Good luck with officiating in the WCF

[Venti Quattro]

If you're watching Game 5 right now, that is the kind of shit officiating that San Antonio is going to get against Reflahoma City.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Yeah this is pretty bad. I still can't believe that flagrant on Artest. Besides this series though the reffing hasn't been bad this series. I actually thought the Lakers got a bit of a reffing advantage in game 3. I will say though Harden seems annoying and his flopping will piss me off in the WCF if OKC advances. He's worse than Ginobili has ever been at flopping.

[T Park]

Eh, the NBA had a chance with their mini darlings in lob city and they didn't.

That said I'm sure Durant and Co will get their share of calls.

That said, the Artest flagrant was a bad call, but Artest has only himself to blame for the reputation and calls.

[LakerHater]

Ohh so since youre cryin about officiating you should end your life :lol

[Venti Quattro]

Eh, the NBA had a chance with their mini darlings in lob city and they didn't.

keyword: mini-darlings. You have yet to face THE darlings. They get calls worse than the Heat, the referees allow them as much leeway on moving screens to a point that they're a moving screen training camp, and get away with a lot of flops.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Lakers fans really don't have a right to complain about reffing after 2002...

[dougp]

Eh, the NBA had a chance with their mini darlings in lob city and they didn't.

That said I'm sure Durant and Co will get their share of calls.

That said, the Artest flagrant was a bad call, but Artest has only himself to blame for the reputation and calls.

This. Also, the home team will always get their share of the calls.

[thispego]

What's a laker fan doing bitching about refs and one-sided calls? :lol

[spursfan1000]

Spurs are the least fouling team in the nba. /thread

[dbreiden83080]

:lol

Such a cry-baby....

[Marcus Bryant]

:cry

FTL.

[bobby4germany]

LOL Lakers fan cyring about refs!

[dbreiden83080]

LOL Lakers fan cyring about refs!

Kobe got 40 so it's cool... :lol

[vander]

TP's been getting the superstar treatment so far, reffing might not be too lopsided

[slayermin]

Wait. Didn't the Lakers get 42 FTA's on Friday night?

[Twisted_Dawg]

What is shocking is how the league and refs no longer suck off the Lakers.

[gospursgojas]

OKC gets lots of FT's bc thats their strategy. Part of their gameplan is to draw fouls. Pop knows this and will adjust.

[DJB]

If you're watching Game 5 right now, that is the kind of shit officiating that San Antonio is going to get against Reflahoma City.

Stop it, Venti.

[PublicOption]

the league and stern have a vendetta against Seattle. They are going to make Seattle pay for given them a hard time when they left. What better way than to give OKC the trophy.

[Knoxxx]

Artest deserved the flagrant he shoved with his other hand wtf u idiots watching or is it smoking

[Dingle Barry]

Wait. Didn't the Lakers get 42 FTA's on Friday night?

[dbreiden83080]

Stop it, Venti.

He's in full on whiny little girl mode...

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol comin in here lookin for sympathy

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah, I'm really worried because the way it's going, the Spurs won't get any calls against the Lakers. Wait, wut? The Thunder won? Nevermind, tbh...

[Trainwreck2100]

Does nobody here remember 06 and the mavs? Venti's gonna be laughing at all you haters come sunday

[ElNono]

Spurs don't intentionally foul much... that should reduce the calls a bit...

[Obstructed_View]

Does nobody here remember 06 and the mavs? Venti's gonna be laughing at all you haters come sunday

Pop's going to sit Splitter and Diaw for the series?

[TDMVPDPOY]

with the fakers out of the equation, now they will label the championsihp with asterisk...

wouldnt be asterisk if they were the one winning it....

[TampaDude]

Artest deserved the flagrant he shoved with his other hand wtf u idiots watching or is it smoking

Yeah, it was actually a clean block to start with. He got the flagrant because he followed through with his other arm and shoved the guy hard out of bounds.

[T Park]

Pop's going to sit Splitter and Diaw for the series?

He might if OKC goes with Durant at the 4 a lot....

