Do you think the NBA is a fair game?

[Minstrel]

Minstrel we have missed you here. You've always had a way to put it way more eloquently than the rest of us. Hope you're doing well.

Life is good, but has gotten more busy over time, so I have sadly less time for talking about basketball. Also, as I get older, I find I have less to say--even when I am here, I read more than post.

But I still watch the games, mostly, and I'll probably always show up here sometimes! I hope all is well with you, too.

 

[Minstrel]

As much as I agreewith you, I think its only about 70% of the calls could be considered biased.

I'm sorry but the out of bounds call doesn't fit this and i'm sure any level headed fan of any team would say the ref screwed us by letting himself be manipulated by Griffin.

Yeah, that was a bad call, but bad calls happen all the time. It's not a Portland-only issue. If you feel the state of officiating isn't good, that's one thing (though hard to analyze...are there better potential officials? Does the NBA do sub-standard training?). That's quite different from the implicit or explicit claim that officials are biased against the Blazers or for the Clippers.

I'll be honest, I think the Blake Griffin aspect of that call is overstated. Yeah, he pointed out what he thought was a step-out (it was close, though clearly not on replay, but from his angle it could easily have looked like it), but players call out what they think are fouls or violations all the time. Sometimes referees agree, sometimes they don't. I don't think this is proof, or even evidence, that Griffin can get the rulings he wants.

 

[Chris Craig]

I don't know how anyone could have voted that the NBA is fair when it is so painfully obviously biased....refs should not get to control games...it should be their responsibility to ref a fair game...to make calls on both ends....and not simply a hoard of shooting fouls on one end and then nothing but on the floors on the other side to sort of even out the number of fouls called for both sides...

NBA officials need to be held responsible for reffing games in such manners, and that the NBA has done nothing but swept it under the court is very telling...they are part of it and therefore condone this corrupt system...they should be ashamed of themselves, for they have spat on and ruined an amazing sport

 

[Chris Craig]

Yeah, that was a bad call, but bad calls happen all the time. It's not a Portland-only issue. If you feel the state of officiating isn't good, that's one thing (though hard to analyze...are there better potential officials? Does the NBA do sub-standard training?). That's quite different from the implicit or explicit claim that officials are biased against the Blazers or for the Clippers.

I'll be honest, I think the Blake Griffin aspect of that call is overstated. Yeah, he pointed out what he thought was a step-out (it was close, though clearly not on replay, but from his angle it could easily have looked like it), but players call out what they think are fouls or violations all the time. Sometimes referees agree, sometimes they don't. I don't think this is proof, or even evidence, that Griffin can get the rulings he wants.

I think it happens to Portland more then any other team....it would be a long look at the statistics to see it, but I'm sure the numbers would back that up...

Either way....refs should not be allowed to control games, they help teams gain large leads by calling numerous fouls on one side and then not calling fouls on the other and letting teams like the Clippers get away with manhandling people...committing hard fouls, sometimes flagrants and getting away with it...there is no excuse for the officials

 

[Chris Craig]

Yeah, that was a bad call, but bad calls happen all the time. It's not a Portland-only issue. If you feel the state of officiating isn't good, that's one thing (though hard to analyze...are there better potential officials? Does the NBA do sub-standard training?). That's quite different from the implicit or explicit claim that officials are biased against the Blazers or for the Clippers.

I'll be honest, I think the Blake Griffin aspect of that call is overstated. Yeah, he pointed out what he thought was a step-out (it was close, though clearly not on replay, but from his angle it could easily have looked like it), but players call out what they think are fouls or violations all the time. Sometimes referees agree, sometimes they don't. I don't think this is proof, or even evidence, that Griffin can get the rulings he wants.

If it was bad training, it could easily be fixed...the NBA admits after games that bad calls were made, but they don't do anything to fix it. A more in depth training, an annual retraining, anything, nope....the NBA doesn't do anything because they are a part of the issue...so the explicit claim that refs are being biased, that they are intentionally calling games for teams they want to win, that the NBA wants to sin is a real issue...it is not an over the rainbow fantasy...it is real...and all you have to do to see it is open your eyes...watch the games closely, and tell me otherwise

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Come on man. This is really grasping.

You cannot play physical defense without buy-in from the referees; if they call a foul, you're not playing defense "right". If Dame does the exact same things CP3 does, he gets called for a foul. Point blank. Defense requires the ref to define what is allowed tonight and what is not. But when that list of what is allowed only applies to one team, then it's not fair.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Yeah, that was a bad call, but bad calls happen all the time. It's not a Portland-only issue. If you feel the state of officiating isn't good, that's one thing (though hard to analyze...are there better potential officials? Does the NBA do sub-standard training?). That's quite different from the implicit or explicit claim that officials are biased against the Blazers or for the Clippers.

