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The NBA admitted there should have been a foul called at the end of Game 4 between the Lakers and Spurs, and that Brent Barry should have gotten two foul shots. It's surprising that they admitted fault, but the call was pretty obvious.

More shocking was this:

Before the statement by the NBA late Wednesday, league spokesman Brian McIntyre said referees Joey Crawford, Joe Forte and Mark Wunderlich may have been following a league guideline in failing to make a call.

"There is an explanation in the rule book," said McIntyre, "that there are times during games when the degree of certainty necessary to determine a foul involving physical contact is higher. That comes during impact time when the intensity has risen, especially at the end of a game. In other words, if you're going to call something then, be certain."

Link

Huh? The officials are instructed -- and there may even be something in the rule book or some other official policy -- that the game should be called differently in certain situations? I mean, I think we all know this crap goes on. I just didn't expect a league spokesman to be stupid enough to admit it.

When will the NBA admit that it gives calls to its superstars? Maybe somebody should get a statement from McIntyre.

Finally

Yeah and no one can refrence this at all but magically this guy says it's in the rulebook?

He's just talking about the precedence of how end of games are called in the playoffs. Not something in the rulebook.

This is all very strange, the league coming clean about officiating, broadcasters openly criticizing and debating calls during the game

it's like bizarro NBA

is this a reaction to the Donaghy scandal or the constant drumbeat of conspiracy theorists on the internet?

I for one never believed that any games were ever fixed - it's just horrible refereeing

The last two playoff games had piss poor calling.

Oh well, I think I'll enjoy Celtics v. Lakers in the Finals.

Just like the good ole' days.

^To me when the broadcasters actually argue calls it brings more credibility to officiating. I was probably less angry at the officiating in the first half yesterday when JVG and Breen were screaming at each other than I would have been if everyone was toeing the company line and saying the refs are great like Hubie Brown does.

AS for the rules. I don't know that their is a great fix. I sort of don't mind having some grey area on certain situations. The Barry call was tough in the sense that there has been coutless times when a similar situation occured and people argued the opposite and that you shouldn't make the call.

I wish the charge/block rule was clearer though. Now that is an ambiguous rule.

I think many of us were stupid and deluded when we thought reffing would be better in the wake of the Donaghy scandal last year. It's gotten worse, which is shocking but not surprising, if that makes sense...

The refs seem to take away from the principle of the game with some of their bias toward star players and the lack of respect for new players in this league. So many time a foul is called without the refs seeing the whole play, and that is rule one in officiating any sport, see the whole play.

I think it was a good no call....Its not like Barry would of made a 3 from damn near half court anyways...

NYKnicksfan11 wrote:I think it was a good no call....Its not like Barry would of made a 3 from damn near half court anyways...

absurd
he was one step behind the 3pt line (which doesn't mean squat). Lets replace Barry with LBJ or DWade and tell me the whistle doesn't blow......

So basically, the NBA tells refs "please don't call questionable ticky tack fouls when the game is on the line in the last minutes/moments, k?" I have zero problem with that. I only have a problem with the star treatment which usually flaunts that directive. Except in the rare case of a superstar getting mugged and no whistle, a la LeBron's jersey getting pulled.

wigglestrue wrote:So basically, the NBA tells refs "please don't call questionable ticky tack fouls when the game is on the line in the last minutes/moments, k?" I have zero problem with that. I only have a problem with the star treatment which usually flaunts that directive. Except in the rare case of a superstar getting mugged and no whistle, a la LeBron's jersey getting pulled.

I guarantee you if it was Kobe, Iverson, LeBron, etc on the receiving end of that, instant whistle.

Tony Parker or Billups would get that call as well. Like I said it's the exact same call TA got against him. Truth is that "we wouldn't call that foul if the game is tight" stuff is trash. They are spinning it and blew the call - as they already admitted. This latest stuff is just another spin on things to distract the fans.

Well, I hope the players know this fact. Hack-away guys!

CeltsfaninDC wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

absurd
he was one step behind the 3pt line (which doesn't mean squat). Lets replace Barry with LBJ or DWade and tell me the whistle doesn't blow......

Really? are you sure u saw the game? im sure you could youtube it and find it now...he was in between the 3pt line and half court...he was at least 5-8 feet behind the line, probably more...highly doubt he would of made the shot