I want to make a blanket apology

[RonMexico]

During the game, I was in the blog bitching about the officiating, especially thinking that the Suns were being targeted at the beginning of the 4th.

I apologize, you guys got the short end of the calls in the last 5 minutes and it cost you a legit shot at winning the game.

While I'm happy the Suns won, Shaq got the same treatment he did in LA and I thought the officiating was supposed to improve after the Donaghy situation.

Ginobili and Duncan were fouled repeatedly at the end of the game and the calls were unacceptable on both sides of the ball. The refs lost control of the game early and I'm not very surprised with a crew led by Bennett Salvatore.

[ChumpDumper]

I just want consistency from the refs during a game.

That didn't happen today.

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs didn't deserve to win with how crappy they shot all game. But nice thread nonetheless.

[ShoogarBear]

Hangover must be over. :lol

My rule is, bitching about the refs during the game is always acceptable. After the game, bitching should stop.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

you've gone back to being a good guy :toast


but deep down inside, I know you'll take the win :lol

[SAtown]

The officiating was terrible today; meaning, on both sides of the court. It's still little excuse for the piss poor performance the Spurs showed the last 5 minutes of the game. What seemed like a stranglehold on the Suns turned out to be exactly the opposite.

No excuses

[LA24]

Easy to say since you've won the game. :lol

[BlackSwordsMan]

Troll

[SAtown]

Easy to say since you've won the game. :lol

:lol true, but it's still classy

[MannyIsGod]

Meh.

Duncan missed a wide open layup and another very makeable layup. Manu missed one he usually makes. They got nothing from Finley and Udoka. You don't win games you shoot under 35%.

I will say this though, the late block on KT should have sent Amare to the showers and it wasn't even close.

[batboy]

We have to find the bucket before we start worrying about the refs. But yeah Shaq and LA both scare me from an officiating standpoint. Shaq in LA was a nightmare.

[spursfan09]

I don't like blaming the officials. The Suns played better. Spurs did not play the way they are capable of and lost the game. I also think they lost becasue Shaq poses as a threat in center, and Spurs have to play the Suns with the mindset that they actually have a center now.

[ajh18]

There are very few situations in which superior play wouldn't have made more of a difference than the refs. Yes, the refs sucked. But winners find a way to win. If we were playing our very best, and still got robbed, that would be different. But the Spurs could and should have won despite the bad officiating if they had just made plays. This one is on them.

And I absolutely HATE losing to this team of whining bitches.

[Dre_7]

Refs are no excuse for the Spurs shooting 30 something percent and missing those bunnies at the end. Also the refs are no excuse for the Suns lack of three point shooting.

But they were very inconsistent at both ends.

[td4mvp21]

I feel pathetic now that I see this thread. You should be happy though, the Spurs just pulled off a fucking choke job against a good team that took advantage of it. That's not comforting to me at all. The Spurs maybe could have won had the refs blown the whistles, but they didn't make plays or shots when they needed to! They got no stops either! We still had the advantage in free throws but it's ridiculous that the refs wouldn't call the obvious fouls.

[Harry Callahan]

Bennett Salvatore. Need we say more when he is the senior official. He Freakin blows.

I taped the game, but I won't bother because I refuse to get pissed off today.

Question. Was BS an official in game four of the playoff series last year? The Suns made another illegitimate run at the end of the game (Suns allowed to accost the Spurs players then too) and Horry decided enough was enough on BS calls (he got punched in the back by Bell while trying to rebound) and popped Nash. We all remember the rest of the story.

[RonMexico]

Easy to say since you've won the game. :lol

If we lost, I would have buried this apology inside a 40-page thread with a lot of expletives.

Definitely easier to make the thread after a win.


The Suns' poor 3-point shooting still concerns me quite a bit. They would have kept this game a little closer before Salvatore took over the game if they could have spread the floor (like they've done in the past).

An extra shooter for SA (ahem... Brent Barry...) would have been deadlier.

[JMarkJohns]

Was it really this bad? I mean, short of a "Bibby's nose being called for a foul on Kobe's elbow moment" how much can be done in the final few minutes?

