SI: What might of been the worst official decison ever

[Pogue Mahone]

What is to stop a team that is down two, with time running out, to overload all their players to one side of the floor. As soon as they inbound, their best three point shooter steps off of the bench, receives a pass and shoots. It would take a bit of slickness to pull off, but, like I said, if you overload the play to the non-bench side of the floor,

If you hit the three point basket, the worst that can happen is that you sent the game into overtime. If you miss, the worst you can lose by is 4 points.

Or what if you are tied, with three seconds left, no time-outs and your opponent is shooting the second free throw. If he makes it, the game is likely over because getting up the floor in that amount of time and get off a good shot is going to be an issue. So instead, you have your normal three defensive rebounds waiting on the second attempt. Then you bring up both remaining players right behind the foul shooter. This will likely cause a dumb-ass on the other time to creap forward.

In the event you get the rebound, you throw a baseball pass the full length of the course. A ineligble teammate waits underneath the basket until the ball is near the rim, grabs it and puts it in for two.

If the second free throw had been converted, you can likely make the pass easier.

If the referees don't blow a whistle before the basket is scored, they can not take away the basket. They have already made precedent. They have also reiterated their stance in the form of an NBA statement from first-year whatever his name was, administrator of referees and David Sterns corruption of the game.

The worse that can happen is that you lose anyways. As a last ditch effort, the possibility of going into overtime or perhaps even winning on the play is going to cause some team to do it. Now you can argue the ethical part of it all you want but you play up to and what the referees will allow.

[Celtsfan1980]

Every other thread seems to have trolls in it these days. What they should have done is Boston gets 2 free throws, the Portland basket doesn't count, and Boston gets the ball. Portland was blatantly trying to violate the rules, so you should be punished. When a ref makes a call in a team's favor, the team can't do much about it, but when a team violates the league's rules on purpose you deserve more than just a slap on the wrist. One technical is basically a slap on the wrist.

[ParticleMan]

Horrible calls are made in every single pro-sports game that I have ever watched. But let's get a little bit real here Celtic fans. That play cost you 1 point. If the Blazers did not commit that goof, and scored anyway, you may have actually GAINED a point.

But refs made a number of more damaging calls against the Blazers, though they weren't nearly as funny. Remember when Sergio fouled Tony Allen as he was driving to the hoop, near the free throw line, and the refs gave him foul shots, even though he was no where near the act of shooting.

Or when Kevin ran down the court and did a flop against LaMarcus and got to the line. Or when Garnett shoved Aldridge on an ally-oop attempt, no call, that cost the Blazers points. Or the travel called on Greg Oden for no apparant reason...that potentially cost the Blazers points.

If you're going to whip out a protest, the other side can document all of the bad calls which went against them. Have the results of any game in NBA or NFL history every been overturned due to a bad call? And yet, instead of just accepting this loss, you want the LEAGUE to over-turn it?

Boy, Blazer fans sure are a dumb bunch. This isn't a question of a JUDGEMENT call. Lots of bad JUDGEMENT calls happen by the refs. And there were plenty that went in favor of the Blazers in the game too. Whatever, those are part of the game.

This wasn't an issue of a JUDGEMENT call. This was six guys on the court. You can count them. To me, it's just like whether or not a ball is shot before the buzzer: Either it was, or it wasn't, and the fact is there to see on the replay. There's no judgement about it. The same thing here, the fact was there to see on the replay. No judgement. Yet the refs saw the replay, and chose to ignore that for some reason. Ridiculous.

Look, I don't even care about the loss. That wasn't the reason we lost anyway-- we just got out-executed at the end. But Pogue is right, this opens up a ridiculous set of possibilities for trying to sneak an extra guy on the court and score before the refs can blow the whistle. Absolutely crazy.

All they have to do is say that having 6 men on the court is a replayable scenario, and that any points scored with 6 men are disallowed. Simple. Yet the league continues its buffoonery by actually claiming that the refs did the right thing.

[GuyClinch]

Pogue is right in a way. It's a horrible precedent. But I think the refs are lying. If another team tried the six man on the court bit they would just overturn it.

[BballFanAddict]

Horrible calls are made in every single pro-sports game that I have ever watched. But let's get a little bit real here Celtic fans. That play cost you 1 point. If the Blazers did not commit that goof, and scored anyway, you may have actually GAINED a point.

But refs made a number of more damaging calls against the Blazers, though they weren't nearly as funny. Remember when Sergio fouled Tony Allen as he was driving to the hoop, near the free throw line, and the refs gave him foul shots, even though he was no where near the act of shooting.

