Crawford's ruling upsets Spurs' Popovich

[crc21209]

By Mike Monroe
[email protected]

NEW ORLEANS — Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday he would contact NBA vice-president of basketball operations Stu Jackson about what he believed was an incorrect interpretation of the rules by referee Joey Crawford near the end of the first quarter of Tuesday’s game.
Both teams were called for delaying the game by Crawford while the Hornets’ Melvin Ely was at the free-throw line with 10.5 seconds left in the period. Hornets players Bonzi Wells and David West went back and forth across the lane trying to decide where to line up, and the Spurs adjusted each time. When Crawford called a delay of game on both teams, Popovich protested.

His protest continued between the quarters, and he was given a technical foul by Crawford, who appeared to poke his finger in Popovich’s chest during the argument.

“I believe the official was incorrect. We’ve gone through this before a couple of years ago in our Sacramento series, and it happened to be with Bonzi (Wells). The team that’s shooting the free throw has to make the first choice about where they’re gong to be placed. So the delay of game should be on that team, not on both.”

[Cry Havoc]

Joey Crawford fucking up a game?

Really?

You don't say?

[Princess Pimp]

:cry

[timvp]

Thanks, Pop, for fighting against that double delay of game. That's definitely a major call that should be protested.
















:sleep

[cly2tw]

Too bad you guys lost the game because of the refs. ;)

[Princess Pimp]

Thanks, Pop, for fighting against that double delay of game. That's definitely a major call that should be protested.


















:sleepI thought you said Ceawford was ok if he reffed Game 5?

[Princess Pimp]

Too bad you guys lost the game because of the refs. ;)
They lost it because they couldn't make shots in the third quarter.

[timvp]

I thought you said Ceawford was ok if he reffed Game 5?Were you dropped on your head as a youngin'?

[Fillmoe]

Popovich should stop worrying about contacting the league and start worrying about winning game six.

[Princess Pimp]

Were you dropped on your head as a youngin'? Apparently you did, because always think you are right, obviously not!

Fucking Dork!

[timvp]

Apparently you did, because always think you are right, obviously not!

Fucking Dork!I dropped you?

I apologize.

[Princess Pimp]

Noooo Idiot, you the one who were dropped! Dorky dork....

[Emeyin]

Yeah that was really stupid to piss off the refs like that early in the game over something trivial. :bang

[Ginofan]

If you want to protest a call Pop, protest that double tech!

[Pero]

I dropped you?

I apologize.

:lol

[manufor3]

Joey Crawford fucking up a game?

Really?

You don't say?

:lol:lol:lol

[manubili]

:lol Princess Pimp is the only one who can make me smile on a sad day like today, thanks Pimp!

[DubMcDub]

Why in the hell did Pop waste so much energy protesting that call? The ONLY way getting a delay of game matters is if you get another one in the same game, and the odds of it happening again were, what, maybe 1%?

Pop must have just been taking it personal with Joey, because there is no reason to expend so much time and effort arguing a call that has no effect on the game.

[Obstructed_View]

Why in the hell did Pop waste so much energy protesting that call? The ONLY way getting a delay of game matters is if you get another one in the same game, and the odds of it happening again were, what, maybe 1%?

Pop must have just been taking it personal with Joey, because there is no reason to expend so much time and effort arguing a call that has no effect on the game.

Agreed. That's just stupid. If you aren't going to argue the bullshit double technical, then why are you wasting time on something so meaningless?

[wildbill2u]

Joey shouldn't have put his hands on Pop. That finger in his chest is a no no because it has the effect of escalating an argument.

[ballhog]

Joey shouldn't have put his hands on Pop. That finger in his chest is a no no because it has the effect of escalating an argument.

I think that's what set him off and he thought is was a good time to go off.

[DarrinS]

Retarded move by Pop that accomplished zilch.

[SAGambler]

His protest continued between the quarters, and he was given a technical foul by Crawford, who appeared to poke his finger in Popovich’s chest during the argument.

