franchise like Portland, you might have just gotten accustomed to the way the Blazers got officiated so you don't notice it any more.

I do remember that awful call in the 4th tonight when Lowry flopped into Blake and got FT's. Despicable call, put the Raptors up 4 and almost cost Portland the game. Then the call that REALLY almost got us was Lowry pushing Blake out of bounds with 17 seconds left in regulation. Out of bounds, turnover off Portland when it should have been Blazer FT's and likely no OT. Thankfully they were the better team and still pulled through.

[Effigy]

The foul was called after Ross was ahead. Ref didn't call the initial contact and made the foul call when Lillard was grabbing from the side/behind.

No, you are forgetting the official has to see the foul, determine it is a foul and blow the whistle. Just because he blows the whistle after Ross gets past Lillard doesn't mean that is when the foul was called. He called a foul on the play. The refs looked and saw where Lillard committed the foul. It sounds like you are saying that even though Lillard committed the foul appropriately when he was in front of the defender, you feel any error made by the ref initially as to when the foul occurred should be what stands. If that's the case, get rid of instant replay. Replay exists to help an official get the call right, which is what happened here.

It should be clear path either way but the worst part is that they gave the Blazers a clear path on the exact same play. If Blazers don't get the clear path foul I say okay bad calls happen but they were fair about it. This way there is absolutely no excuse for it.

It wasn't the same play at all. When Lillard fouled Ross he was in front of Ross. When Batum got fouled, he was already ahead of the defender when contact occurred.

Also, that play resulted in one point getting scored (Batum hit one ft, the Blazers didn't score on the possession) so let's not act like one point is the reason Toronto lost.

[Jakay]

Oh get over it Raps fans.

Not only were those both called correctly upon review, but they were both called oppositely on the floor, which means that the refs actually interpreted it differently in the flow of the game.

Here's a picture of dolphin lollipops:


I believe I've made myself clear.

[Effigy]

To be honest, I would feel like you do if I listen to the Blazers broadcasters all day long too.

Joking aside, the Blazers home court has always had the kind of intense atmosphere that could easily sway a ref's decision, and you have the history to warrant a certain respect that gets handed down from one generation of refs to the next. Home teams getting calls is an NBA norm, especially for a storied franchise like Portland, you might have just gotten accustomed to the way the Blazers got officiated so you don't notice it any more.

Wow. Thanks for the compliment. I'm not sure as a Blazer fan I would call us 'storied' but, I will take it.