Thunder - Spurs Game 6 Referees

[polandprzem]

Mike Callahan

http://www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Mike+Callahan+Los+Angeles+Lakers+v+San+Antonio+FE2 y9kUEpr1l.jpg



Kane Fitzgerald


http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kane+Fitzgerald+San+Antonio+Spurs+v+Denver+48uuOtf vuhFl.jpg




Bill Kennedy


http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/bill_kennedy_121415.jpg







+
Derrick Collins /tech/

Replay Center: John Goble


FWD if you can ... :)

[BillMc]

I don't follow refs really. Are these good or bad?

[Dex]

I don't follow refs really. Are these good or bad?

If this series has taught me anything, they are all pretty shitty.

You know things are fucked up when you are wishing Joey was back.

[Fireball]

yep ... Joey on the road is what you need right now

[Spur|n|Austin]

If this series has taught me anything, they are all pretty shitty.

You know things are fucked up when you are wishing Joey was back.

:lol that's sad and true

I think Bill Kennedy has usually been decent with the Spurs, not holding my breath though.

[dbestpro]

The problem is there are too many rules in the NBA, which causes the game to be too subjective. Make less rules it will be easier to call the game. Same thing in football, and in life.

[spurs1990]

Well for comparison sakes, Bill Kennedy was one of the refs for the 2012 Game 6 vs thunder.

The other was Joey Crawford.

[Russ]

Anyone but Norm Drucker or Jack Madden.

[TheDoctor]

I don't follow refs really. Are these good or bad?

Bill Kennedy has been a Spurs ally since Pop made this statement after Rajon Rondo's gay slurs against Kennedy:


Why would I be surprised? You see it all the time. It’s unfortunate. It’s disgusting. Bill is a great guy.
He’s been a class act, on and off the court. As far as anybody’s sexual orientation, it’s nobody’s business.
It just shows ignorance. To act in a derogatory way toward anybody in the LBGT community
doesn’t make sense. But surprised? Of course not.

[UZER]

If I'm not mistaken, Bill Kennedy was part of that okc game 6 2012 debacle.

[GSH]

The problem is there are too many rules in the NBA, which causes the game to be too subjective. Make less rules it will be easier to call the game. Same thing in football, and in life.


The problem is that the NBA has rules that would make the game less exciting - fewer highlight reel plays. So they ignore them, most of the time. When they do call one of them, it looks subjective because they've allowed the same thing (or worse) 20 other times in the same game.

The other problem - maybe even bigger - is that the league markets colorful players aggressively, and tries to create superstars who will drive ticket and merchandise sales. Superstars get the benefit of friendly whistles, which makes them even better - and even bigger superstars.

Every player I've ever heard talk about the subject believes that young, unknown players don't get "respect" from the referees. They comment during the games that the young guy "isn't going to get that call against xSuperstarx". You can debate whether it's true, but the guys who play the game sure as hell believe it. If it is true (and it is) it means that there are different rules for different players, and different situations.

Put that all together? The team with more media "superstars" has a decided advantage. Even an extra 4-5 free throws a game is a HUGE advantage over the course of a season. In the playoffs, where all the teams are good, and games are often close at the end? Getting spotted 4 points a game is going to be enough to change most series. It may not be an intentional thing, but the NBA is a product of its own marketing. The Spurs are a small market team, that has had low-profile stars. The fact that they have been able to overcome as much as they have is amazing.

The old saying about the "aggressive team" getting the calls? Only half-true. Most of the time, the players who get the benefit of calls can afford to be overly-aggressive. When you're aggressive and don't get calls, you're fucked.

[Russ]

When you're aggressive and don't get calls, you're fucked.

When you're aggressive and don't get calls, you're actually double-fucked. Because you still do get calls -- just the other way.

[Das Texan]

Really too bad Joey had to retire so soon.

At least that fucker wouldnt be afraid to blow his whistle. Same with Knick Bavetta really.