[jiggy_55]

He might if OKC goes with Durant at the 4 a lot....

That would mean using the same lineup that killed LAC, Parker-Manu-Green-Kawhi-Duncan.. Not a problem at all, IMO.

But I don't see OKC doing that for long periods because it would mean either Ibaka or Perkins out, which means Duncan will absolutely abuse them and Parker will drive into open lane and can get some easy layups.

[Legacy]

A Laker fan complaining about bad officiating? A Laker fan writing about referees helping other team team to win a playoff series?. Is this a joke, right?

[polandprzem]

That said, the Artest flagrant was a bad call, but Artest has only himself to blame for the reputation and calls.

what a bullcrap

[temujin]

Stern badly wants the smallest market in the NBA finals, as opposed to the biggest market.

That's why Bryant shot 51 FTs (To Durant 33).
The Lakers shot 233 FTs (to OKC 219, incidentally #1 team in FTs attempts in the regular season).
And that's why the big physical Lakers committed 188 fouls to OKC 210.

It's outrageous.

[ruxpin810]

another laker fan here, i got your back venti. only reason why lakers shot more free throws and okc committed more fouls is because they had to make up for all the moving screens that got durant, harden and westbrook wide open for their shots, proven by this video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBtSVipBctE

perkins should've fouled out in the 2nd quarter. i guarantee pop is gonna get fined for complaining about this as soon as they lose their 1st game.

[ruxpin810]

How much flopping did the Clips do against the Spurs. Next to none. Why? Because Pop prepares his team for this. And another thing, I guarantee Pop will have Diaw or such push Perkins into this own guy if Perkins keeps on moving and hooking the defender with his arm.

Thanks for the vid, I am sure the Spurs staff will see this and send it to the league's office if someone hasn't already.

yes, i'm hoping they do. if anyone would do it, i know pop will. spurs are definitely the better team and okc's only chance to win is if they let perkins get away with murder like that.

[ruxpin810]

Evans was doing the exact same thing and Diaw or Duncan was just body Evans up and hedging the pick while the defender went underneath and got back infront of their guy.

Look at Gasol and Bynum, most of the time they didn't even run up to set the hedge off the pick. Spurs players do. Spurs didn't have two double digit wins against OKC for nothing both without Manu, Sjax, or Diaw.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/gameflash/2012/03/16/30349_boxscore.html

And if your thinking can the Spurs beat OKC with their Big 3 going off, look now further than the Spurs OKC last meeting minus Splitter (injured), Manu, SJax, and Diaw.

like i said, i expect the spurs to win the series. i'm just agreeing with venti that you might see the same officiating. it doesn't matter if pau or drew didn't hedge, a moving pick is a moving pick. even if the spurs find a way to stop their pick and roll, i'm sure it'll be frustrating to watch perkins moving on all his picks and not called for a foul.

[temujin]

another laker fan here, i got your back venti. only reason why lakers shot more free throws and okc committed more fouls is because they had to make up for all the moving screens that got durant, harden and westbrook wide open for their shots, proven by this video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBtSVipBctE

perkins should've fouled out in the 2nd quarter. i guarantee pop is gonna get fined for complaining about this as soon as they lose their 1st game.

1) Link to Popovich complaining to the media about officiating. He deals these things at another level.

2) Bynum and Gasolio camping in the paint for up to 6 seconds in at least 2 possessions of G4.
3 seconds? Honestly, I stopped counting in second quarters.

Oh, and I hate to quote gallinari, but "Calls? What calls? You hardly get any calls against the Lakers. That's the way it is and everybodu knows that."

[ruxpin810]

1) Link to Popovich complaining to the media about officiating. He deals these things at another level.

2) Bynum and Gasolio camping in the paint for up to 6 seconds in at least 2 possessions of G4.
3 seconds? Honestly, I stopped counting in second quarters.

Oh, and I hate to quote gallinari, but "Calls? What calls? You hardly get any calls against the Lakers. That's the way it is and everybodu knows that."

i don't understand why you guys are getting so defensive, i'm obviously on your side. but now i'm gonna love coming back here to say "i told you so" when the officials screw the spurs in favor of the thunder.

