NBA has to do something about refereeing!

[Spin Move]

That killed me. What he should have been saying to him was, "You IDIOT! How could you foul him with .5 sec on the clock???? YOU LOST THE GAME FOR US!!!", but that would only occur in an alternate universe where the refs are competent.

Actually I have to disgree what was the foul, he did not grab howard or hold him, he had superior position to the ball he in effect had howard boxed out from recieving the pass, that was a clean play by sideshow bob, howard tried to tangle them up to draw the foul...the lebron call the play before was complete bs but the refs made the right call on the last play of regulation

[Geech]

So... What was the difference between LeBron's elbow and Anthony Johnson's'? Was Johnson's intent any different than James'? Maintain or make enough space to get off a shot or just trying to hurt someone? Some consistency would be nice.

[GuyClinch]

^^^ The Howard call was fine. But everyone knows had it been Lebron tangled up with someone and they were down he would have gotten the call. That's the problem the fans have and I have with the refs.

They are so impressed with Lebron they feel they need to give him calls. Its ridiculous.

[Tenbomber]

Back along, a couple of years ago, the players were crying too much at the refs and there was too much trash talk allowed.... that problem has been rectified to a certain extent with the technical foul rule... referee respect is no longer the issue....now its gone too far the other way....and they are calling technical fouls for emotional reactions....and the referees are sorta dictating the outcome of games to the point that many fans think "the fix is in"....

The refs need to be more consistant IMO.... and call everything (including traveling) and get things back on an even keel so to speak...

This superstar favoritism needs to end.... but the trouble with it all is that so many outfits live on the hype and the dollars that larger than life superstars bring to the game...thus those select few continue to get, (or not get) calls....while the mere mortal players are wrung up....

That two-tier system of refereeing needs to change, and the emotion of the minute needs to be allowed again....minus the crying....mind you, to allow the game to thrive....call everything... call it fairly for all and be consistant doing this....that should be the message that the fans make and demand from the league office....

You know it's also almost become part of an NBA coaching job to be a good lobbyist too...and that includes using the press.... to get makeup calls in that next game....its to the point of being silly...reading the soap opera from game to game...do we really want this element in the NBA?

Bottom line....NBA teams should not have to play the game against two elements... (their opponents and the refs)....and superstars shouldn't have their own set of rules...

Then all this extra BS would stop!

[Joselo16]

It's funny that the coaches have become lobbyist:

From wiretap:
http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... ame_5_win/

Phil has played the same game before, like in the finals last year saying we were too physical, but he is just playing the system.

The bad thing is that the players or coaches can't even speak out in fear of being penalized! The ref's should be held more accountable, but I believe its like a previous poster mentioned, Stern likes the system the way it is. We all complain about it, but yet we all still watch the games!!!

[Kefa461]

A related story.....


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ortCat=nba

[Tenbomber]

Nice article and Simmonds is spot on!

BTW...I've always thought that a 20 second clock might produce a better game to watch????

Seems like that would change alot of things and shake it up a bit for an overall improvement in the quality of the play....

But anyway....Simmonds touched on some good issues....and some sort of a loud fan reaction might indeed make the NBA think some more about these issues as they have in the past and respond to them??

[MyInsatiableOne]

Can I be real with you guys? LeBron is so **** amazing, he SHOULD get these calls...dude is a one man show..the least he could have is a little help from the refs..but that's just me.

+ 1 for keepin it real.

-2000 for the slurp job you've just performed on Lebron while on the Celtics board.

Seriously, if Lebron is that good, why give him extra help when 99% of the NBA can't stop him as is. That would be akin to giving a Ferrari a head start off the line when it's racing against Ford Mustangs.

This is the point I always harp on...*always*...