OT: Is preferential treatment good for the NBA playoffs?

[campybatman]

That is to say, are the NBA playoffs more watchable when stars such as LeBron, Kobe and whoever else of this caliber receives preferential treatment by referees?

Personally, I'm irked by the phantom calls for them and dislike the calls that aren't made against them. For Boston, the Celtics feature three stars in Pierce, Garnett and (Ray) Allen who seldom benefit from this same preferential treatment. Why is that? Why is it that Pierce seemingly doesn't attack the rim anymore in favor of a more perimeter game because he knows that he rarely will receive foul calls nowadays. He and the aforementioned get treated like regular players. Never mind. This thread is about one thing. It begs the question: Is there a place for star players in the playoffs who receive above and beyond favoritism from the referees? I mean the NBA requires stars to market the league to fans and corporate America. Still, is it these same stars that can ruin the product? How often will they foul out of games? I'm certain that I'm not the only basketball fan that is turned off by the star players who blatantly take advantages of their privileges given to them in the league. And will readily whine when the referees forget this fact.

I'm not asking how could Stern fix this because he can't... One way that you could imagine solving this dissatisfaction of fans toward referees is to hold them accountable financially. Review games during the playoffs and levy fines for inappropriate officiating. However, if referees are made to look bad. The league looks bad and Stern won't allow that to happen.

In my opinion, the playoffs can be far more enjoyable (except for the fans of the team that this player happens to play for) if you know that your team will get a fair shake on these playoffs games. No more letting one individual player decide these games or to taint it. I would feel a lot better if the NBA finals this season didn't include James or Bryant.

Interestingly, I would include Bryant and James as the lone superstars in the NBA along with Duncan and Garnett. However, the latter are more team players whereas the former are more individual players who are apt to score a lot due to the purpose of their teams having more of a chance at winning games when they do. I'm not convinced that they're [Kobe and LeBron] team orientated just because of recent trades which force them to share the ball. These guys will still dominate the ball no matter what. Perhaps, their assists will increase, though. Duncan and Garnett play or now play on teams that are more about the team concept and making the team the star and not necessarily that one superstar they have. It's no wonder these are two of the better play making big men [Tim and Kevin] in the NBA.

[GreenGrizz]

I would turn the tv off if that happens. I don't want to teach our kids that way. I have seen enough bullies.

[greenbeans]

if its helping the Celts, then hell yeah im for it. but if its goin against us. . . disgusting, this league is all bs, stern has it fixed

[Prophet_C]

Hell no.

[Zin5]

It's good for the popular publicity of the NBA, since this is a star powered league after all. As guys like Michael, Kobe, and possibly Lebron win championships, their names become forever known by those who aren't fans or don't care about basketball and will make those players more iconic for its fans. For instance, my girlfriend, who doesn't care for any sport, knew of who Michael Jordan was, due to his success and greatness, but couldn't think of any player in another sport, because they aren't as individually oriented.

However, it kills the credibility. Officiating should be fair and consistent for all players and teams, regardless of whether they're a veteran, a rookie, a star, or a scrub. We've all seen countless cases where this isn't the case, and for someone like me at least, it's making me keep devaluing it closer and closer to wrestling. While it may be entertaining, you can't take it seriously and it's painful to watch from a sports perspective.

[GreenGrizz]

Michael Jordan is gone. They have tried with Lebron James.

[Bleeding Green]

Yes, we need as much bias in sports officiating as possible. Everyone not named Chauncey, Wallace, Hamilton, Garnett, Pierce, Allen should start the game with 2 fouls.

[bruno sundov]

Only when it benefits us!!!

[MyInsatiableOne]

It's good for the popular publicity of the NBA, since this is a star powered league after all. As guys like Michael, Kobe, and possibly Lebron win championships, their names become forever known by those who aren't fans or don't care about basketball and will make those players more iconic for its fans. For instance, my girlfriend, who doesn't care for any sport, knew of who Michael Jordan was, due to his success and greatness, but couldn't think of any player in another sport, because they aren't as individually oriented.