[silverblk mystix]

Laker fan complaining about refs? That's fucking rich.

Artest definitely threw him down with his left hand. I don't know what game you guys were watching. Artest should have been called for about 4 flagrants in game 5 alone. What game were you guys watching?

[dbestpro]

Pop is the best coach ever at not letting his players focus on bad calls and instead keeping their focus on the game. The rest us will complain like hell for them.

[Obstructed_View]

Lakerfan lives in another world where their team only wins when the officiating is hugely in their favor, and anything other is "getting screwed". The Spurs know the secret to winning is to play well enough that the officiating can't hurt them.

[ruxpin810]

if you guys honestly think that officiating has nothing to do with the outcome of games, then you guys are blind. i just ran some numbers and i'm sure you guys would be surprised to hear this. in the 4 championships that the spurs have, they attempted 141 more free throws than their opponents in all 4 finals. in the last 4 championships of the lakers, they've attempted 44 more free throws than their opponents in the finals. the lakers attempted a whopping 12 more free throws than the spurs.

i really am pulling for the spurs but you guys will definitely hear back from me when you guys get screwed by officiating and all the complaints come.

[Keepin' it real]

Luckily for us, the Spurs never worry about the officiating. In fact, they have never even complained about a call, especially Tim Duncan.


http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/blog/assets_c/2011/10/Pinocchio_nose_grows-thumb-350x259-52448.jpg

[Darkwaters]

Wait. Didn't the Lakers get 42 FTA's on Friday night?

Exactly

[tesseractive]

The Spurs know the secret to winning is to play well enough that the officiating can't hurt them.

This. :toast

Pop's categorical refusal to even entertain blaming the refs is one of the biggest strengths of the franchise over the years. Worrying about getting screwed over is not a winning mindset -- breaking down tape on how fouls are getting called in different games until you can figure out how not to rack up fouls in any given game... that's a winning mindset.

The flipside was Phil, of course, but I think his strategy was to go to bat for his guys so that he could tell them to just concentrate on the game instead. Obviously it worked for him.

[temujin]

if you guys honestly think that officiating has nothing to do with the outcome of games, then you guys are blind. i just ran some numbers and i'm sure you guys would be surprised to hear this. in the 4 championships that the spurs have, they attempted 141 more free throws than their opponents in all 4 finals. in the last 4 championships of the lakers, they've attempted 44 more free throws than their opponents in the finals. the lakers attempted a whopping 12 more free throws than the spurs.

i really am pulling for the spurs but you guys will definitely hear back from me when you guys get screwed by officiating and all the complaints come.

Obviously the game is decided by the Refs. No doubt in my mind.
That's actually why you want to be a referee in the first place.
That is EXACTLY my point.
Popovich plays it at ANOTHER level.
Do you know of ANY other small market team that has won not 4, but ONE championship in the Stern era?
The reason is mainly Gregg Popovich. Never complaining with the media (what for?), but with the right people, and pulling the right strings.

LAL doesn't need a Popovich, it's just LA, pure and simple.
And their fans are so used to biased officiating that very mild pro-lakers refs will ring a bell.

[temujin]

i don't understand why you guys are getting so defensive, i'm obviously on your side. but now i'm gonna love coming back here to say "i told you so" when the officials screw the spurs in favor of the thunder.

NBA basketball is, first and foremost, a business.
Could please tell us Why on earth the Refs and the NBA would want to have the team of the smallest NBA market to reach the Finals at all cost???
Business-wise, it makes zero sense.

[Obstructed_View]

if you guys honestly think that officiating has nothing to do with the outcome of games, then you guys are blind. i just ran some numbers and i'm sure you guys would be surprised to hear this. in the 4 championships that the spurs have, they attempted 141 more free throws than their opponents in all 4 finals. in the last 4 championships of the lakers, they've attempted 44 more free throws than their opponents in the finals. the lakers attempted a whopping 12 more free throws than the spurs.

i really am pulling for the spurs but you guys will definitely hear back from me when you guys get screwed by officiating and all the complaints come.

