http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12790Magic To Be Fined?
It's been that kind of postseason. The refs have been the center of attention more than usual, from their strange non-call that cost the Dallas Mavericks a game (and the even more bizarre admission of said omission) to technicals that have been rescinded after the fact, NBA fans have been treated to some of the worst officiating in the long, sad history of poor officiating. With that in mind, it seemed only appropriate that KLAC host Chris Myers would wonder aloud to Orlando Magic President Pat Williams whether or not the NBA would fine the Magic for eliminating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. "Here's what I think happened," explained Williams. "The LeBron/Kobe thing has been so visible and so publicized, but unbeknownst to the public, before the playoffs started we were 8-3 with Cleveland over the last three years. Right now we're 11-4 with them over the last three years. I think people also miss the fact — and was underneath the radar screen — that Denver has just put together this marvelous group with this unbelievable chemistry."
Considering that ESPN and the NBA have been pimping the LeBron/Kobe NBA Finals since before the season even started, it does make you wonder what the blow-back will be if that doesn't actually transpire. It's clearly a joke to say the league would "fine" the Magic, but that would seem to be the perfect ending to once of the worst displays of officiating ever. Still, Williams says the referee is an old one. "That's always been the case. I remember my friend, the late Joe Axelson, said that these athletes are so great and so gifted that when you make rule changes or alter the game in any way, they have the ability to adjust. And players do have the ability to adjust. I think the main thing they want is consistency, that the game will be called the same in the early stages as the late stages."
Exactly right. I've been asked a thousand times how to fix the officiating, and my answer is the same every time: a foul in preseason should be a foul in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. If Rajon Rondo hitting a guy in the face is a technical foul, then Kobe Bryant hitting a guy in the face should be a technical foul. Consistent calls solve this problem, and having a couple of challenges for each coach wouldn't hurt, either. And maybe . . .just maybe . . .we could wait until the NBA Finals are actually set before we start handing out the championship rings.