"Appeared" my ass. He poked him a couple of times. Pop should file assault charges against Crawford and put and end to his ref career right now. I'm sick of watching that egotistical asshole on the court.

I suspect Crawford will also be fined by the league. Maybe even suspended permanently after that. He calmed down in the second half. Anyone think he may have received a phone call during halftime?

[T Park]

Crawford was fine last night he reffed an even game.

Pop going ballistic over that is just mind boggling.

[Spurminator]

Pop just wanted to get out of talking to Craig Sager between quarters.

[ehz33satx]

Noooo Idiot, you the one who were dropped! Dorky dork....

What are you? 12 years old? WTF?

[Medvedenko]

Pop should create a referee committee in the off season.

[SpursFanFirst]

Apparently you did, because always think you are right, obviously not!

Fucking Dork!

:lmao
Oh Princess Pimp...ever time I consider blocking you comments, you come up with one like this that makes it all worthwhile.




Noooo Idiot, you the one who were dropped! Dorky dork....

Not to mention this gem

[dbreiden83080]

Crawford needs to go already, he was taunting Pop last night, fire that clown once and for all.

[MoSpur]

the refs were giving the hornets the benefit of the doubt the last 3 quarters of the game because no was playing with more energy

:tu

[DDS4]

Pop should let trivial shit like this go, even if he's right.

For no other reason other than to incite the refs and make calls go against us.

[romsho]

The problem with Joey Crawford is once again he became a bigger part of the game than he should have been. If an official is doing a good job, he is barely noticed...that almost never happens with J. Crawford. He interjected himself last night early and often. His ego is way out of control- hence that unnecessary exchange with Pop. At the very least, the incident with Tim Duncan last year has obviously taught him nothing. He needs to be gone.

[TampaDude]

They lost it because they couldn't make shots in the third quarter.

+1 Exactly...the refs didn't make West go 16-25 for 38 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks...the Spurs got BEAT, plain and simple...

[dbreiden83080]

The problem with Joey Crawford is once again he became a bigger part of the game than he should have been. If an official is doing a good job, he is barely noticed...that almost never happens with J. Crawford. He interjected himself last night early and often. His ego is way out of control- hence that unnecessary exchange with Pop. At the very least, the incident with Tim Duncan last year has obviously taught him nothing. He needs to be gone.

I 100% agree with you. Why the hell was he even allowed to come back in the first place?? When the whole incident went down with Duncan last year nobody really knew what to believe. Duncan was saying "Crawford had it in for him and actually challenged him to fight". Well the league reviewed it and Duncan was proven right. They suspended Crawford for the rest of the season, so clearly he threatened Duncan and the league acknowldged he was out of line. There have been some other incidents in his past as well where the league had to deal with him. Last night instead of walking away from Pop and defusing the whole thing he gets in his face and looks for another altercation. He can't let a disagreement go Crawford. All this crap about he went to anger management and what not i mean give me a break. Pop and him disagreed so his solution was to march over there and jam his finger in Pop's face. When Pop told him to not do that he put it right back in his face and got more aggressive with his nonsense. Fire this asshole for good already Stern. He does not deserve to be a ref anymore.

[SnakeBoy]

the refs were giving the hornets the benefit of the doubt the last 3 quarters of the game because no was playing with more energy

That pretty much sums it up. I hate the shiny headed one but he didn't decide the game. Spurs were not very aggressive....again.

[rasho8]

Noooo Idiot, you the one who were dropped! Dorky dork....

Wow Louis.. your suckage has now reached epic proportions

[50 cent]

Pop just wanted to get out of talking to Craig Sager between quarters.

Hilarious. I thought the exact same thing when they came back from the quarter break and there was no interview.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Reporter: "Pop, what was most upsetting about tonight's loss? Was it the overall lack of enthusiasm your team displayed out there tonight?"

Pop: "What?! Are you serious?!! I won't even dignify that with a response. If you can't see that that double delay of game penalty cost us the game tonight you don't deserve your press pass. GTFO!!"

