Obstructed_View
04-29-2006, 09:12 PM
I saw this and thought the last paragraph was particularly interesting, as I don't recall having heard Larry Brown or Pop complaining about officials, much less blaming a loss on them outright. Hey, Jordan: Teach your team how to play defense.
This is from AP
WASHINGTON -- As far as the Washington Wizards are concerned, LeBron James' first NBA playoff game-winning shot came with an assist -- from the officials.
And, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said Saturday, what he thinks should have been a traveling call is part of a pattern of James getting protection from referees. He said that's the type of help Washington's own All-Star, Gilbert Arenas, isn't receiving in the first-round Eastern Conference series that Cleveland leads 2-1.
"I'm not going to get fined for saying what's obvious. Everybody sees it," Jordan said after practice ahead of Sunday's Game 4 against the Cavaliers.
"I want to give all the credit to Cleveland, [coach] Mike Brown and his staff and their players, but the truth is the truth. I want our players to understand that we did a lot of things to win the game, and because a travel wasn't called, you don't win the game."
James finished off his franchise playoff-record 41-point performance Friday night by banking in a 4-footer with 5.7 seconds left after moving past Antonio Daniels and drawing contact from Michael Ruffin.
That shot provided the final margin as Cleveland beat Washington 97-96 to reclaim home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series.
"Officials are human, and they see a great move by a great player ... or they see a hop-through move that's a travel, and they say, 'That's a great move by a great player, and it's an exciting move. It's a great finish. We'll let it go.' That's how I look at it," Jordan said.
"Clearly," he continued, "Gil doesn't get the calls that LeBron gets."
Arenas, who missed an open 3-pointer after James' shot, said all he could think about after the game was what he felt James got away with.
"You look at the game tape, you actually see the travel, and then he came down and then he threw the ball up," Arenas said. "That's how they've got to beat us. We feel we're not going to get beat straight up."
Not surprisingly, James said he didn't take too many steps on the play. Asked about it Saturday, he analyzed what happened with the same matter-of-fact demeanor that's made him a superstar at the ripe old age of 21.
"It was a basic up-and-under move ... all big men do in this league. Not too many guards or forwards. That's why a lot of people think I travel," James said.
"I've not seen the play yet, but it doesn't come down to one play," he added. "The game is not won or lost on one play."
Told of Jordan's comments about the officiating, Brown smiled and pulled out a stat sheet.
Then the first-year coach began rattling off various comparisons, noting that Arenas and James have taken the same number of free throws in the series (35), that the Cavaliers have been whistled for nine more fouls than the Wizards, and that Washington has taken 20 more free throws so far.
"Eddie's doing what he needs to do as a coach, by trying to draw attention to LeBron because of the success that LeBron has had so far," Brown said.
Then he wondered aloud whether Ruffin should have been called for a foul on that key play.
And he wondered whether Arenas got a favorable ruling when James was called for a blocking foul on the point guard's three-point play that put the hosts ahead 96-95 with 23.4 seconds left.
"Sometimes you get calls, sometimes you don't," Brown said. "They're both great players."
Jordan's complaint is not a new one, of course.
For years, coaches of teams that faced certain stars -- Michael Jordan comes to mind -- have griped about special treatment from the refs, particularly in the playoffs.
"If the Pat Rileys and the [Gregg] Popoviches and ... the Phil Jacksons and the Larry Browns can say what I'm saying, then that's what I'm saying," Jordan said. "I'm going to stand up for my team."
This is from AP
WASHINGTON -- As far as the Washington Wizards are concerned, LeBron James' first NBA playoff game-winning shot came with an assist -- from the officials.
And, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said Saturday, what he thinks should have been a traveling call is part of a pattern of James getting protection from referees. He said that's the type of help Washington's own All-Star, Gilbert Arenas, isn't receiving in the first-round Eastern Conference series that Cleveland leads 2-1.
"I'm not going to get fined for saying what's obvious. Everybody sees it," Jordan said after practice ahead of Sunday's Game 4 against the Cavaliers.
"I want to give all the credit to Cleveland, [coach] Mike Brown and his staff and their players, but the truth is the truth. I want our players to understand that we did a lot of things to win the game, and because a travel wasn't called, you don't win the game."
James finished off his franchise playoff-record 41-point performance Friday night by banking in a 4-footer with 5.7 seconds left after moving past Antonio Daniels and drawing contact from Michael Ruffin.
That shot provided the final margin as Cleveland beat Washington 97-96 to reclaim home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series.
"Officials are human, and they see a great move by a great player ... or they see a hop-through move that's a travel, and they say, 'That's a great move by a great player, and it's an exciting move. It's a great finish. We'll let it go.' That's how I look at it," Jordan said.
"Clearly," he continued, "Gil doesn't get the calls that LeBron gets."
Arenas, who missed an open 3-pointer after James' shot, said all he could think about after the game was what he felt James got away with.
"You look at the game tape, you actually see the travel, and then he came down and then he threw the ball up," Arenas said. "That's how they've got to beat us. We feel we're not going to get beat straight up."
Not surprisingly, James said he didn't take too many steps on the play. Asked about it Saturday, he analyzed what happened with the same matter-of-fact demeanor that's made him a superstar at the ripe old age of 21.
"It was a basic up-and-under move ... all big men do in this league. Not too many guards or forwards. That's why a lot of people think I travel," James said.
"I've not seen the play yet, but it doesn't come down to one play," he added. "The game is not won or lost on one play."
Told of Jordan's comments about the officiating, Brown smiled and pulled out a stat sheet.
Then the first-year coach began rattling off various comparisons, noting that Arenas and James have taken the same number of free throws in the series (35), that the Cavaliers have been whistled for nine more fouls than the Wizards, and that Washington has taken 20 more free throws so far.
"Eddie's doing what he needs to do as a coach, by trying to draw attention to LeBron because of the success that LeBron has had so far," Brown said.
Then he wondered aloud whether Ruffin should have been called for a foul on that key play.
And he wondered whether Arenas got a favorable ruling when James was called for a blocking foul on the point guard's three-point play that put the hosts ahead 96-95 with 23.4 seconds left.
"Sometimes you get calls, sometimes you don't," Brown said. "They're both great players."
Jordan's complaint is not a new one, of course.
For years, coaches of teams that faced certain stars -- Michael Jordan comes to mind -- have griped about special treatment from the refs, particularly in the playoffs.
"If the Pat Rileys and the [Gregg] Popoviches and ... the Phil Jacksons and the Larry Browns can say what I'm saying, then that's what I'm saying," Jordan said. "I'm going to stand up for my team."