However, it kills the credibility. Officiating should be fair and consistent for all players and teams, regardless of whether they're a veteran, a rookie, a star, or a scrub. We've all seen countless cases where this isn't the case, and for someone like me at least, it's making me keep devaluing it closer and closer to wrestling. While it may be entertaining, you can't take it seriously and it's painful to watch from a sports perspective.

Absolutely great post, agree 100%. Especially about the credibility of the league. Even among casual fans the reffing is a known issue now. And I've been calling hoops "wrestling in shorts" for years.

[campybatman]

Michael Jordan is gone. They have tried with Lebron James.

The NBA has tried with others beside LeBron and Kobe. You can't replace a player that's rare to begin with. The problem I see with the NBA's choice for being the face of the league is they aren't likable, in my opinion. Jordan was the typical: Tall, dark and handsome. He'd mass appeal. He wasn't simply a national star. He was an international star as a player. He could appeal to most or all the different races and ethnicities who are basketball fans. Specially, among black and white people. I mean he was a marketer's dream. An iconic figure in the sports world and the advertisement world. There wasn't anything he couldn't sell with his smile and clean cut appearance. Jordan was in no way a perfect person. He's human after all. But, he was and remains, for sake of argument, a likable person. I'm not a fan of LeBron. I'm not a fan of Kobe. I'm not a fan of Shaquille O'Neal. The point is, I'm certain that these players and other stars and former stars who are still playing have just as many NBA fans who dislike them as they've that feel the opposite. Whereas, Jordan you didn't tend to think much about his detractors in the media or the fans that booed him from city to city. Because there existed so many fans of him around the world and Americans who knew of him and by team by merely the mention of his initials: MJ. That his fans where greater than his non fans I would've guessed then.

NBA fans know more about the personal lives of these stars that this can't be a good thing. Unfortunately, what you read about isn't always positive for the league.

The NBA needs to learn not to force who they desire to be the new face of the league down the collective throats of their fans. It can't possibly work, in my opinion. There were players such as Grant Hill, Anfernee Hardaway, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and I'm sure others who were suppose to be a lot bigger than what they would end up being. But, not one of them became the face of the league that the commissioner probably yearns for. Jordan's too old.

Also, I believe that specific hairstyles, jewelry, tattoos and player entourages among other things have affected the overall perception of the league. The league isn't speaking to everyone. It's marketed toward the younger and hip. It won't cater to the old school generation. I mean just look at how the new Celtics owners have sold out. Basketball is still a sport to me and not just entertainment or one's own personal business venture. You've to care about the fans. Who cares about t-shirt guns, dancers, pyrotechnics and loud and irrelevant music that doesn't even correlate to basketball. All of this is just a distraction to me.

[tombattor]

Only when it benefits us!!!

+1

[Chucker]

The referees aren't officiating fairly. Something is definitely going on...if it's Stern or just the refs themselves. Look at Tim Donaghy...I am truly surprised how this thing hasn't not totally blown up in the media. Spygate shmygate, what about RefGate!?!?! Recording NFL defensive signals? Come on, does not affect realtime gameplay, and all the team has to do is change their signals from game to game that they use and all the tapes are useless. Now, NBA referees determining the outcome of games directly with unfair calls for years and years under the NBA radar, allegedly. Um, where is Congress on that??

[MyInsatiableOne]

The referees aren't officiating fairly. Something is definitely going on...if it's Stern or just the refs themselves. Look at Tim Donaghy...I am truly surprised how this thing hasn't not totally blown up in the media. Spygate shmygate, what about RefGate!?!?! Recording NFL defensive signals? Come on, does not affect realtime gameplay, and all the team has to do is change their signals from game to game that they use and all the tapes are useless. Now, NBA referees determining the outcome of games directly with unfair calls for years and years under the NBA radar, allegedly. Um, where is Congress on that??

Look up^^ at the ticker...Donaghy is starting to name names and says loads of players and refs were in on it too...Stern's worst nightmare, and it's all his own doing...