Teams that are aggressive and get to the line win more? You don't say! Great info. Thank you! Must be part of the game or something.

By the way, what does that have to do with "shit officiating"?

[Spurs Brazil]

:cry

FTL.

[ruxpin810]

Teams that are aggressive and get to the line win more? You don't say! Great info. Thank you! Must be part of the game or something.

By the way, what does that have to do with "shit officiating"?

You obviously missed the point because everyone knows getting to the line more doesn't mean you'll win, proven by the lakers/thunder series. I guess I don't know know enough about the spurs/pop to bring up the issue of bad refereeing. jst speaking from observation of the lakers/thunder series so I would expect the same thing for this series so I hope that the spurs/pop do know how to deal with it cuz I would like them to get to the finals.

[Obstructed_View]

You obviously missed the point because everyone knows getting to the line more doesn't mean you'll win, proven by the lakers/thunder series. I guess I don't know know enough about the spurs/pop to bring up the issue of bad refereeing. jst speaking from observation of the lakers/thunder series so I would expect the same thing for this series so I hope that the spurs/pop do know how to deal with it cuz I would like them to get to the finals.

No, I didn't miss your point, which is pretty clear. You think the Lakers got screwed by the officials against OKC (lol) and you brought up free throw attempt statistics to back up your case. The two have absolutely nothing to do with each other. It's not at all surprising that a fan of the team and the player who get more favorable calls than any organization in the history of sports would be in here whining after his team got facefucked.

Here's a novel idea: Ask why your superstar insists on taking a huge volume of low percentage shots every game!

[ruxpin810]

No, I didn't miss your point, which is pretty clear. You think the Lakers got screwed by the officials against OKC (lol) and you brought up free throw attempt statistics to back up your case. The two have absolutely nothing to do with each other. It's not at all surprising that a fan of the team and the player who get more favorable calls than any organization in the history of sports would be in here whining after his team got facefucked.

Here's a novel idea: Ask why your superstar insists on taking a huge volume of low percentage shots every game!

If u think Kobe gets all the calls, you're gonna love durant, Westbrook and harden. And even wit kobe's high volume of shots, he still averaged less free throws per game than 3 players in the playoffs and most likely more in the regular season. And I love how everyone is so defensive even when I'm on your side. I'm sure it's because I'm a laker fan but what has the lakers ever done to you or the spurs for you to hate them so much?

[Obstructed_View]

If u think Kobe gets all the calls, you're gonna love durant, Westbrook and harden. And even wit kobe's high volume of shots, he still averaged less free throws per game than 3 players in the playoffs and most likely more in the regular season. And I love how everyone is so defensive even when I'm on your side. I'm sure it's because I'm a laker fan but what has the lakers ever done to you or the spurs for you to hate them so much?

There you go again. What do field goal attempts have to do with free throw attempts? Kobe shoots a higher percentage of fade-away 20 footers and threes off the dribble than any two players, shots that don't draw fouls for anyone else in the world, yet Kobefan whines because he's only fourth in free throw attempts. :lol

Nobody's defensive but you. I'm sorry that you come in here spouting logical fallacy after logical fallacy and are surprised that people point it out to you. It would perhaps be a good idea to look elsewhere for allies in your "Lakerz wuz scrooed by thuh refs" argument. I know Venti should know better. Now you do too.

[ruxpin810]

I have not said one bad thing about the spurs and you attack me with lakers this and kobe that, how can u tell me I'm the one being defensive? Even spurs fans admitted that the lakers got screwed man. Put down the haterade, I'm on ur side.

[ruxpin810]

I did not whine about Kobe being 4th. I did not once say Kobe didn't get enough free throw attempts. My only complaint was Perkins getting away with moving picks and I expect he will too against the spurs and thats why I agreed with venti. Relax bro.

[ruxpin810]

and how can you say what I said was fallacy when first u agreed with me that the team that gets to the line more win and then laugh cuz you feel that the lakers got the benefit of the whistle in the series but lost? Ur so defensive that you don't even know what ur saying anymore ;-)

[Obstructed_View]

I have not said one bad thing about the spurs and you attack me with lakers this and kobe that, how can u tell me I'm the one being defensive? Even spurs fans admitted that the lakers got screwed man.