Seriously, I asked in the game thread and didn't see a response. I'm really asking.

[LA24]

Meh.

I will say this though, the late block on KT should have sent Amare to the showers and it wasn't even close.

Yup, that was %1000000 a CHARGE by Amare.

[LA24]

The Suns' poor 3-point shooting still concerns me quite a bit. They would have kept this game a little closer before Salvatore took over the game if they could have spread the floor (like they've done in the past).


Props to the Suns. You guys played real tough and gutsy down the stretch.
:toast

[RonMexico]

Was it really this bad? I mean, short of a "Bibby's nose being called for a foul on Kobe's elbow moment" how much can be done in the final few minutes?

Seriously, I asked in the game thread and didn't see a response. I'm really asking.

It was terrible all around. From touch fouls being called on Bell and Bowen to blatant hacks being ignored, David Stern should issue an apology to all fans who watched this game.

"95% of calls are right" my ass. This game accounts for 10% of all blown calls this season.

[ChumpDumper]

Was it really this bad?The whole game. Yes. That bad.

I wouldn't have taken anything away from the game had the Spurs won either. Los refs' incompetence just had too much influence on the game.

[td4mvp21]

Was it really this bad? I mean, short of a "Bibby's nose being called for a foul on Kobe's elbow moment" how much can be done in the final few minutes?

Seriously, I asked in the game thread and didn't see a response. I'm really asking.

Shaq hacked the fuck out of Ginobili twice in the last minute, and Duncan as well. It wasn't just minimal contact, it was fucking full body contact. I don't know how Shaq gets by with that stuff when no other player in the NBA does. Also, Stoudemire should have fouled out, but instead the ref chose to ignore the fact that Thomas was outside the circle with his feet set. Those were the stuff I had beef with. All of the bad officiating for the Spurs took place in the last 5 minutes of the game. Still, we had our chances and blew it. Too fucking bad for us.

[RonMexico]

Meh.

Duncan missed a wide open layup and another very makeable layup. Manu missed one he usually makes. They got nothing from Finley and Udoka. You don't win games you shoot under 35%.

I will say this though, the late block on KT should have sent Amare to the showers and it wasn't even close.

With Kurt Thomas's good shooting touch and leadership, you get his propensity to pick up odd fouls.

He is definitely a target for the officials out there.

We endured it for 2 years.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I thought there were a couple of no calls that shouldn't have been, but other than that, I thought the Spurs played like crap and THAT's why they lost this game.

[JMarkJohns]

Interesting... I hate when a game feels like it's decided by officiating. It's always hard to delight in it if you're the winner (you still do, but it's not as satisfying) and it makes the loss that much worse for the losing team/fans...

I've been on both sides, so I know how it feels.

[RonMexico]

3-14 3 point shooting.

Can Kerr sign himself to play and still be eligible for the playoffs?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

by the way, congrats on the win Suns. Looks like things might be looking up now

[td4mvp21]

Interesting... I hate when a game feels like it's decided by officiating. It's always hard to delight in it if you're the winner (you still do, but it's not as satisfying) and it makes the loss that much worse for the losing team/fans...

I've been on both sides, so I know how it feels.

The Suns got their fair share of bad calls. I wouldn't feel bad though. The Spurs maybe could have pulled it off if the refs called what they should have, but that's a big maybe considering they fucking choked. I'm so fucking pissed right now at how lackadaisical they played today as a whole. The Suns just capitalized on it. This has been the toughest loss of the season, because we are supposed to be turning the corner and apparently we are NOT. We can't beat good teams consistently and that's what the playoffs are all about.

[Ginofan]

I thought the KT block call was BS as well. But overall...I wasn't that interested in the bad calls as much as I was in the piss poor effort by the Spurs at the end of the game. That's the best you could do to try and close out a game? Ugh!

As far as the Suns go...BFD...good for them. This win probably meant for them than it would have for us anyway.

[rAm]

Interesting... I hate when a game feels like it's decided by officiating. It's always hard to delight in it if you're the winner (you still do, but it's not as satisfying) and it makes the loss that much worse for the losing team/fans...

