(Go to the 1:30 mark)
1. Several stories have been written about the NBA officiating lately. They all have been thoughtful and exposed many of the officiating problems in the NBA. The problem is that for the most part, they are all wrong. There are no conspiracies and no desire by certain referees to intentionally influence the outcomes of games. NBA referees are not so much bad officials (some are of course. Like remember that bastard referee (Hue Hollins) who called that foul on Scottie Pippen on a 3 point attempt by Hubert Davis against the Knicks in the playoffs? If not, read here), they just don’t know what a foul is anymore. Thus, I blame the higher ups in the NBA for failing to provide a clear system of what is and what is not a foul.
2. To elaborate, we see inconsistent officiating in the playoffs because the officials all have different thoughts on what is, and what is not a foul. One guy may believe that any time a European player flops to the floor that it must be an offensive foul, while the other guy believes that it was a flop.
3. And of course, the NBA doesn’t make things any easier. Perhaps one of the dumbest rule changes was adding the stupid offensive foul line near the hoop. So now, instead of referees looking to see if a player is properly positioned to take a foul, they only look at that person’s feet. As long as the feet are past the line, it’s an offensive foul – never mind that the player was moving their feet, was positioned sideways and kicked out their left arm. Even worse, when Dwight Howard (or any other player for that matter), lowers his shoulder in a defensive player, in a clear offensive foul, the referees won’t call it because both players are below the magic offensive foul line. Basically, the NBA is allowing some arbitrary line created out of thin air to decide what is and what is not a foul.
4. Perhaps most irritating about the inconsistent refereeing is what happens when a player, say Lebron James, barrels his way into the lane, out of control and lunges his body into the opposing player. Of course, the referees call the foul on the opposing player, whose only fault was standing his ground with his hands straight up. Whatever happened to allowing a defensive player to stand in his position and raise his hands straight up? Isn’t that good basketball defense? Isn’t that the golden rule in college basketball? As long as a defensive player is in position, he should be allowed to raise his hands straight up. But not in the NBA. If Lebron steamrolls into the lane, initiates contact, and it just so happens that his left arm touches your left hand (which is standing straight up) it’s a foul. Basically, some referees in the NBA have decided that no big guy is allowed to play defense. You just can’t do it.
5. Also, when a person takes 3 or more steps it’s a traveling call. For the most part, it’s not that hard to call a traveling call. You can do it, just count. One... two… three. traveling.
6. Thus, while NBA referees would have a hard time calling a tug-of-war contest, the NBA (David Stern) needs to start clarifying what is and what is not a penalty. When Lebron James barrels to the hoop and Dwight Howard stands firm and has his hands straight up, it’s not a foul (on anyone for that matter). Get rid of the stupid offensive foul line, and for god’s sake call traveling calls. What the NBA needs more than anything else is a clear set of guidelines of what is and what is not a foul. Develop some training academy putting the rules into place and invite players to the camps. Have your referees travel to each team and provide examples of what is and is not a foul (something I assume is already done). Put the game in the hands of the players and a clear rulebook, not in the hands of referees who appear to each have their own set of rules. We need robots, not politicians as referees.
7. The NBA got ½ of its dream Finals. Watching the Lakers/Denver series I just felt that both teams were on a different level than Orlando/Cleveland. Howard will have to deal with Gasol. Howard is better, but Gasol will at least make him work. I don’t know how the Lakers will guard Lewis. But, I think Odom can handle him. Like the Cleveland series with Lebron, no one can guard Kobe. Add in Bynum and Trever Ariza and I think the Lakers win in 6. And no, Hedu Turkaglu doesn’t scare me.
8. It feels like baseball is already dead in Chicago and its only June 1st.
9. Which is great, if you are me, because we can concentrate on Bears’ football.
10. Barcelona beat Man. U. Ronaldo went into his whiny/bitch mode. Messi and Eto showed why they are so great. As an aside, Fados was packed (a 20 person line formed at the door 5 minutes before kickoff), so I couldn’t watch the game there. The English was a nice substitute.
11. Huge surprise here. Lovie Smith still believes the following: Cover 2 and 4-3 defense are the best; Rod Marinelli is a genius of a coach (no mention of the 0-16 lions), he likes the WRs he’s got, and the Bears are still a running football team. If deciding on a car with better gas mileage Lovie would probably choose the Dodge Hemi over the Fusion Hybrid because as he would say, “I like the Hemi we got”.
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