[Mouth is Bleeding]

Mike Callahan is probably the best in the league. At least ever since Monty has gotten too full of himself.

Bill Kennedy I've watched closely when he's had our games, because he was the ref more than anyone who went completely against us in the infamous 2012 Thunder series, and he has actually been quite Spurs-friendly ever since.

A tight whistle would at least give our stagnated offense hope, though I think it will take more than that, not least some fucking adjustments from POP and of course since their bigs are more physical than ours, getting some calls there would also help.

But as always with the Thunder, more than anything, it's the unusual calls that needs to go where our key defenders out of thin air have their fouls jump up and have shit called against them that have not been called all year.

[FromWayDowntown]

Yeah, this crew reminded me immediately of the crew that had Game 6 in 2012.

That night, the crew was supposed to be Joey Crawford, Bill Kennedy, and (the late) Greg Willard. But that afternoon, Willard -- who was a terrific official -- showed the first signs of the pancreatic cancer that would ultimately claim his life, and the alternate official, Rodney Mott, had to step in.

The dynamic, with the substitution, was this: a really solid (Philadelphia-bred) senior official in Joey, Bill Kennedy, and an official who was really too inexperienced to be calling a game of that magnitude had that game (that Game 6 was Mott's 2nd ever conference finals game -- and to give you some idea, he's only worked 1 conference finals game since, and only 5 conference semifinals games since). Joey is pilloried around here for that game and perhaps rightly so; but my recollection is that the big momentum swings of the 3rd quarter that night came on close plays that Kennedy and Mott gave to the Thunder.

Flash forward to this Game 6 and you have a similar dynamic: a really solid (Philadelphia-bred) senior official in Mike Callahan, Bill Kennedy (again), and an official who is really inexperienced in games of this magnitude in Fitzgerald (this Game 6 will be Fitzgerald's 2nd ever conference semifinals game).

That similarity doesn't strike me as a good thing and the sheer numbers also aren't particularly encouraging -- just about any way you slice them.


CALLAHAN

This is Callahan's 4th game in the 2016 conference semifinals (Game 2 of CLE/ATL; Game 3 of GST/PRT; Game 4 of TOR/MIA). It is his 11th game in the 2016 playoffs, his 181st career playoff game, and his 52nd career game in the conference semifinals. In the 2016 playoffs, home teams are 9-1 with Callahan, including 3-0 in the conference semifinals. Between 2007 and 2015, home teams were 63-39 (.618) with Callahan, including 19-9 in the conference semifinals. Callahan had Game 2 of the SA/MEM series and Game 3 of the OKC/DAL series.

Callahan and Kennedy have called 3 games together in these playoffs: Game 7 of MIA/CHA (Miami home win), Game 3 of GST/PRT (Portland home win), and Game 4 of TOR/MIA (Miami home win). Callahan and Fitzgerald have called 1 previous game together in these playoffs: Game 6 of TOR/IND (Indiana home win).

All-Time, the Spurs are 19-13 in the playoffs with Callahan, but 5-7 on the road and 1-3 on the road in the conference semifinals. The Spurs are 1-2 on the road with Callahan in Game 6's (one of those was Game 6 of the 2013 Finals). The Spurs had Callahan once in 2015 -- a home loss in Game 4 to the Clippers. In 2014, the Spurs were 2-1 with Callahan (won Game 5 at home v. Dallas, lost Game 4 at OKC, won Game 4 at Miami). In 2013, the Spurs were 2-2 with Callahan (won Game 2 v. LAL, won Game 1 v. GST, lost Game 4 v. MIA, lost Game 6 at MIA). Here's a list of all Spurs playoff games with Callahan:


2015 WCFR, Game 4 v. LAC (L)
2014 FINALS, Game 4 at MIA (W)
2014 WCF, Game 4 at OKC (L)
2014 WCFR, Game 5 v. DAL (W)
2013 WCSF, Game 1 v. GST (W)
2013 WCFR, Game 2 v. LAL (W)
2013 FINALS, Game 4 v. MIA (L)
2013 FINALS, Game 6 at MIA (L)
2012 WCF, Game 5 v. OKC (L)
2010 WCFR, Game 2 at DAL (W)
2009 WCFR, Game 4 at DAL (L)
2008 WCFR, Game 1 v. PNX (W)
2008 WCSF, Game 1 at NO (L)
2008 WCF, Game 3 v. LAL (W)
2007 FINALS, Game 1 v. CLE (W)
2007 WCF, Game 1 v. UTH (W)
2007 WCFR, Game 3 at DEN (W)
2006 WCFR, Game 1 v. SAC (W)
2006 WCSF, Game 6 at DAL (W)
2005 FINALS, Game 1 v. DET (W)
2005 FINALS, Game 5 at DET (W)
2005 WCF, Game 4 v. PNX (L)
2005 WCSF, Game 4 at SEA (L)
2005 WCFR, Game 5 v. DEN (W)
2004 WCSF, Game 6 at LAL (L)
2003 WCSF, Game 1 v. LAL (W)
2003 FINALS, Game 4 at NJ (L)
2003 WCF, Game 5 v. DAL (L)
2002 WCSF, Game 4 v. LAL (L)
2002 WCFR, Game 5 v. SEA (W)
2001 WCSF, Game 5 v. DAL (W)

SEA/OKC is 6-6 all-time in the playoffs with Callahan, including 3-1 at home and 2-0 at home in the conference semifinals. Those games were:


2016 WCFR, Game 3 at Dallas (W)
2014 WCFR, Game 2 v. Memphis (L)
2014 WCF, Game 4 v. SA (W)
2014 WCSF, Game 4 at LAC (L)
2013 WCFR, Game 6 at HOU (W)
2012 FINALS, Game 4 at MIA (L)
2012 WCF, Game 5 at SA (W)
2011 WCSF, Game 3 at MEM (L)
2011 WCSF, Game 7 v. MEM (W)
2005 WCSF, Game 4 v. SA (W)
2002 WCFR, Game 5 at SA (L)
2000 WCFR, Game 2 at UTH (L)

The Spurs are 1-3 against SEA/OKC in the playoffs with Callahan (lost Game 4 in 2014 WCF at OKC, lost Game 5 in 2012 WCF at home, lost Game 4 of 2005 WCSF at Seattle, won Game 5 of the 2002 WCFR at home (over Seattle)).

FITZGERALD

This is Fitzgerald's 2nd game in the 2016 conference semifinals (Game 3 of TOR/MIA). It is his 7th game in the 2016 playoffs, his 9th career playoff game, and (as noted above) his 2nd career game in the conference semifinals. In the 2016 playoffs, home teams are 2-4 with Fitzgerald, including 0-1 in the conference semifinals. Fitzgerald had Game 3 of the SA/MEM series (his only career SA playoff game); he has never called an OKC playoff game.


KENNEDY

This is Kennedy's 3rd game in the 2016 conference semifinals (Game 3 of GST/PRT and Game 4 of TOR/MIA (both paired with Callahan)). It is his 8th game in the 2016 playoffs, his 87th career playoff game, and his 21st career game in the conference semifinals. In the 2016 playoffs, home teams are 6-1 with Kennedy, including 2-0 in the conference semifinals. Between 2007 and 2015, home teams were 44-29 (.603) with Kennedy in the playoffs, and 11-7 in the conference semifinals. Kennedy had Game 1 of the SA/MEM series, but has not called an OKC game.