I've been on both sides, so I know how it feels.


I couldn't have said it better myself

[easjer]

The calls were shit.

Horrible officiating. Pissed me the fuck off (still angry, actually).

But the biggest share of my anger is directed at the Spurs and their shit performance.

Otherwise, I agree with what Chump said.

[Obstructed_View]

Spurs didn't deserve to win the game, but that crew was clueless the entire game.

I still don't know why D'Antoni got himself a technical and got his combover all mussed over a really easy call that they got right.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Officiating is the worst aspect of the NBA because it is horribly inconsistent. What to do about this I have no idea - humans make errors.

The worst calls are coming from the charge-block rule (you used to have to be stationary to get a charge, or have the offensive player try to barrel through you - not any more), and the way they call tick-tack crap on the perimeter, and yet post players can be hammered for no call.

[SAGambler]

Officiating was piss poor. Amare should have been gone. Shaq should have been gone. Nash should have had at least 2 illegal screens against him.

But damnit, the Spurs need to frigging play. I don't understand how you have 5 on Shaq and 5 on Amare and instead of driving to make them foul you, you start jacking up fucking jumpers from 20 feet out. Spurs deserve to lose this one.

And I say again.....Tim Duncan has no goddamn business touching the ball on offense in the final five minutes. It usually results in him getting the ball slapped out of his hand, or him missing a damn layin. I certainly hope when we see the recap, it doesn't start out with "Duncan had a pretty nice game".

Is Finley playing for us or is he playing for our opponents. Sit his ass down for the rest of the season if all he can do is jack up brick after brick.

And the last 2 games Bonner has been hitting from all over and today we get another DNP CD......

This team is fucked if they don't pull their heads out of their asses. Houston would annihilate them right now.

I'm beginning to believe we have no fuckin chance to repeat this year. These guys just don't want it bad enough.

[timvp]

Officiating was relatively good. I've seen a whole lot worse. Spurs got the advantage for the first three and a half quarters and then there was some no-calls at the end. Overall, the Spurs probably got more borderline calls than the Suns.

Suns won. Props. Good gameplan and good execution of said gameplan was the biggest reason PHX came away victorious.

[BonnerDynasty]

No consistency whatsoever.


and the way they call tick-tack crap on the perimeter, and yet post players can be hammered for no call.

This too! It's ridiculous. :depressed

[himat]

I hate when the refs won't call a call on one end and make a make up call later. How about we make the right call? Of course the refs will make a mistake, they are human. That is why there should be a challenge system like the NFL has. There have been some bad calls in crucial times in the playoffs and no one likes to see that.

[remingtonbo2001]

Like timvp said, the officiating wasn't too biased ( both ends recieved their share of shitty calls)

I'm more concerned with Tim missing from point blank range. Hopefully Tim can push through this slump and begin to ready up for the playoffs.

Personally, the only bad thing about this loss is having PrincessPuff prance around here for the next few days.

[Cry Havoc]

Officiating was horrible.

NO excuse for mucking it up on offense. Every other minute we had wide open players and they were not hit for easy points.

[Obstructed_View]

But damnit, the Spurs need to frigging play. I don't understand how you have 5 on Shaq and 5 on Amare and instead of driving to make them foul you, you start jacking up fucking jumpers from 20 feet out. Spurs deserve to lose this one.


There's your game in a nutshell. Add the fact that they just went completely away from the pick and roll with Thomas wide open and you have a well earned L. This is the worst loss of the season in my opinion, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear the S word out of Pop at some point.

[DazedAndConfused]

I knew before the game even started that if things got close they were going to give the Suns the lion's share of the calls. The Spurs shot like shit and Duncan blew some easy shots he usually makes down the stretch. Also the Spurs failed to take advantage of Shaq and Amare's 5 fouls with 4 minutes or so left to go. The refs sucked, but the Spurs sucked harder today. You can't shoot in the low 30s from the field and expect to win against good teams.