[SouthernFried]

The reffing didn't affect the games outcome.

That DOESN'T justify anything that Crawford did. He was wrong on the call, he gave POP a tech...and he poked Pop in the chest numerous times.

I don't give a fuck if we lose the game (did I just say that?)...What Crawford did would have gotten any player in the league ejected.

Crawford should never have been allowed to come back. And if he isn't dismissed now, the league's ref problems become even more acute and front page.

[td4mvp21]

He should be more concerned with the Spurs terrible third quarters against the Hornets, which I might add has happened FIVE FUCKING TIMES this season. That's a coaching problem. Fix that first before you bitch about a silly call by the officials.

[Brutalis]

Props to Pop for not being a pussy about this.

Anybody could just say fuck it and go home..

Crawfish is his new nickname. He has an agenda against the Spurs and the league is fucking nazi to begin with letting him ref a Spurs playoff game.

[hsxvvd]

At least we won't get Crawford in game 7.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Why in the hell did Pop waste so much energy protesting that call? The ONLY way getting a delay of game matters is if you get another one in the same game, and the odds of it happening again were, what, maybe 1%?

Pop must have just been taking it personal with Joey, because there is no reason to expend so much time and effort arguing a call that has no effect on the game.

Bitching about the delay of game was dumb. And then Pop compounded it by pushing Joey to the point he got T'ed up, and alienated the refs for the rest of the game.

Everyone was expecting the Hornets to have the meltdown with the refs and the game and instead we get Pop of all people acting like a rook.

[lefty]

Fuck Pop


What was he thinking yelling at Crawford, on the road, with 3 quarters left ?

Phil Jackson can do it; not Pop

[romsho]

Bitching about the delay of game was dumb. And then Pop compounded it by pushing Joey to the point he got T'ed up, and alienated the refs for the rest of the game.

Everyone was expecting the Hornets to have the meltdown with the refs and the game and instead we get Pop of all people acting like a rook.

It probably wasn't just about the delay of game; Joey Crawford was well into his arrogant/fuckstick/dickhead in charge mode...and Pop wasn't going to take it and stood up for his team. Pandering to the Almighty Crawford wouldn't have changed anything- the second Stern bitch-slapped him for the Duncan incident it was over. It's personal...Fuck Joey Crawford.

[Darcus]

I've been watching some clips of this incident with a recording of the TNT broadcast, and I see several times Pop with an angry face yelling at Crawford "you're wrong, you're wrong" long after the fouls were called. Whether or not he was wrong, both teams got the foul; it was even; he should have just chilled. I don't know the criteria for calling a technical on a coach, but I think Pop was being overly aggressive in his attitude towards Crawford. Given Crawford's past it could have been possible that Crawford was being aggressive back, but it doesn't really appear so in the footage that I've watched so far.

[jack sommerset]

Crawford should not have stuck his finger in Pops chest. I thought it funny as hell but I have a feeling Crawford is going to get a little talk to about that.

Spews,in my opinion, have little respect from the refs. For years after a foul the Spews would cry what seemed to be every call. The simple answer for Spew fans is "everyone does that" I say no. it happens but not nealy as often as the Spews do it. They surround the refs. The faces the Spews make with the arms wide open looking like spoiled brats pounting is very annoying especially at the rate they do it.

Post number 39 by Ed Helicopter Jones has a blurb about the double delay of game and Pops answer is "If you can't see that double delay of game penalty cost us the game tonight you don't deserve your press pass. GTFO!!"

I hope that is not true. That will just add to the cry baby ways the entire Spew organization has.

[TheHornet]

really?........that your excuse a loss by 22 and you blame it on the one free throw we got in the beginning of the 2nd quarter......cute.....

[Avitus1]

I think its stupid to argue about this kinda call but I also think that Pop probably continued to argue cause he was lost his cool once Crawford poked him.

[SRJ]

Crawford was fine last night he reffed an even game.

You know, the Spurs got their teeth kicked in. No one denies that.

But in your lust to call them out for playing soft, you're just making crap up.