Game 4 Officials

[FromWayDowntown]

Scott Foster
Mike Callahan
Bill Kennedy

Surprised that Kennedy has this game and not Derrick Stafford -- very surprised.

[2centsworth]

Scott Foster
Mike Callahan
Bill Kennedy

Surprised that Kennedy has this game and not Derrick Stafford -- very surprised.

good, bad or indifferent?

[100%duncan]

Fuck Bill Kennedy.

[Solid D]

Bill Kennedy may be a problem. Generally, I look at Foster and Callahan and think "play-on, no foul". Kennedy manages the game different. He makes his presence known with some very strange calls...at momentum changing times.

[FromWayDowntown]

I think this is probably a good crew for Miami.

I expect a lot of boos tonight from Spurs fans.

[50 cent]

I don't remember which game this group had earlier in the Playoffs, but I remember that it was one of the worst officiated games of these Playoffs.

[dbestpro]

Kennedy leans to media expectations.

[easjer]

Having to play 5v8 should have been expected no matter what. We saw last game that if they (the Spurs) perform well, the Spurs can make the refs a non-factor. If they (the Spurs) want the 3-1 lead, they'll play well enough to earn it. They should expect precisely how Miami will respond. We saw the clear game plan play out in game 2.

[50 cent]

This is the exact crew that called Game 2 of the WCF between the Spurs and Grizz. The Spurs ended up winning that game, but it was probably the most poorly reffed game to that point of the Playoffs. I remember being frustrated with it even after winning the game.

This was the game where Duncan got in early foul trouble, his 5th foul was absolutely ridiculous, and the Grizz were in the penalty WAY early in almost every quarter. This is also the crew that reviewed Tony Allen's Oscar winning performance and decided that it still warranted a flagrant to give the Grizz a chance to come back and tie the game to send it to overtime.

Definitely the worst reffed game of the Playoffs from the Spurs perspective.

[TheGreatYacht]

Alright Spurs fans this is terrible news. Bill Kennedy is the Spurs worst enemy. He robbed us last year from the NBA finals when he officiated Game 6 of the 2012 WCF @ OKC.

Bill Kennedy and Scott Foster officiated this year's Game 4 @ Golden State. That was the game where the Spurs beat themselves and the refs added the cherry on top.

Bill Kennedy and Scott Foster also officiated Game 2 @ San Antonio vs Memphis. That was the game where the Spurs had a 15 point halftime lead and the game was looking like a blowout. Then the refs took over by putting Memphis in the bonus early in the 3rd quarter. Tim Duncan got in foul trouble and Memphis made a comeback. Spurs ended up winning in overtime thanks to Tim Duncan cluthing it in overtime due to all the rest he got because of foul trouble.

Scott Foster also officiated Game 7 of Heat vs Indiana. This game is never talked about because the Heat won in blowout fashion but the game was terribly officiated. The Heat got every single call on that game.

Scott Foster was also the one that officiated Game 2 of Heat vs Chicago. That was the game where Scott Foster ejected Joakim Noah and Tosh Gibson. Foster handed out like 6 technical fouls for the game.

I hate to say this Spurs fans but the Spurs will have to overcome these ref$. The fix is on. This game is a must win for the Heat. $tern sent out his best crew for this game. Good luck Spurs and I hope that our team can pull it out.

[capek]

Having to play 5v8 should have been expected no matter what. We saw last game that if they perform well, the Spurs can make the refs a non-fiction. If they want the 3-1 lead, that'll play well enough to earn it. They should expect precisely how Miami will respond. We saw the clear game plan play out in game 2.

That confused my whole brain.

Anyways the refs are totally moot if Lebron continues to play with a severely bruised vulva and can't make a jump shot. I think Tony's health and Lebron's jump shot are the two main issues for how this game turns out, with the refs a very distant third.

[easjer]

Sorry, posting from my kindle. The autocorrect and predictive text is a bitch and I didn't proof read. Mea culpa. Editing now.

