Game 5: Los Angeles Clippers (2) vs San Antonio Spurs (2)

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I tired to post this earlier this morning but I was having problems with my tablet. I only watched the 1st quarter since I had to get up early this morning. My son kept getting up last night so when I checked the score we were tied going into the 4th quarter. I was hoping that we'd win, when I checked again I saw that we had lost. I heard that we were close again, but we missed a bunch of 3s & free throws. Plus DJ touched the ball that was on the cylinder, or that's how it was called since I didn't see it. I really thought that we could win this game. Well now we need to win the next two games to save our season.

I nominated Matt earlier since we've won when he's made the game threads. I also wanted to point out that both our wins have come on Sundays. I'll definitely be watching the game tomorrow night, and I wasn't going to miss Game 6 regardless of a win or loss from Game 5.

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/TimDonaghy2/status/593381637733351424[/tweet]

what's the story here?

Long-time Doc Rivers nemesis Bill Kennedy assigned to officiate tonight's Game 3

Working tonight's pivotal Game 3 against the Miami Heat at the Garden will be a veteran crew of Steve Javie, Bob Delaney and noted Doc Rivers' nemesis Bill Kennedy. Rivers and Kennedy have had an acrimonious relationship for years. Both were fined following a game on March 17, 2009. Kennedy ejected Rivers after they stared each other down for an extended period of time.

Rivers was fined $25,000 by the NBA for his critical comments of Kennedy after the game. In an unusual move, Kennedy was fined for his handling of the situation and the news was made public, though the amount was undisclosed.

“[Kennedy] stood there and goaded me and goaded me and goaded me and stared at me,” Rivers said after the game. “Look at the film. I actually walked away. He asked me, ‘Where do you want the ball?’ And I said, ‘Ask them,’ talking about our players. That’s my right to say that, and I walked away. He stood there and stared me down and stared me down and goaded me until I turned around and said, ‘What?’ That’s when I got thrown out of the game.”

Disgraced referee Tim Donaghy, obviously not the most credible source, claimed to know the root of the ill will during an interview with the "Celtics Late Night Show" podcast last March. According to Donaghy, the beef has deep roots, with Rivers questioning Kennedy's sexuality during a game. Read Donaghy's comments here.

Dan Duggan, Boston Herald, May 7, 2011

[Ranma]

I got an idea. Why doesn't the league stop assigning biased referees with axes to grind to games involving players and coaches they have a grudge against, especially in the postseason? You know, for the sake of impartiality. At least do that until you can churn out some competent refs to officiate NBA games.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/593528370165485571[/tweet]

[Neddy]

tough, tough loss. we now have 2 games we should have won. however this one is on the refs. 2 calls that stick out are the travel on blake and the no basket on matt's shot. the nba has to look at having a contested call or instant replay rule. you can not have a game of this importance be decided by so many missed calls. I love the nba but this is very disturbing and it appears to be getting worse. this has to be having an impact on the creditability of the league. I am an old guy who has been watching the nba for over 50 years and I am totally at a loss by this. I wonder how some players continue to take it.

after weathering the storm of Tim Donaghy and that memorable 2001 western conference finals game #6 where Lakers players can punch kings players with no repercussions and them getting 67 or whatever the number of free throws for blowing air into Kobe's direction, I think it's safe to say the NBA knows its credibility issues do not hinder their business model.

after all, if they cared about having credibility of clean, fair game calling league, they wouldn't be officially teaming up with gambling sites like the draftking. I've been saying it for a long time but I'll say it again. NBA is rigged. always has been since David Stern found ways to make the league a revenue streaming machine in the 90s. it is not WWE fixed, or fixed everyday, for every game, but the game can be heavily tilted, if the power to be wishes to... whenever they want.

just gotta hope they want the game 7 to happen, and the refs call 7:3 leaning on our way. we just got to go out there and play our game. if there is game 7, I doubt the power to be care which team moves up the next round. Spurs carry an enormous international viewing ship, but those numbers for french and other countries will always watch the games their countrymen are in. the LA market on the other hand, is a monster basketball market. converting most of the casual fans and some of the flaker fans into clipper fans plus a legion of youth who will choose whichever the winning team today, is far more lucrative if not equal to.

[mattd13]

as sad as it is I have to agree with you neddy. this reminds me of the dallas and Miami series when stern and Cuban were at odds and the refs basically gave the series to Miami by sending wade to the free throw line time and time again. i was devastated at the corruption at the time. basketball is such a wonderful game it is a shame to see it evolve to this disgraceful place