Rockets Frustrated With Officiating

[Boob-No-More]

BNM, you'd feel the same way if you learned that Portland complained to the league about calls that went against them during game 1?

Yes, I absolutely would. I don't think the teams should have ANY ability to influence the officials between games. Unless the rules are changed, there should be no change in the way the games are called - and the rules should only change between seasons, not between games.

I have been a fan of the Portland Trailblazers for over 20 years - but I have been a fan of NBA basketball for over 40. I truly hate the whole superstar treatment and favoritism. I am a firm believer in one set of rules for all players, all teams and all situations. I prefer a level playing field to one that's slanted in my favor. Enforce the rules, as they are written, equally (as best as humanly possible) for all and let the talent and execution of the players determine who wins. Give me a level playing field and I'll take my chances with my team - and if they lose fair and square, I'll accept it graciously.

Ironically, I grew up a Bulls fan. Although I'd already moved to Portland and become a Blazer fan, I still cheered for the Bulls when they won their first title. While I think Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players I've had the pleasure to watch, I detested the superstar treatment he got from the refs - but I still respected his talent. What really turned me off about the Bulls was Phil Jackson and his constant whining about the officiating after EVERY play-off game. He had the best player in the world playing on his team reaping all the benefits of superstar treatment from the officials - yet he was the one whining about the officials. I don't think he believed half of what he said, but was using it to get an even bigger advantage. Those teams were good enough to win without help from the officials. The non-stop lobbying for even more favorable treatment made me sick - and it still does.

BNM

 

[durvasa]

If Oden were actually allowed to play without getting into foul trouble, he would be right there with Yao in that category.

Not really, because he isn't the focal point of the Portland offense yet. But, eventually, he'll learn how to defend and rebound without fouling so much, and he'll have to contend with guys beating up on him when he becomes a primary offensive weapon. Then, perhaps Blazer fans will be more sympathetic towards what Yao goes through.

 

[Natebishop3]

Not really, because he isn't the focal point of the Portland offense yet. But, eventually, he'll learn how to defend and rebound without fouling so much, and he'll have to contend with guys beating up on him when he becomes a primary offensive weapon. Then, perhaps Blazer fans will be more sympathetic towards what Yao goes through.

Even now, Oden is routinely doubled because of his size and strength. If there is one man on the Blazers immune to Yao's brute strength, it's Greg Oden.

 

[durvasa]

First off, when you leave off the "the" in Crimson the Cat, my moniker loses the necessary importance that Crimson is a Cat and not a red-colored Cat. Please don't do that. Crimson would be mad.

Crimson THE Cat. Many apologies

Fair enough, maybe I should have used different words. How about "Personally, I'd be surprised if the Blazers hadn't also issued a complaint to the league by this point in the series"? That's all I'm saying.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Crimson THE Cat. Many apologies

Fair enough, maybe I should have used different words. How about "Personally, I'd be surprised if the Blazers hadn't also issued a complaint to the league by this point in the series"? That's all I'm saying.

Should be fun game tonight. Enjoy.

 

[STOMP]

Yes, I absolutely would. I don't think the teams should have ANY ability to influence the officials between games. Unless the rules are changed, there should be no change in the way the games are called - and the rules should only change between seasons, not between games.

I have been a fan of the Portland Trailblazers for over 20 years - but I have been a fan of NBA basketball for over 40. I truly hate the whole superstar treatment and favoritism. I am a firm believer in one set of rules for all players, all teams and all situations. I prefer a level playing field to one that's slanted in my favor. Enforce the rules, as they are written, equally (as best as humanly possible) for all and let the talent and execution of the players determine who wins. Give me a level playing field and I'll take my chances with my team - and if they lose fair and square, I'll accept it graciously.

Ironically, I grew up a Bulls fan. Although I'd already moved to Portland and become a Blazer fan, I still cheered for the Bulls when they won their first title. While I think Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players I've had the pleasure to watch, I detested the superstar treatment he got from the refs - but I still respected his talent. What really turned me off about the Bulls was Phil Jackson and his constant whining about the officiating after EVERY play-off game. He had the best player in the world playing on his team reaping all the benefits of superstar treatment from the officials - yet he was the one whining about the officials. I don't think he believed half of what he said, but was using it to get an even bigger advantage. Those teams were good enough to win without help from the officials. The non-stop lobbying for even more favorable treatment made me sick - and it still does.

yup on all counts

STOMP

 

[Natebishop3]

It was a real treat watching Olympic basketball last summer. You want to see basketball played without favortism, go watch international ball. Yao looked very ordinary.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't even want to read through this whole thread. First the complaint is Joel is a flopper . . . and now Yao is being riden by Blazer big men the whole game and not geting the calls.

So according to Houston: the refs are calling fouls on the Rockets when the Rockets are in fact not fouling . . . and the refs are not calling fouls on the Blazers when they are in fact fouling.

Very original of Houston.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't even want to read through this whole thread. First the complaint is Joel is a flopper . . . and now Yao is being riden by Blazer big men the whole game and not geting the calls.

So according to Houston: the refs are calling fouls on the Rockets when the Rockets are in fact not fouling . . . and the refs are not calling fouls on the Blazers when they are in fact fouling.

Very original of Houston.

This coming from one of the most physical defensive teams in the NBA.....

 

[santeesioux]

Just shut up and play the game, that's what i say!

 

[BengalDuck]

Scola labeled a flopper on the "offensive foul" from LMA... not agreeing with the technical... not thinking Roy was out.