[capek]

Sorry, posting from my kindle. The autocorrect and predictive text is a bitch and I didn't proof read. Mea culpa. Editing now.

:lol It was just a chance for me to use my new favorite English sentence and nothing else. ;)

[BillMc]

So more aggressive LeBron + refs who like to call tic tac fouls. Looks like a tough night ahead for Duncan and Leonard.

[Kidd K]

Jesus, Bill Kennedy AND Scott Foster? They're the dynamic duo of terrible officiating. All we would need is Joey Crawford to complete the terrible trio.

I expect the Heat to easily net their most FTAs of the series tonight. possibly even 30+ if they need it, while the Spurs will be lucky to crack 2/3rds what the Heat get. If we even crack 20, most will be shot by our worst free throw shooters like Splitter, while our good ones like Parker will get fouled repeatedly but no whistle will be blown.


This is the exact crew that called Game 2 of the WCF between the Spurs and Grizz. The Spurs ended up winning that game, but it was probably the most poorly reffed game to that point of the Playoffs. I remember being frustrated with it even after winning the game.

This was the game where Duncan got in early foul trouble, his 5th foul was absolutely ridiculous, and the Grizz were in the penalty WAY early in almost every quarter. This is also the crew that reviewed Tony Allen's Oscar winning performance and decided that it still warranted a flagrant to give the Grizz a chance to come back and tie the game to send it to overtime.

Definitely the worst reffed game of the Playoffs from the Spurs perspective.

Isn't that the one where they called three fouls on Duncan in literally 30 game seconds, and all but one of them were phantom fouls and the other was inadvertant contact? Then later, barely a minute after coming back after being forced to sit for over half an hour by that bogus deluge of calls, they whistle another bullshit call to make him sit again?

Yeah, not looking forward to to the whistles tonight.

[Phenomanul]

This is the stuff that should be given to someone like Bill Simmons...

[Mugen]

Bill Kennedy is bad news tbh. Let's hope the Spurs can have another record-setting shooting night to offset this crew.

[Creation88]

fuck Bill Kennedy. he is the absolute worst. look for 50+ free throws tonight.

[temujin]

Kennedy was the real bitch in G6 of the 2012 WCF, more than Crawford.
He also "maneuvered" a couple of games at the Olimpics.

I'd say rest Parker, tonight.
If Spurs are in G3-mode, it might be sufficient.

[Creation88]

look for Lebron to finally get to the line tonight....he'll shoot a minimum of 16 FTs.

[Fireball]

I am concerned by all these comments ... wow, obviously Stern sends in his top dogs to extend this series

[50 cent]

* Spurs are 1-4 in their last 5 games with Foster as Crew Chief. (Above mentioned game WCF Game 2 was the only win despite the refs screw job)
* Heat are 12-0 in their last 12 games with Foster as Crew Chief and 23-4 in the LeBron era in games officiated by Foster.

Tim Donaghey is the godfather to Foster's kid. This is from the table of contents of the FBI investigation into the NBA refs scandal with Tim Donaghey. Scott Foster had 8 pages devoted to him.

http://i.imgur.com/GXMELbh.png

[timvp]

Yeah, this isn't good news.........

[cutewizard]

If the Spurs do not win the NBA title this year (as they should, since they deserve it).....that's it, ill cease to be an NBA basketball fan......

because that means the NBA is rigged, >>> a shameful business.....not worth my time

there are other sports that can occupy my time,......

[FromWayDowntown]

This is the 9th Finals game for Scott Foster, who has worked every Finals since 2008 and is one of only 5 active officials to have also worked a Finals Game 7 (along with Joey Crawford, Danny Crawford, Dick Bavetta, and Eddie F. Rush). This is the 13th Finals game for Callahan (who has worked all but one Finals since 2003 (he missed in 2008)) and the 5th Finals game for Bill Kennedy.