:lol Lakers got screwed.
:lmao Lakers got screwed by the officials.


Put down the haterade, I'm on ur side.
Translation: I want to be on your side if you agree that the Lakers got screwed by the officials*.





*:lmao

[temujin]

I have not said one bad thing about the spurs and you attack me with lakers this and kobe that, how can u tell me I'm the one being defensive? Even spurs fans admitted that the lakers got screwed man. Put down the haterade, I'm on ur side.

Lakers got screwed in one single series in their entire history: Boston 2008.
That's it.

One.

On the other side, there might be some 20 series in which the Lakers were handed the vicotry.
Starting with the Denver series, in which Artest should have never ever played G7.

Come here and post that the business-wise irrelevant OKC screwed the lakers thanks to officiating is insulting to common sense.

Lakers are a franchise that is meant to win for all those that lose in everyday's life.
There is a Lakers team in every sport in every country.

[Obstructed_View]

I did not whine about Kobe being 4th. I did not once say Kobe didn't get enough free throw attempts. My only complaint was Perkins getting away with moving picks and I expect he will too against the spurs and thats why I agreed with venti. Relax bro.

Sorry, "bro", I missed how moving picks were relevant when you said this:


And even wit kobe's high volume of shots, he still averaged less free throws per game than 3 players in the playoffs and most likely more in the regular season.

[Obstructed_View]

and how can you say what I said was fallacy when first u agreed with me that the team that gets to the line more win and then laugh cuz you feel that the lakers got the benefit of the whistle in the series but lost? Ur so defensive that you don't even know what ur saying anymore ;-)

Wait a sec...you mean the Lakers got more free throw attempts than the Thunder? Holy shit. I didn't realize that. Totally missed that little nugget earlier.

And you guys still have the balls to come in here and suggest that the refereeing didn't go your way?

Holy shit.

[temujin]

And, in fact, this guy is here with "sympathy" precisely because he thinks the Spurs will win this year.

Classic loser.

You dont' win anything.

WE don't win anything, in fact.
Players win.

[Obstructed_View]

Lakers got screwed in one single series in their entire history: Boston 2008.

Yeah, fucking Joey Crawford is to blame for the 39 point margin of victory in game six.

[ruxpin810]

I only brought up everything you quoted because u brought it up first. If u look at the first page, I posted a video of perkins getting away with moving picks. And look at the first few posts by spurs fan, they said lakers got screwed. I nerve once said lakers got screwed until u brought it up homie ;-)

[ruxpin810]

I'm new to the forum but I bet even spurs fans here hate the 2 of u guys replying to me rite now. Spurs fans, back me up ;-)

[temujin]

We have the lakerized version of KBP.

Are you greek?

[temujin]

Yeah, fucking Joey Crawford is to blame for the 39 point margin of victory in game six.

2008 had Boston written all over the playoffs.

[ruxpin810]

And u dont have to agree wit me that the lakers got screwed for me to be on ur side. I am on ur side but u guys are getting so butt hurt about me even being in ur forum that I'll be laughing if the thunder win the series cuz the only way that will happen is by them getting screwed :)

[ruxpin810]

I don't know who KBP is but I have a feeling we'd get along very well. And no, I'm not Greek.

[ruxpin810]

I do admire u guys for not letting officiating get to u guys. In all honesty, I really hope the spurs can keep playing thru the refs and beat the thunder.

[dunkman]

Indiana Ron did foul that player in the air. Mental World Piece blocked the ball with one hand, with the other he pushed, don't remember who was, Westbrook or perhaps Sefolosha.

That were 4-5 costly points, but the Lakers lost because Durant and Westbrook were able to make very difficult shots down the stretch, while Kobe bricked almost everything, also the Lakers offensive excecution was horrible from mid third. The Lakers offensive sets only produced bad shots.

[Obstructed_View]

2008 had Boston written all over the playoffs.