So far, the referring has been atrocious and is favoring (you guessed it) the whiners.

 

[maxiep]

Well, I doubt the Rockets are frustrated with the officiating tonight. Well done, Rick. Your whining worked.

 

[TripTango]

But the refs just called Yao on his Figure-4 Armlock maneuver! The Rockets must be furious!

 

[andalusian]

Well. Apparently whining works... what more can you say?

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Fuck the triple R's... Rick, Refs, and Rockets!

 

[bluefrog]

BTW, nice phantom foul on Aldridge at the end of the 4th when Battier fell down. Way to seal the deal in crunch time, refs

 

[durvasa]

Well. Apparently whining works... what more can you say?

The "whining" was about the defense played on Yao. As far as I could tell, the refs didn't give Yao any more calls than in previous games. He barely had any post catches, and only one trip to the free throw line.

 

[durvasa]

BTW, nice phantom foul on Aldridge at the end of the 4th when Battier fell down. Way to seal the deal in crunch time, refs

Very reminiscent of the phantom foul at the end of game 2, I thought.

 

[TripTango]

Fuck the triple R's... Rick, Refs, and Rockets!

I don't know how you can say that about Rick. He may be a Rocket now, but that guy orchestrated too many amazing Blazer moments for me to ever hate him.

 

[Penitentiary Face]

Very reminiscent of the phantom foul at the end of game 2, I thought.

I have one question for you: did Battier travel?

 

[Natebishop3]

Very reminiscent of the phantom foul at the end of game 2, I thought.

Whatever... you guys got what you wanted. 24 foul shots to our 10. Pretty amazing that you almost lost. Rockets are fucking terrible. You're going to get owned in the second round and I'm going to laugh.

 

[durvasa]

I have one question for you: did Battier travel?

I'd need to see the replay. Perhaps. I think JVG said it wasn't a foul, and he usually has a good eye about these things.

 

[durvasa]

Whatever... you guys got what you wanted. 24 foul shots to our 10. Pretty amazing that you almost lost. Rockets are fucking terrible. You're going to get owned in the second round and I'm going to laugh.

8 of those free throws came at the end of the game, though. Before that point -- 12 to 10.

The Blazers are a good team, they'll make the proper adjustments, and I think the Rockets will have to play much better in game 4 if they want to win.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Do you honestly believe Houston committed 1 foul in the fourth quarter (discounting Scola intentionally using the foul to give)?

 

[Penitentiary Face]

According to a report in the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets are frustrated with the way that officials are allowing the Blazers to play Yao Ming.

“They were very physical,” coach Rick Adelman said. “They put their hands on him. They wrestled with him from the top of the key all the way down. It’s up to us to have more patience, to move the ball more. It’s up to him to understand what they’re doing and counter it. ... If the officials are going to allow them to manhandle him like they did, we’ve got to find an answer for that.”

Added Yao: “I know coach has complained to the league for me. I just have to do my job.”

Adelman said the whistles were inconsistent.

“In the first six minutes, they must have called seven or eight fouls on both teams,” he said. “Hand-checking, everything else. Then it was like, ‘Let’s don’t call anything else the rest of the game.’ ”
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/58743/20090424/rockets_frustrated_with_officiating/

Keep an eye out for an article like this in the Houston papers:

According to a report in the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets are frustrated with where the Trailblazers three point line is situated.

“They were very close to the hoop,” coach Rick Adelman said. “The three pointers they took had a reasonable chance of going in. The made some three point shots near the end, and golly-gee-wiz, we almost lost the game ... If the officials are going to allow them to shoot three pointers like they did, we’ve got to find an answer for that.”

Added Yao: “I know coach has complained to the league for me. I just have to do my job.”

Adelman said the three pointers were inconsistent.

“In the last six minutes, they must have made like a billion threes,” he said.

 

[durvasa]

Do you honestly believe Houston committed 1 foul in the fourth quarter (discounting Scola intentionally using the foul to give)?

I don't recall any blatant fouls by the Rockets that weren't called, but perhaps you can point some of them out. There was definitely contact (on both sides, btw) that wasn't whistled a foul, but that's normal in a playoff game.

 

[hasoos]

I don't recall any blatant fouls by the Rockets that weren't called, but perhaps you can point some of them out. There was definitely contact (on both sides, btw) that wasn't whistled a foul, but that's normal in a playoff game.

Except it was being called on one end, and not the other. One example is when Ron Artest pushed off at the top of the key in order to get a loose ball. Brandon Roy did the same thing and was called for an offensive foul. Ron was not.

 

[TripTango]

I thought there were a lot of odd calls, but again, the bottom line was that Portland wasn't prepared in the first half. I think it's a great series, though, from a basketball fan perspective -- lots of drama and entertaining twists.

 

[durvasa]

Except it was being called on one end, and not the other. One example is when Ron Artest pushed off at the top of the key in order to get a loose ball. Brandon Roy did the same thing and was called for an offensive foul. Ron was not.

Are you talking about the play where Ron knocked it loose, and was chasing after it? Arguably that's a loose ball foul, but the refs will often let a little contact go in a scrum for a loose ball. Personally, I don't like a foul being called in that situation, but I can understand Blazers fans being frustrated with it.

I don't remember the Roy offensive foul.

 

[Draco]

8 of those free throws came at the end of the game, though. Before that point -- 12 to 10.

24 minus 8 = 12