Game 1: Pacers @ Bulls 04/16/11, 1:00 EST

[Rerisen]

I started watching the NBA in the late 80's/early 90's so I can't really compare but most blame MJ for the special treatment of Superstars. Do you guys agree?

I think its more the guys that followed MJ that the league tried to make into him. Early 2000's is when the FT rate really started sparking with guys like Iverson, Tmac, even Paul Pierce averaged 9.5 one year. Ridiculous as those guys weren't as good as Mike nor as aggressive going at the rim, excepting Iverson. Of course culminating with Wade in the 06 Finals.

In any event, Alucryts posted videos of every foul on Rose from Game 1 in the general board game thread. All are legitimate on retrospect, with maybe one quibble, but there was at least one missed against Hibbert that could make up for that as well. Rose just has an uncanny ability to avoid contact, and that actually hurt him from getting calls his first 2 years. Refs rarely call charges if you don't bowl over a guy straight in his chest.

Indy didn't lose because of the refs, they could have won that game if they would have executed the last 3 minutes as well as the first 45.

[Miller4ever]

I think reasonable people would agree with you. I looked at them and my definition of quibble is a little different. I never blame the refs for our failure to do anything in the last minutes of the game, though. This has been a theme all year. We've pulled out more than in the past, but it's still a weakness.

[umfan83]

I think its annoying that the game is structured that you can just fling yourself at the rim and get 2 FTs if you are a superstar. But the fact that A) Rose constantly brakes down defenses and gets to the rim, and B) consistently finishes at the rim even when hes out of control, makes it hard to not give him the call even if he is going to the lane recklessly and out of control.

That said, as much as I liked that the Bulls won, I hated the fact that Rose had to take 21 fts to give the Bulls the win. that's not basketball.