That's true, though we know now that Rondo is way better than we all thought he was at the time.

Speaking of moving screens, Laker fan couldn't possibly come in here whining about moving picks last round and not mention 2008, but the Celtics have been doing that since Garnett arrived with impunity.

What killed the Lakers most in 2008 was that the most clutch guy in the league was wearing green.

[Obstructed_View]

Indiana Ron did fouled that player in the air. Mental World Piece blocked the ball with one hand, with the other he pushed, don't remember who was, Westbrook or perhaps Sefolosha.

If that were all that was going on by itself that flagrant wouldn't have been called, but then again, it wouldn't have happened. Artest was getting out of control and was getting physical after whistles, pushing and being a nuisance, and he wasn't getting the better of it for his trouble. Everyone watching the game could see his frustration level going up and everyone watching the game knew he was going to commit a flagrant on that breakaway.

[temujin]

Speaking of 2008, Spurs had to play G1 of the WCF 36 hours after the Hornets in G7 in NO.

To the advantage of............
LAkers shouldn't have gotten to the Finals in the first place, in 2008.
So I just loved the screwing of 2008.

[Kidd K]

^ Agreed. And don't forget the no call against Fisher when he tackled Brent Barry. Or the late game ref screwjob in game 1.



If you're watching Game 5 right now, that is the kind of shit officiating that San Antonio is going to get against Reflahoma City.

I knew this well before the playoffs even began tbh. OKC has gotten very favorable officiating since last season really. I can't even count how many times I've watched an OKC game and they've made some "comeback" that has included a TON of free throws and whistle swallowing when they're fouling on defense. Almost every comeback I've seen them make has been ref-assisted.

Whereas when I watch the Spurs, their comeback and runs always happen when the refs stop projecting their dicks into the game to get on tv.

I'm definitely worried about the officiating. I'm honestly worried about the calls more than I am OKC themselves. If the game's called fairly, I'm fully confident SA can beat them unless someone important blows out a knee. So the Spurs are going to have to just play that much better to overcome the inevitable favorable calls OKC is going to be getting even when the games aren't being played @OKC.

That's why I laughed at those OKC fans in the game 3 thread who were complaining about the officiating. As if OKC wasn't going to get a deluge of calls in the next 2 games and rest of the playoffs. :nope

[ruxpin810]

Thank u Kidd k for backing me up. Like I said, spurs are the better team and only way they lose is shady officiating.

[Legacy]

Thank u Kidd k for backing me up. Like I said, spurs are the better team and only way they lose is shady officiating.


Fuk yo "faker well-wishes" clown.

[TJastal]

We'll see soon enough about the officiating. I don't think it will be that bad. Any huge edge that OKC might have will be blunted somewhat due to the incredible run the spurs have put together this year, Pop COY, nabbing the #1 seed, & all the respects and accolades that come with all that.

I will say it's a good damn thing the spurs did nab that #1 seed however. If OKC gets #1 they are the darlings that all the media is talking about for the past month. They'd never admit it, but I think the refs are influenced by whoever the media is backing and/or sucking off.

[ambchang]

Spurs might get lucky and have 42 FTAs in a game.

[Obstructed_View]

Joey Crawford knew he couldn't do anything to the Spurs when they were up 3-0. Hopefully the Spurs keep it that way.

[Spurs da champs]

Lol faker fan complaining about officiating! How hypocritical of you. :rolleyes

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't think the officiating will be much of an issue in Round 3 and I think good teams overcome bad officiating if necessary.

But if it will help the conversation here at all, I'll list out who I think will be working from here on.

I think we know who 5 of the 6 crew chiefs for the conference finals will be:

1. Dan Crawford
2. Joe Crawford
3. Scott Foster
4. Monty McCutchen
5. Derrick Stafford

The 6th will either be Greg Willard or Ken Mauer

If form holds, there will be another 13-14 officials who will work in Round 3 (for a total of 20 or 21; in 2011 there were 21 officials working the conference finals; in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 there were 20).