I'll be honest, I think the Blake Griffin aspect of that call is overstated. Yeah, he pointed out what he thought was a step-out (it was close, though clearly not on replay, but from his angle it could easily have looked like it), but players call out what they think are fouls or violations all the time. Sometimes referees agree, sometimes they don't. I don't think this is proof, or even evidence, that Griffin can get the rulings he wants.

I agree. I thinks its proof that the refs let players manipulate them. Not just Griffin.

 

[H.C.]

I agree to a certain extent, and it's obvious that when teams shut down Dame/CJ, our team flounders. We simply don't have the talent in the frontcourt that we need to win. If we had LMA, as much as I hate that guy, this series would be completely different. As it is, the Clips can trap Dame and force him to give it up to someone that is a much much worse option on offense. If you're LAC, you'll take Aminu or Plumlee taking the shot over Dame or CJ every day of the week.

The beef that I have is that the refs are allowing the Clips to body and trip and slap at Dame/CJ and they're not calling it.Meanwhile, if we even breath on Griffin we get a foul. Last night he was posting up CJ, he spun and CJ pulled the chair. Griffin lost his balance and fell to the ground. There was no contact. CJ didn't foul him. The loss of balance was completely on Griffin, but they called the foul on CJ. At the other end I saw Dame nearly get his shoulder ripped out by Jordan with no foul.

I actually believe CJ did foul him on the play when he went for the ball.
The replays showed CJ's hand on Griffins left elbow/arm. However light of contact it was. A ref could assume that contact assisted in Griffin loosing his balance.
Which is what happened because the underneath ref called it after CJ went for the ball. Which is when he saw CJ's hand on Griffins elbow/arm.

There were missed calls on both sides. Griffin was fouled far more often than he actually had them called for him. Just like when the Blazers attacked the rim in the first quarter they were fouled quite often as well. But it didn't change the outcome of the game in the first half 8 pt game.
The Clippers came out and CP3 took over the game breaking it open in the second half. Can't allow that.
Rivers made an adjustment to put CP3 in the post...If CP3 is posting, need to bring a double from Griffins man. Make Griffin shoot that jumper when CP3 passes out.
Also I don't really remember Stotts making an adjustment... So.....

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Now that all the new players know that the refs fucking hate Portland, they'll play through it. But you could tell all the new guys were shocked they were getting shat on by the NBA.

 

[BBert]

I think the superstar factor plays into the decision of the refs to call fouls big time. I am not sure they have an 'agenda' per say, but again, definitely players with more prestige get the benefit of the doubt or more 'leeway'.

Case in point, DJ's 5 second in the key, and his constant moving screens....obvious fouls but never (or rarely) called.

The grabbing, and physical stuff I don't mind because I think NBA today is too weak overall, in terms of physicality.

When they finally called one, they IMMEDIATELY called one on us to compensate. Not even transparent.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

If you were playing in a game, and the refs were completely screwing your team over, how long would you play hard before you became apathetic?

About 20 minutes.

 

[Natebishop3]

About 20 minutes.

That sounds about right.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Compared to professional wrestling I think it's very fair.

 

[Natebishop3]

Compared to professional wrestling I think it's very fair.

Do people bet on professional wrestling?

 

[blue9]

Compared to professional wrestling I think it's very fair.

Wrestling is far more fair - both parties buy into the end result before stepping into the ring.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Do people bet on professional wrestling?

I'm guessing @BigGameDamian does.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I'm guessing @BigGameDamian does.

I finally know which bgd is

 

[Stevenson]

WCF Game 6, Kings v. Lakers. "The Big Fix."

Case closed.

 

[Strenuus]

Interesting, so you would take talent over chemistry then?

You're implying that a team can't have both. Again, you make a faulty post under the assumption that you caught one over on somebody.

Some posts may never learn.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't think the refs care who wins. But attending numerous Clipper games over the last few years, (Not just against the Blazer ) I watch Doc work the refs even when they are up. I see the Clippers players complain after almost every MADE basket, and I see it eventfully pay off.

When I lived in Utah during the Stockton-Malone years, i saw the same thing.

Last night I saw Harkless get 3 fouls called on him while Blake Griffin continually went over and through our defenders.

I saw the Moute impede the progress of CJ (Hand Checking:
A defender may not place and keep his hand on an opponent unless he is in the area near the basket and the offensive player has his back to the basket. A defender may momentarily touch an opponent with his hand anywhere on the court as long as it does not affect the opponent’s movement (speed, quickness, balance, rhythm). ..........

While at the same time the Blazers get called for fouls every time someone got close to CP3.

Look the Clippers are a lot better and deeper than the Blazers. The refs did not cost us the game. But it doesn't mean they are, by any stretch of the imagination......consistent. That part of the game sucks.

 

[MARIS61]

WHENEVER BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE AT STAKE, FAIRNESS IS THE FIRST VICTIM.