Game 4 will be the 11th Playoff game that Scott Foster and Bill Kennedy have worked together in 2013; Foster has worked all of the games that Kennedy has worked and has only worked 2 games without Kennedy (Game 2 of MIA/CHI and Game 7 of MIA/IND). Foster and Callahan have only worked one game together in these playoffs -- Game 7 of MIA/IND. This crew, as that would suggest, has not worked a game together in these playoffs.

SPURS
Scott Foster
1-1 in 2013 Playoffs (L at GST (Gm. 4); W v. MEM (Gm. 2)); 10-6 all-time (3-2 in the last 2 playoff years); 5-3 all-time at home
home teams are 8-4 in the 2013 playoffs with Foster

Mike Callahan
2-0 in 2013 Playoffs (W v. LAL (Gm. 2); W v. GST (Gm. 1)); 16-9 all-time (2-1 in the last 2 playoff years); 12-4 all-time at home
home teams are 9-2 in the 2013 playoffs with Callahan

Bill Kennedy
1-1 in 2013 Playoffs (L at GST (Gm. 4); W v. MEM (Gm. 2)); 5-5 all-time (2-2 in the last 2 playoff years); 4-1 all-time at home
home teams are 6-4 in the 2013 playoffs with Kennedy

MIAMI
Foster
3-1 in 2013 Playoffs (W at MIL (Gm. 3); W v. CHI (Gm. 2); L v. IND (Gm. 2); W v. IND (Gm. 7)); 15-5 since 2004 (11-3 in Big 3 era); 6-3 on road (4-1 in Big 3 era)

Callahan
3-0 in 2013 Playoffs (W v. CHI (Gm. 5); W at IND (Gm. 3); W v. IND (Gm. 7)); 14-3 since 2004 (9-2 in Big 3 era); 5-2 on road (3-2 in Big 3 era)

Kennedy
1-1 in 2013 Playoffs (W at MIL (Gm. 3); L v. IND (Gm. 2)); 5-5 since 2005 (4-4 in Big 3 era); 2-3 on road (2-3 in Big 3 era)

[Creation88]

there was horrendous officiating in G3....Spurs will just have to play with the lead and not let the officials dictate the game....like we did in G3.

[TheGreatYacht]

If the Spurs do not win the NBA title this year (as they should, since they deserve it).....that's it, ill cease to be an NBA basketball fan......

because that means the NBA is rigged, >>> a shameful business.....not worth my time

there are other sports that can occupy my time,......DITTO... If this game's outcome is decided by the refs, if the game is horribly officiated like the 2002 Game 6 WCF of Lakers vs Sacramento or the 2012 Game 6 WCF of Spurs @ OKC then I am forever done with basketball unless the Spurs still manage to win it all despite the ref$.

[temujin]

I am concerned by all these comments ... wow, obviously Stern sends in his top dogs to extend this series

Any businessman would do it.
Nothing outrageous, just a little help.
It's up to the Heat to grab it.

[SA210]

* Spurs are 1-4 in their last 5 games with Foster as Crew Chief. (Above mentioned game WCF Game 2 was the only win despite the refs screw job)
* Heat are 12-0 in their last 12 games with Foster as Crew Chief and 23-4 in the LeBron era in games officiated by Foster.

Tim Donaghey is the godfather to Foster's kid. This is from the table of contents of the FBI investigation into the NBA refs scandal with Tim Donaghey. Scott Foster had 8 pages devoted to him.

http://i.imgur.com/GXMELbh.png


:pctoss

[polandprzem]

At this point no ref is good for the spurs :lol

[TheGreatYacht]

At this point no ref is good for the spurs :lolI know that but Bill Kennedy and Scott Foster are the WORST that the NBA has to offer. These guys are crooked. The fix is in. Spurs better play the game of their life if they want to win this game. Lets hope that Lebron has listened to the media and decides to jack up perimeter shots. Spurs should protect the paint and keep daring Lebron and Wade to shoot long perimeter shots.

[Budkin]

Fuck.