I think those 13-14 will be:

1. Mike Callahan
2. Bill Kennedy
3. Ed Malloy

Each of those guys worked the 2011 Finals and have worked multiple games in the Second Round in 2012 (Malloy has worked 3 games in round 2; Callahan and Kennedy have each worked 2 games) so I think the odds are substantial that they're working through the conference finals this year.

4. Marc Davis

I separate out Davis here because while he was a Finals official in 2011 and has worked multiple round 3 games in 2009-2011, he had a very shaky round 1 (the Rondo ejection and the Reggie Evans technical foul for a high five), has worked only 1 game in Round 2 and that was last weekend in Game 3 of Lakers/Thunder. Davis may have worked his way out of the playoffs with his performance to date -- we'll see.

5. Bill Spooner
6. Jason Phillips

These guys seem to be locks to work Round 3. Both were alternates during the 2011 Finals. Phillips worked multiple games in the 2011 conference finals. Spooner has worked the conference finals every year since 2009. Spooner was scheduled to work Game 6 of OKC/LAL had it happened (along with Monty McCutchen and Mike Callahan).

7. Tony Brothers
8. Ron Garretson
9. Tom Washington
10. James Capers

As of today, each of these guys has worked 3 games in the conference semifinals (historically, only officials who are going to ultimately work the Finals get to 4 games in this round -- I can find a couple of exceptions, but even those officials ended up working the conference finals). Garretson seems to be a mortal lock; he's worked the conference finals in every year since 1992 (other than 2010, when he was injured). Washington has worked the conference finals every year since 2002. Brothers has worked the conference finals in 2008, 2009, and 2011. Capers was a crew chief for most of the regular season and has worked the conference finals in 2009 and 2010 (he didn't work any playoff games last year; I believe he was injured).

I think it's pretty fair to assume that those officials, in various combinations, will be assigned to Games 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the conference finals. I think the Finals officials will be 12 of those 17.

From there, it's a guessing game as to who will get a chance to appear in Games 1, 2, or 3. There should be some new blood in this group for 2012, if only because Bob Delaney, Steve Javie, and Bennett Salvatore aren't working any more. So, we need 2-3 new officials promoted into the conference finals group.

I've listed 17 officials above; 16 of them worked the conference finals in 2011. Accounting for the 3 retired officials, that leaves two more who worked last year who I haven't named:

11. Michael Smith
12. Zach Zarba

I tend to think that both will work early games in Round 3. Last year, each worked a Game 1 of the conference seminfinals (Smith had Game 1 of DAL/LAL; Zarba had Game 1 of OKC/MEM) and then each worked a Game 1 of the conference finals (Smith had Game 1 of CHI/MIA; Zarba had Game 1 of DAL/OKC). it's iffy, but I'd tend to think they'll get a game.

I also tend to think that the remaining official(s) will come from a group consisting of:

John Goble
Sean Wright
Derrick Collins
Leon Wood
Rodney Mott

Of those, Goble seems most likely, since he has been making his way up the ranks pretty quickly. He worked his first playoff games in 2010, but got multiple Round 2 games in both 2011 and 2012. That suggests to me that the league thinks he's the strongest in this group.

[wildbill2u]

No less an authority than Charles Barkley predicted that the OKC vs. Spurs will be decided by the 'ticky-tacky' fouls that take a player like Parker or Westbrook out of the game.

Why are fouls and officiating even brought up in the context of playoff outcomes?

We know that at least one NBA ref fixed games with calls that helped his gambling. We know that some NBA refs have grudges against certain players. We know that the reason the league changed the playoff compensation plan for the refs to a 'flat fee' from a per game amount was to end the appearance that the refs were controlling the outcome of games to get more pay. Most people agree that in the early years of the NBA/ABA merger the NBA refs stuck it to the ABA teams, especially in the playoffs.

There has long been a perception that the league office let the refs know (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) that it would be best for the business side of the NBA for major TV markets and teams with 'star-power' to win the conference playoff series.

It can be argued that all of these things happened in the 'bad old days' when the NBA was still considered a minor league sport whose championship playoff games were shown on tape-delay as late as 1980. Yes, tape-delay because the afternoon sports like tennis and golf were more popular and drew bigger audiences.