[Fabbs]

Spurs may not have played well but neither did the Suns.
Bailed out by the bullshit charge/no charge calls.
Included but not mentioned was Grant Hill barrelling into set D Stoudamire. Our Stoudamire!
Early on Shaq camping in the key for 4-5 seconds and the networks i mean refs felt he needed to be let go.

One thing the Spurs can do is guard the other teams athletic 3s.
Finley gets fried again, this time by Grant Hill.

[Bianconera]

During the game, I was in the blog bitching about the officiating, especially thinking that the Suns were being targeted at the beginning of the 4th.

I apologize, you guys got the short end of the calls in the last 5 minutes and it cost you a legit shot at winning the game.

While I'm happy the Suns won, Shaq got the same treatment he did in LA and I thought the officiating was supposed to improve after the Donaghy situation.

Ginobili and Duncan were fouled repeatedly at the end of the game and the calls were unacceptable on both sides of the ball. The refs lost control of the game early and I'm not very surprised with a crew led by Bennett Salvatore.

The Suns are lucky to have you as a fan. :clap

[jag]

You cant blame this on the refs, but i appreciate the gesture...

If Manu is the only player on the court bringing intensity then we should expect to lose.

[DarrinS]

I don't think the refs were a huge factor in the game.


I'll bet those courtside seats were great until Shaq went mosh pitting.

[Mavs08]

I thought the Spurs played like crap and THAT's why they lost this game.

What game were you looking at? end of half time Spurs are on top. what was your Bipolar Manu stalking ass saying then?

The Spurs lost but you can't say they played like crap. Your a poor excuse for a fan. Your like 98% of this forum who only like the Spurs when they win.

[K-State Spur]

Overall, we got some calls and the Suns got some calls, no real complaints and I don't blame the refs for the outcome. +6 at the line on the road, you can't ask for much more than that.

I am starting to get worried by some pretty consistent refereeing the past month where the officials have allowed defenders to do just about anything they want to Duncan, and only the most extreme gets the whistle. I fear it's starting to get in his head a bit.

[K-State Spur]

What game were you looking at? end of half time Spurs are on top. what was your Bipolar Manu stalking ass saying then?

The Spurs lost but you can't say they played like crap. Your a poor excuse for a fan. Your like 98% of this forum who only like the Spurs when they win.

When your team shoots 35% against a team that has been has been giving up 120/game, that would be an occasion where it's fair to say that your team played like crap.

That said, the Spurs still had the lead with less than 5 minutes left and the Suns came out and made some plays. More power to them, they deserved the W.

[K-State Spur]

The refs sucked both ways..they probably give more calls to the Suns at the end of the game, but the Spurs should have fought through it and kept attacking the basket....Good win by the Suns, let's move on to the Nuggets tomorrow night!

The Spurs had 3 opportunities to make it a 7 point lead (including a wide open Kurt Thomas 12 footer) at around the 4 minute mark, but the Suns held, went the other way Nash hit the 3 to cut it to 2.

I think that was the defining series of the game.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Spurs shot like crap, Pop made some questionable personnel moves, Phoenix played like it was their Super Bowl, we got Salvatored, and you ended up with a seven point win.

BFD.

[RonMexico]

Eh, I just knew I was pissing everyone off in the blog because I was in desperate "Suns fold again on national TV" mode and making every excuse possible.

I'm still not happy D'Antoni didn't use Skinner to save some fouls (and minutes) for Shaq and Amare. And my prediction that we would see the "extent of his bench" with 2:52 left in the first quarter came true. That's when he had Giricek, Barbosa, and Diaw on the floor and they were the only 3 bench guys that played.

I'm hoping he only played Bell 43 mins, Shaq 38 mins, and Nash 37 mins today because he desperately wanted this win and is not something he'll do in the future. Somehow, I think I'm going to keep hoping...

[Doug Collins]

niiice thread

[RonMexico]

niiice thread

Of course, stoned Doug Collins shows up to give us "world class" analysis.

I can't wait until the Maloof brothers fire Theus this year and hire you.

[urunobili]

Emo Thread

[Dingle Barry]

Youre a faggot.

[ancestron]

I've been saying for years they need robotic refs that shock players who argue.