[cutewizard]

DITTO... If this game's outcome is decided by the refs, if the game is horribly officiated like the 2002 Game 6 WCF of Lakers vs Sacramento or the 2012 Game 6 WCF of Spurs @ OKC then I am forever done with basketball unless the Spurs still manage to win it all despite the ref$.




:lobt2:only this shall satisfy us, go Spurs go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[50 cent]

I sent all this info to Buck Harvey, Jeff MacDonald and Bill Simmons. Would be nice if somebody got out in front of the screw job to force the NBA to call this fairly.

[TheGreatYacht]

I sent all this info to Buck Harvey, Jeff MacDonald and Bill Simmons. Would be nice if somebody got out in front of the screw job to force the NBA to call this fairly.Haha I'd love that. Great idea.

[SupremeGuy]

I sent all this info to Buck Harvey, Jeff MacDonald and Bill Simmons. Would be nice if somebody got out in front of the screw job to force the NBA to call this fairly.Looks like this is our only option, tbh.

[GrandeDavid]

The Spurs will have to overcome some likely biased officiating. Its a borderline must win for the Cheat. What else is new?

[TE]

Son of a bitch.


:pctoss:pctoss:pctoss

[BillMc]

That Game 6 last year against OKC we couldn't get a call was reffed by Kennedy.....Not again! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

[T Park]

Play well they mean nothing. Refs don't win or lose you games.

[TE]

That Game 6 last year against OKC we couldn't get a call was reffed by Kennedy.....Not again! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
I seriously don't know how that moron still has a job after being outed as a company man and that Game 6 travesty.

[ducks]

it might be a game james goes off because of foul trouble

[DOS CHAINZ]

At this point no ref is good for the spurs :lol

THIS:lol

[timtonymanurich]

Looks like the Spurs will have to do what they've done in each of their 2 games they've WON: PLAY ABOVE THE OFFICIATING.

I have faith. I have confidence. We can still win tonight. It's too important NOT to win tonight. If the Spurs win, we box this series up in SAN ANTONIO in G5.

[FromWayDowntown]

I actually think the officiating has been a non-factor in this series so far. Game 1 was exceptionally well-called (and well-played; gee, I wonder if there might be some correlation?). The blowouts in Games 2 & 3 didn't come to pass because of calls or non-calls -- certainly, the teams that won each of those games played extremely well for a sustained stretch of the game to blow it open as the other struggled and neither the good play nor the struggle in either case seemed to be caused by questionable officiating. Even when the games got out of reach, there wasn't the usual onslaught of iffy calls to try to get the trailing team back in the game. That's not to say that there haven't been questionable calls at times, but on the whole, I think the officials have been pretty good so far.

[Cry Havoc]

I actually think the officiating has been a non-factor in this series so far. Game 1 was exceptionally well-called (and well-played; gee, I wonder if there might be some correlation?). The blowouts in Games 2 & 3 didn't come to pass because of calls or non-calls -- certainly, the teams that won each of those games played extremely well for a sustained stretch of the game to blow it open as the other struggled and neither the good play nor the struggle in either case seemed to be caused by questionable officiating. Even when the games got out of reach, there wasn't the usual onslaught of iffy calls to try to get the trailing team back in the game. That's not to say that there haven't been questionable calls at times, but on the whole, I think the officials have been pretty good so far.

I thought the officiating helped Miami get some momentum toward their blowout in game 2. However, that was nothing out of the ordinary and seemed to be nothing more than regular home cookin', which is not great but unrealistic. I thought Q2 of Game 3 was pretty questionable, but our guys showed that they're capable of overcoming it with aggression (and crazy shooting).

Overall I'd say the officiating has been good, which is fantastic by usual NBA standards.


Really, really concerned about tonight though.

[SpursDynasty21]

It's sad when the refs determine the outcome of the game.

[SpurPadre]

When you add all this to Lebron guaranteeing to be more aggressive tonight and you're looking at a potential Finals record for Free Throw Attempts by a single player.

[DesignatedT]

Great. This is a horrible fucking crew.