Or when Kevin ran down the court and did a flop against LaMarcus and got to the line. Or when Garnett shoved Aldridge on an ally-oop attempt, no call, that cost the Blazers points. Or the travel called on Greg Oden for no apparant reason...that potentially cost the Blazers points.

If you're going to whip out a protest, the other side can document all of the bad calls which went against them. Have the results of any game in NBA or NFL history every been overturned due to a bad call? And yet, instead of just accepting this loss, you want the LEAGUE to over-turn it?

Boy, Blazer fans sure are a dumb bunch. This isn't a question of a JUDGEMENT call. Lots of bad JUDGEMENT calls happen by the refs. And there were plenty that went in favor of the Blazers in the game too. Whatever, those are part of the game.

This wasn't an issue of a JUDGEMENT call. This was six guys on the court. You can count them. To me, it's just like whether or not a ball is shot before the buzzer: Either it was, or it wasn't, and the fact is there to see on the replay. There's no judgement about it. The same thing here, the fact was there to see on the replay. No judgement. Yet the refs saw the replay, and chose to ignore that for some reason. Ridiculous.

Look, I don't even care about the loss. That wasn't the reason we lost anyway-- we just got out-executed at the end. But Pogue is right, this opens up a ridiculous set of possibilities for trying to sneak an extra guy on the court and score before the refs can blow the whistle. Absolutely crazy.

All they have to do is say that having 6 men on the court is a replayable scenario, and that any points scored with 6 men are disallowed. Simple. Yet the league continues its buffoonery by actually claiming that the refs did the right thing.

I've refrained from polluting your forum after the Blazer victory because I understand not wanting to hear from the opposing team shortly after a loss. At least not hear from them in a way that strikes a nerve. But, for you to say the Blazer fans are dumb makes you look completely ignorant.

I do not know of a single Blazer fan who agreed that the basket should count. And while Sinobas may have said other fouls equally or more so hurt the Blazers in the score of that game, I do not think anyone would argue verses the notion that the power play was the worst call / non-call in the game.

If the point of this thread is to suggest that the powerplay is one of, if not the most, ridiculous rulings ever seen in Basketball then I completely concur. Where I completely and utterly disagree is when anyone tries to claim that this 1pt swing in the score cost Boston the game.

Lastly, some others have claimed Portland did this on purpose. Yeah, and I shot JFK; Santa Claus is real; and the Easter Bunny sells acid in the off season. Oden went into the game by accident - he went to the bench but Nate called him to the huddle so he could hear the play - for experience purposes only - but Oden was confused and went back in the game. Total accident.

Also, no team would purposely try this because every time the referees catch it its an automatic technical for the opposing team. Who'd risk this? No one. To suggest this is idiotic. The fact is the rule does need to be changed about not being able to take away points after a clear violation took place.

Regardless, the Celts lost a game due to energy and rebounding. Nothing more and nothing less. They win that game 9x out of 10.

Good luck this year. Please beat the Lakers again if you all meet up.

[candy for lunch]

Every other thread seems to have trolls in it these days. What they should have done is Boston gets 2 free throws, the Portland basket doesn't count, and Boston gets the ball. Portland was blatantly trying to violate the rules, so you should be punished. When a ref makes a call in a team's favor, the team can't do much about it, but when a team violates the league's rules on purpose you deserve more than just a slap on the wrist. One technical is basically a slap on the wrist.

Blazers are CHEATERS who CHEAT CHEAT CHEAT their way to VICTORY

That play should have made Greg Oden INELIGIBLE to play the rest of the game because he CHEATED!

[Banks2Pierce]

There were equally bad calls on both teams. How about the should've been and and 1 for glen davis when Pryzbilla's feet were moving and he jumped in the air. Bad calls happen, but to let those points to stand is a terrible, terrible mark on this game.

And stop saying it was the diff of 1 point. It's a difference of 2 points, you clowns.

[astrallite]

One way modding and one way officiating.

[BballFanAddict]

There were equally bad calls on both teams. How about the should've been and and 1 for glen davis when Pryzbilla's feet were moving and he jumped in the air. Bad calls happen, but to let those points to stand is a terrible, terrible mark on this game.

And stop saying it was the diff of 1 point. It's a difference of 2 points, you clowns.

Really, 2 points? Care to explain how its a 2 pt difference? I watched the game. Portland was awarded 2 points and Boston was awarded a free throw that they converted. Boston would have never received the 1 pt freethrow if it was not for the same power play Portland was awarded the 2pts and assessed the T for.

Plus 2 for Portland and plus 1 for Boston - from the same play = +1 for Portland.

Was not aware clowns were better than others in math. You learn something new every day.