All-time, the Spurs are 8-7 in the playoffs with Kennedy, but 3-5 on the road and 0-2 on the road in the conference semifinals. The Spurs are 0-1 on the road in Game 6's with Kennedy (the aforementioned 2012 Game 6). In 2015, Kennedy called the Spurs Game 5 win at LAC. In 2014, he called their Game 4 win at Dallas and their Game 3 loss at OKC. In 2013, he called their Game 4 loss at GST, their Game 2 win (though not without a whole lot of drama and some really iffy calls) at home over Memphis, and their Game 4 loss at home to MIA in the Finals. Here's a complete list of the Spurs playoff games with Kennedy:


2015 WCFR, Game 5 at LAC (W)
2014 WCF, Game 3 at OKC (L)
2014 WCFR, Game 4 at DAL (W)
2013 WCF, Game 2 v. MEM (W)
2013 FINALS, Game 4 v. MIA (L)
2013 WCSF, Game 4 at GST (L)
2012 WCFR, Game 2 v. UTH (W)
2012 WCF, Game 6 at OKC (L)
2010 WCFR, Game 1 at DAL (L)
2010 WCSF, Game 3 v. PNX (L)
2008 WCSF, Game 3 v. NO (W)
2007 WCSF, Game 2 at PNX (L)
2007 WCFR, Game 4 at DEN (W)
2006 WCFR, Game 2 v. SAC (W)

SEA/OKC is 6-3 all-time in the playoffs with Kennedy, including 5-1 at home and 2-0 at home in the conference semifinals. They're 1-1 in home Game 6's with Kennedy -- the loss was in the 2010 WCFR to the Lakers. Here is a complete list of those games:


2014 WCF, Game 3 v. SA (W)
2014 WCSF, Game 3 at LAC (W)
2013 WCSF, Game 1 v. MEM (W)
2012 FINALS, Game 4 at MIA (L)
2012 WCF, Game 6 v. SA (W)
2011 WCFR, Game 1 v. DEN (W)
2011 WCF, Game 1 at DAL (L)
2011 WCSF, Game 2 v. MEM (W)
2010 WCFR, Game 6 v. LAL (L)

The Spurs are 0-2 against OKC in the playoffs with Kennedy. Along with Game 6 in 2012, the Spurs also lost Game 3 at OKC in 2014.

COLLINS

Though unlikely to see the court tonight, Collins has worked 3 games in this year's playoffs, 20 career playoff games, and 3 career conference semifinals games (including Game 2 of TOR/MIA this year). He did not have any SA or OKC games in the First Round. He has worked 2 previous Spurs playoff games -- Game 1 of the 2012 WCSF (home win over LAC) and Game 2 of the 2007 WCFR (home win over Denver). He has never worked an OKC playoff game.

[polandprzem]

Well Callahan and Kennedy both are gay but IDK if it changes anything?


As for the crew. It does not matter at this point. But I feel like Callahan is good enough along with kennedy but that Fitzgerald ref I remember him being a dick.

[polandprzem]

Yeah, this crew reminded me immediately of the crew that had Game 6 in 2012.

......................................an OKC playoff game.


:worthy:

[FromWayDowntown]

One note of encouragement: much has been made in the last 36 hours or so of the Spurs 2-10 record on the road in elimination games during the Duncan era, but of those 2 wins (Game 6 at Dallas in 2006 and Game 7 at NO in 2008), Callahan was on the crew for the win in Dallas.

A counter, though: of the 10 losses, 2 were with Callahan and 1 was with Kennedy.

[polandprzem]

So the history is against us :)

[TheDoctor]

So the history is against us :)

Never in doubt.

[FromWayDowntown]

As for the crew. It does not matter at this point.

That's true. If the Spurs play well, they'll give themselves a chance to win the game and then it just comes down to execution, no matter what the officials do. With all of the mistakes in Games 2 and 5, the Spurs had completely realistic chances to win both games and didn't make the plays that they needed to make to accomplish that. Good teams overcome bad officiating.

[TDomination]

Man, the fact that were truly worrying about who refereeing this game is just ridiculous. But thats what its come down to. Its just sad.

Spurs need to be up by 10 or more points in the final 2 minutes. The refs will give OKC 5pts i'm sure so we just gotta make sure they don't make the other 5.

[Gervin44Silas13]

Well Callahan and Kennedy both are gay but IDK if it changes anything?