[james evans]

Alright Spurs fans this is terrible news. Bill Kennedy is the Spurs worst enemy. He robbed us last year from the NBA finals when he officiated Game 6 of the 2012 WCF @ OKC.

Bill Kennedy and Scott Foster officiated this year's Game 4 @ Golden State. That was the game where the Spurs beat themselves and the refs added the cherry on top.

Bill Kennedy and Scott Foster also officiated Game 2 @ San Antonio vs Memphis. That was the game where the Spurs had a 15 point halftime lead and the game was looking like a blowout. Then the refs took over by putting Memphis in the bonus early in the 3rd quarter. Tim Duncan got in foul trouble and Memphis made a comeback. Spurs ended up winning in overtime thanks to Tim Duncan cluthing it in overtime due to all the rest he got because of foul trouble.

Scott Foster also officiated Game 7 of Heat vs Indiana. This game is never talked about because the Heat won in blowout fashion but the game was terribly officiated. The Heat got every single call on that game.

Scott Foster was also the one that officiated Game 2 of Heat vs Chicago. That was the game where Scott Foster ejected Joakim Noah and Tosh Gibson. Foster handed out like 6 technical fouls for the game.

I hate to say this Spurs fans but the Spurs will have to overcome these ref$. The fix is on. This game is a must win for the Heat. $tern sent out his best crew for this game. Good luck Spurs and I hope that our team can pull it out.
umm, crawford was officiating that game too last year

[Homeland Security]

I actually think the officiating has been a non-factor in this series so far. Game 1 was exceptionally well-called (and well-played; gee, I wonder if there might be some correlation?). The blowouts in Games 2 & 3 didn't come to pass because of calls or non-calls -- certainly, the teams that won each of those games played extremely well for a sustained stretch of the game to blow it open as the other struggled and neither the good play nor the struggle in either case seemed to be caused by questionable officiating. Even when the games got out of reach, there wasn't the usual onslaught of iffy calls to try to get the trailing team back in the game. That's not to say that there haven't been questionable calls at times, but on the whole, I think the officials have been pretty good so far.

The last Spurs game I can think of where the officiating got really strange and helped get the trailing team back in the game was WCF Game 2.

[Jenks]

Not nearly as bad as Joey Crawford and Ed Malloy, but then again we lost that game by 20.

[TheGreatYacht]

Not nearly as bad as Joey Crawford and Ed Malloy, but then again we lost that game by 20.Are you kidding me? Read some of the comments on this thread for a little history about these refs.

[Jenks]

Are you kidding me? Read some of the comments on this thread for a little history about these refs.
I'm very aware of the history with all four.

[Knoxxx]

Just watched first half of Game 3 again on NBA TV. I had thought we were screwed by refs late in the half, but largely we were our own worst enemy with sloppy play, turnovers and Miller 3s. If the fix was on the refs would have called a phantom foul against Green when he blocked LeBron, leading to the fast break stop on a dime 3 by neal to end half.

[MeloHype]

:depressed

[TheGreatYacht]

Bill Kennedy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GgvaUks0U4

Mike Callahan


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTBZ2KR0xEw

Scott Foster


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTppJTGf_Oo http://www.nba.com/2012/news/02/07/blazers-goaltending.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

[TheGreatYacht]

Scott Foster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8TAxAFOA4c

Bill Kennedy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjxFgXse5oo

[hsxvvd]

Play well they mean nothing. Refs don't win or lose you games.

Very difficult to play well from the bench when your in foul trouble.

[50 cent]

Bill Kennedy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjxFgXse5oo

:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang

:depressed:depressed:depressed:depressed:depressed :depressed

:pctoss:pctoss:pctoss:pctoss:pctoss:pctoss

:deadhorse:deadhorse:deadhorse:deadhorse:deadhorse :deadhorse

[50 cent]

TBH, the officiating was atrocious in the 1st half of Game 3. Everything went Miami's way. We just played well enough that it didn't matter. Need to do that again tonight.