[ParticleMan]

It's two points because if you have 6 players on the court, it's a technical foul. So the T should have counted. But the basket scored shouldn't. So that's 2 points the Blazers got for free.

Regardless, I think most C's fans agree it wasn't what cost us the game. We got outplayed. So I don't think there's disagreement there. It's just a bit stunning how poorly this one thing was handled by the refs.

What was particularly disappointing is learning afterwards that the C's players were really complaining a lot about that during the rest of the game. So obviously it affected them way more than it should have. But that was the C's problem. You've got to move on, at least during the game.

[Banks2Pierce]

Say the score's 53-47. Blazers hit the basket with 6 men, 53-49. TEch. 54-49. 5 point game.

The tech is assessed and the basket is waived off. 54-47. 7 point game.

[MasterRyu]

I"m really tired of hearing how the NBA has the worst officiating in all sports. NBA has the most complex rules, and probably has the most rules of all sports. I think NBA is the hardest to officiate. There are just so many things that happen on offense and defense. Give the refs a break. Lol it's always funny that NBA officiating is always brought up by the losing team's fans.

By the way, I agree that this is one of the worst decisions ever. I think they should've done one of two things: Deny the basket and let them replay that possession. Simple. Or keep the basket, but give Portland two technical fouls instead of one, so Boston has a chance to shoot two. That would've been fair I think.

You can't blame the loss on this one decision, because Celtics were simply outhustled by an undermanned Portland squad using rookies. Totally inexcusable for the mighty Celtics.

[PPAW4Life]

There were equally bad calls on both teams. How about the should've been and and 1 for glen davis when Pryzbilla's feet were moving and he jumped in the air. Bad calls happen, but to let those points to stand is a terrible, terrible mark on this game.

And stop saying it was the diff of 1 point. It's a difference of 2 points, you clowns.

Really, 2 points? Care to explain how its a 2 pt difference? I watched the game. Portland was awarded 2 points and Boston was awarded a free throw that they converted. Boston would have never received the 1 pt freethrow if it was not for the same power play Portland was awarded the 2pts and assessed the T for.

Plus 2 for Portland and plus 1 for Boston - from the same play = +1 for Portland.

Was not aware clowns were better than others in math. You learn something new every day.

It shouldn't be +1 to Portland for CHEATING.

It should be -1 to Portland or +1 CELTICS.

[PPAW4Life]

You can't blame the loss on this one decision, because Celtics were simply outhustled by an undermanned Portland squad using rookies. Totally inexcusable for the mighty Celtics.

QFT.

The Blazers played so hard that they cheated to win. They were without Roy their best player so they resorted to playing 6 players.

One play or one call shouldn't affect the game, especially if it is "that early" in the game.

But the call changed the whole Celtics' attitude for the rest of the game so it did have an affect. These players are multi-millionaires, but they are still human.

Also if the league can enforce a team to replay portions of a game because a player (Shaq) was incorrectly assessed a Personal Foul....then the league can enforce the replay when Cheating and playing 6 on 5 occurs.

[quinielabox]

The referees were inexcusable in their handling of the 6 on 5 situation in Portland with 10 sec to play in the 1st half. The score was 44-38 Boston. Portland scored with their man advantage with Oden getting an uncontested dunk. He was the extra guy on the court. I mean the refs had to have seen this and should blown the play dead and given Boston the technical FT to make it 45-38 Boston. The fact that the 6 on 5 basket was allowed to count was unfathomable.

Still the Celtics probably would have ended up losing the game due to poor matchups in the front court and the HC disadvantage.

The referees appear to be getting younger and less competent as the years go by so these mistakes are going to continue. The league is doing a lousy job policing their referees.

[mikhail1991]

well i guess that repays odens call for hanging on the rim in boston

[Jack wore plaid]

It was rediculous that the refs didn't see 6 men on the court before the basket. It sucks mostly because the Blazers flat out beat the Celtics but all anyone is talking about is a play that in the end nettet the Blazers 1 point.

What's not talked about is

Greg Oden didn't travel.
Paul Pierce took 4 steps and wasn't called for traveling
Sergio Rodriguez fouling someone above the FT line and that player getting an and 1 on a layup
KG throwing COUNTLESS elbows at all of the Blazers heads and never getting a foul or technical called on him until Aldridge pushed him away.
Oden getting a T for hitting Allen. Hard foul yes, intent no. Great job by Allen to sell the play though.



Get over it. It sucked, and the refs should have seen it before they scored. As for cheating????? Oden made a mistake and was visibly embarrassed on the sidelines after the play. As for other teams doing that???? If the refs had caught it before they scored Boston would have had a FT, so not a good strategy.