As for the crew. It does not matter at this point. But I feel like Callahan is good enough along with kennedy but that Fitzgerald ref I remember him being a dick.

someone pull down there pants and let him suck ya pipi

lmao

[Obstructed_View]

I don't follow refs really. Are these good or bad?

Kennedy is the worst. Not even close.

[TampaDude]

tl;dr: We're fucked.

[NASpurs]

So which new way are the Spurs going to get screwed over by the refs tonight?

[UZER]

^^Technical foul calls.

[Mikeanaro]

That piece of shit kennedy sucks.

[Mikeanaro]

So which new way are the Spurs going to get screwed over by the refs tonight?
New rule 2x1, every foul is a shooting foul 4 free throws and a public apology of the offender to the crowd.

[itzsoweezee]

I believe home teams have a ridiculous record in the playoffs when Callahan refs. Something like 9-1 this year.

[024]

Saw on Twitter: Playoff home teams are 9-1 with Callahan reffing, with an average win margin of 15.5.

Spurs needed a miracle to win this game and it just got harder.

[Vokun]

lol Y'all are kidding yourselves. Spurs will be in the penalty 7 minutes into the game.

[TheGreatYacht]

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!

NBA trying to end this today, :pctoss

[random21]

Bill Kennedy is that homo ref, right?

[TheGreatYacht]

Mike Callahan and Ken Mauer... Tell me these cock suckers don't look like corrupt reptiles

[Spur|n|Austin]

Saw on Twitter: Playoff home teams are 9-1 with Callahan reffing, with an average win margin of 15.5.

Spurs needed a miracle to win this game and it just got harder.

Well fuck

[poeticism707]

The fix is just like it's been this entire series.

Doesn't matter becausewho is blowing whistles.

[spurtech09]

NBA refs are bad period......

[spurtech09]

The fix is just like it's been this entire series.

Doesn't matter becausewho is blowing whistles.+1

[spurtech09]

Saw on Twitter: Playoff home teams are 9-1 with Callahan reffing, with an average win margin of 15.5.

Spurs needed a miracle to win this game and it just got harder.Today is a new day....Don't dwell on the past.

[dbestpro]

NBA refs are bad period......

The worst of all sports including the WWF if you want to call that a sport.

[hsxvvd]

Well Callahan and Kennedy both are gay but IDK if it changes anything?

Sounds like Richard Jefferson could have been useful in this game.

[tholdren]

The problem is that the NBA has rules that would make the game less exciting - fewer highlight reel plays. So they ignore them, most of the time. When they do call one of them, it looks subjective because they've allowed the same thing (or worse) 20 other times in the same game.

The other problem - maybe even bigger - is that the league markets colorful players aggressively, and tries to create superstars who will drive ticket and merchandise sales. Superstars get the benefit of friendly whistles, which makes them even better - and even bigger superstars.

Every player I've ever heard talk about the subject believes that young, unknown players don't get "respect" from the referees. They comment during the games that the young guy "isn't going to get that call against xSuperstarx". You can debate whether it's true, but the guys who play the game sure as hell believe it. If it is true (and it is) it means that there are different rules for different players, and different situations.

Put that all together? The team with more media "superstars" has a decided advantage. Even an extra 4-5 free throws a game is a HUGE advantage over the course of a season. In the playoffs, where all the teams are good, and games are often close at the end? Getting spotted 4 points a game is going to be enough to change most series. It may not be an intentional thing, but the NBA is a product of its own marketing. The Spurs are a small market team, that has had low-profile stars. The fact that they have been able to overcome as much as they have is amazing.

The old saying about the "aggressive team" getting the calls? Only half-true. Most of the time, the players who get the benefit of calls can afford to be overly-aggressive. When you're aggressive and don't get calls, you're fucked.

It's entertainment. Is it rigged, absolutely. Is it scripted, absolutely not. Same can be said for all sports at one time.

[polandprzem]

Sounds like Richard Jefferson could have been useful in this game.

Well Dick is now with LeBron ...

[.G.]

Definitely entertainment.

Rigged? Meh