When the entire game can be continually manipulated by the officiating on a second by second basis and repeatedly excused as a "judgement call" or simply be acknowledged the next day in a league statement of "It appears the officials made an incorrect call on the last play of last night's 1 point double-overtime game" without correcting the wrong outcome, fairness simply cannot occur.

Games are won and lost by momentum, and last night the game was pretty much neck and neck until momentum turned on a crucial call and the Blazers never recovered.

The call was made by BLAKE GRIFFIN, and then quickly affirmed by a lazy ref who hadn't even been looking in that direction.

The call was shown in replay a minute later and clearly proved to be a lie by Griffin, and therefore obviously a willing and deliberate lie for the ref to say he saw it when it never happened.

Is the ref afraid to rebut "Star" Griffin, or fawningly seeking his approval, another Tim Donaghy, or just obscenely incompetent and trying to cover his ass?

Either way, to allow him to continue to ref playoff level games shows the league prefers his type of officiating rather than a higher standard of professionalism.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think the refs care who wins. But attending numerous Clipper games over the last few years, (Not just Blazer games) I watch Doc work the refs even when they are up. I see the Clippers players complain after almost every MADE basket, and I see it eventfully pay off.

When I lived in Utah during the Stockton-Malone years, i saw the same thing.

Last night I saw Harkless get 3 fouls called on him while Blake Griffin continually went over and through our defenders.

I saw the Moute continually impede the progress of CJ (Hand Checking:
A defender may not place and keep his hand on an opponent unless he is in the area near the basket and the offensive player has his back to the basket. A defender may momentarily touch an opponent with his hand anywhere on the court as long as it does not affect the opponent’s movement (speed, quickness, balance, rhythm). ..........

While at the same time the Blazers get called for fouls every time someone got close to CP3.

Look the Clippers are a lot better and deeper than the Blazers. The refs did not cost us the game. But it doesn't mean they are, by any stretch of the imagination......consistent. That part of the game sucks.

I'm fine with the team being overmatched. I just can't stand watching the refs affect the game time and time again. We saw it against the Lakers in the early 2000s. We saw it against Houston with Roy and then again with Lillard. We are seeing it now with LAC. I'm tired of watching guys like Shaq or Blake Griffin do whatever they want. I'm tired of watching guys like Wade and Chris Paul get a foul if you even remotely touch them. This has been going on for decades. It's a joke.

I watched the Ducks get obliterated by the Ohio State Buckeyes. They were simply outmatched. I didn't complain about the refs. The Ducks just simply couldn't defend that Bucks team, but if the NBA was in charge of the refs for that game, the Ducks would have been called for unnecessary roughness on every single tackle of Ezekiel Elliott. The way the NBA coddles guys like Griffin and Paul, it's like getting called for roughing the passer if you come within 5 feet of the QB.

 

[KingSpeed]

In response to the first post, I think you're a little paranoid, Nate. Houston wasn't "supposed to win that series." The league doesn't work that way. Bad calls get made but Stern didn't give orders to the refs to force a Game 7. Yes, it SEEMS like some teams get calls more than others, but great teams win no matter what. Everybody here said no one had a chance against Lakers in 2011, the league wouldn't allow it, etc. And what did Dallas do? They ignored any perceived favoritism and SWEPT the Lakers.

 

[Natebishop3]

In response to the first post, I think you're a little paranoid, Nate. Houston wasn't "supposed to win that series." The league doesn't work that way. Bad calls get made but Stern didn't give orders to the refs to force a Game 7. Yes, it SEEMS like some teams get calls more than others, but great teams win no matter what. Everybody here said no one had a chance against Lakers in 2011, the league wouldn't allow it, etc. And what did Dallas do? They ignored any perceived favoritism and SWEPT the Lakers.

But if Dame hadn't hit a miracle shot with .9 seconds left, the refs WOULD have forced a game seven.

 

[KingSpeed]

But if Dame hadn't hit a miracle shot with .9 seconds left, the refs WOULD have forced a game seven.

Huh? How could they force a game 7 after the shot is missed?

 

[Denny Crane]

It's fair. Home court is worth about 7 points to the home team, statistically. It might not be exactly that for this season.

Of course the refs are influenced by how exciting the game is and the crowd's involvement and whether the players are acting like gentlemen.

 

[Hobbesarable]

It's fair. Home court is worth about 7 points to the home team, statistically. It might not be exactly that for this season.

Of course the refs are influenced by how exciting the game is and the crowd's involvement and whether the players are acting like gentlemen.

The Clippers are gentlemen? That must be in a parallel universe.

 

[Denny Crane]

The Clippers are gentlemen? That must be in a parallel universe.

I didn't say they were. But if you are rude to the refs, they might not give you some close calls. Ya know?

 

[Draco]

If they NBA rigged games it would be to help the Blazers win games this series. They'd get much better ratings from the series going 6 or 7 games.

 

[PDXFonz]

Isn't it fair if everybody gets screwed over at some point?