I've been around to see all of the above, so forgive me if I wonder if the best business outlook for the NBA might be the emergence of a new young set of superstars in the finals rather than the Last Stand of the Spurs--and if those considerations might affect the foul calls.

We are one of the best teams in the league at avoiding fouls and Tos for the season. OKC not so good. If the Spurs wind up on the short end of these stats it will be very shaky in my mind.

[ruxpin810]

just wanted to bring an old thread back and hear what excuse you guys might have cuz it certainly wasn't the officiating, right? ;-)

[pad300]

Point to Venti Quattro I believe...

[Budkin]

Venti with the prophetic goods.

[Keepin' it real]

Point to Venti Quattro I believe...

Yes, and it would be ironic if OKC -- the beneficiary of many bullshit calls vs. the Spurs -- suffered the same fate in the NBA Finals, ala Dallas Mavericks 2006 against the Heat. Then OKC fans will scream about the bad officiating and cry that it's not fair and that it cost them the championship ... and Spurs fans will say "Welcome to our nightmare, bitch."

[Legacy]

..."Welcome to our nightmare, bitch."


:lol

[Jimcs50]

If you're watching Game 5 right now, that is the kind of shit officiating that San Antonio is going to get against Reflahoma City.


Prediction of the year.

:toast

[dbreiden83080]

Some of the calls annoyed me in game 6 as well but that is not why they lost. Spurs in game 6 were in the same position they were in games 4 and 5 scrambling to make a comeback in the 4th qtr. This time they blew a big lead which made it worse. Everyone had to know OKC was going to come back last night i was just hoping the 15 pt lead would be around 7 or 8 by end of the 3rd, instead it was 1 with Durant red hot and OKC with all the momentum. OKC just was too young and had too much firepower.. Manu, Tim and yes even Tony can't play huge minutes anymore and maintain their A games. Tony should be able to at just 30 but he didn't show it last night..

[KaiRMD1]

Talk about hitting the nail on the donkey

[dbreiden83080]

Talk about hitting the nail on the donkey

The Lakers are supposed to be the darlings of the NBA if anything the league would fix it so Kobe and his band of clowns were playing Miami.. The dream match up for the NBA is hardly OKC/Boston..

[ruxpin810]

The Lakers are supposed to be the darlings of the NBA if anything the league would fix it so Kobe and his band of clowns were playing Miami.. The dream match up for the NBA is hardly OKC/Boston..

contrary to popular belief, the lakers have never really been darlings of the NBA. and if you bring up game 6 of the 2002 sac series, i will argue with you call for call and prove you wrong. but this is a spurs talk forum, let's keep this about the spurs ;-)

[hater]

We l:cryst because :cryf the refs

[dbreiden83080]

contrary to popular belief, the lakers have never really been darlings of the NBA. and if you bring up game 6 of the 2002 sac series, i will argue with you call for call and prove you wrong. but this is a spurs talk forum, let's keep this about the spurs ;-)

And an OKC fan could argue call for call last night.. So whatever..

[ruxpin810]

And an OKC fan could argue call for call last night.. So whatever..

i didn't see enough of last nite's game so i don't really know if officiating was fairly even. i guarantee it was horrible, since officiating is always horrible in the nba, but it can even out.

[leemajors]

ventrodamus

can't give up big leads tho

[urunobili]

Ventti Quattro deserves a spur TBH :tu

[Out of nowhere goods]

What's a laker fan doing bitching about refs and one-sided calls? :lol

http://wheretowatch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/L.jpg

http://www.clker.com/cliparts/3/F/h/l/W/o/cyrillic-letter-o-md.png

http://wheretowatch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/L.jpg

[ruxpin810]

LOL



kings fan still bitter about 2002 playoffs? you should watch game 6 again and come back here and i can argue calls with you and prove to you that there was nothing shady about that game ;-)

[TE]

^ lol

[ruxpin810]

laugh all you want, there was nothing shady about that game,

http://www.82games.com/lakerskingsgame6.htm