[tombattor]

-= original quote snipped =-
Look up^^ at the ticker...Donaghy is starting to name names and says loads of players and refs were in on it too...Stern's worst nightmare, and it's all his own doing...

How's it Stern's own doing? I doubt Stern instructed the refs to bet on their games. Do you have evidence to the contrary, other than your personal hypothesis?

[MyInsatiableOne]

-= original quote snipped =-


How's it Stern's own doing? I doubt Stern instructed the refs to bet on their games. Do you have evidence to the contrary, other than your personal hypothesis?

I didn't mean literally it was Stern's own doing...I said it was his worst nightmare in that it will raise questions as to the integrity of the game. And what I meant by "Stern's own doing" wasn't that he sanctioned it, but he wanted to market STARS over teams, and he allows the "star system" to be in place...what do you expect when that is allowed and the refs have free reign? No maliciousness on Stern's part, but that's the law of unintended consequences, you know?

C'mon man, you're better than that!

[tombattor]

-= original quote snipped =-
I didn't mean literally it was Stern's own doing...I said it was his worst nightmare in that it will raise questions as to the integrity of the game. And what I meant by "Stern's own doing" wasn't that he sanctioned it, but he wanted to market STARS over teams, and he allows the "star system" to be in place...what do you expect when that is allowed and the refs have free reign? No maliciousness on Stern's part, but that's the law of unintended consequences, you know?

C'mon man, you're better than that!

I hear you and recognize that it's a possibility, but I don't necessarily agree that it's a very likely scenario.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^^If not, then they need to do a MUCH better job keeping an eye on the refs if this kind of garbage was allowed to run as rampant as Donaghy claims it did under the noses of Stern and the owners.

Either way, the NBA has a serious problem with the public's faith in its integrity...it's nothing for the casual fan to think the reffing is biased and rigged. Even if it isn't, the thought that it could be by so many is bad enough. Part of it is Stern's fault, whether consciously or not, and it needs to be fixed SOON.

[campybatman]

About the referees, a poll could be conducted in which the coaching staffs and teams of players from all franchises of the MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL took part. The point would be to see which sports voted the most for overall satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the officiating from referees. I would be very interested in knowing the results. My idea is that it can be taken under condition of anonymity. That is, every league's commissioner will read the final results but won't identify specific names, franchise name or what have you. Could be a good measuring stick to see where each league stands in terms of how everyone views whether or not officiating really affects the game and relationship between players and coaches and referees.

I would think that there's a sense of displeasure but toward what specifically is uncertain. League rules can always be improved. However, players could feel that rules are in place that aren't necessarily enforced. Can teams file grievances anymore? Should they bother?

Personally, I would guess that the NFL has more of a handle on rules, new rules and the accountability of their referees understanding these rules than, let's say, the NBA. I've nothing to base this on. Other than drawing from my own hunch. These sports likely have rules committees in place. Not to mention, the NFL referees use instant replay to assist themselves.

[MyInsatiableOne]

About the referees, a poll could be conducted in which the coaching staffs and teams of players from all franchises of the MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL took part. The point would be to see which sports voted the most for overall satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the officiating from referees. I would be very interested in knowing the results. My idea is that it can be taken under condition of anonymity. That is, every league's commissioner will read the final results but won't identify specific names, franchise name or what have you. Could be a good measuring stick to see where each league stands in terms of how everyone views whether or not officiating really affects the game and relationship between players and coaches and referees.

I would think that there's a sense of displeasure but toward what specifically is uncertain. League rules can always be improved. However, players could feel that rules are in place that aren't necessarily enforced. Can teams file grievances anymore? Should they bother?

Personally, I would guess that the NFL has more of a handle on rules, new rules and the accountability of their referees understanding these rules than, let's say, the NBA. I've nothing to base this on. Other than drawing from my own hunch. These sports likely have rules committees in place. Not to mention, the NFL referees use instant replay to assist themselves.

There was a poll on ESPN asking that question and as of yesterday afternoon nearly 100% of the voters voted that the NBA had the worst officiating....as of this morning it is at 57%...that's still a staggering number, though entirely NOT surprising.