Keep it coming.

Well, I just can't stop talking about these refs. But neither can anyone else.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/080611

Great quote here:

"Stern seems happy to live with the shady perceptions as long as playoff ratings are up and the league can pimp a renewed Lakers-Celtics rivalry. Anyone with a wager slip knew the Lakers would get significantly friendlier foul calls at home on Tuesday night. And sure enough, the Lakers enjoyed a 22-12 foul advantage at the half, and they finished the game with a 34-22 edge.
I'm not saying the Lakers didn't outplay the Celtics fairly in Game 3, but when the league's officiating becomes that predictable, how is it not a problem? "

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=smith_stephen&page=Donaghy-080611

"As the cynics around the league would say, there's a reason every team, and every player, has one particular referee they simply can't stand."

"One occasion, it's Joey Crawford ejecting Tim Duncan for laughing. Another time, it's Ron Garretson ejecting Rasheed Wallace for staring."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=DonaghyStern-080611

The nightmarish reality that hangs over what was supposed to be Stern's dream Finals is that public confidence in NBA officiating is maybe even lower now than it was when Donaghy's betting on games and association with known gamblers were first revealed last summer.

"Good luck trying to convince disgruntled fans on both coasts that Donaghy's claims that league officials direct their referees "to manipulate games" to "boost ticket sales and television ratings" have no merit. "

"Two examples from Texas: All of San Antonio is convinced that the Spurs have no shot at a W if Joey Crawford is in the building, just as anyone in Dallas can tell you that the Mark Cuban-era Mavs have a 2-14 record when Danny Crawford has a whistle. "

"The larger point here is that nobody has ever known what is and what isn't a foul in professional basketball."

Better do someting Sterny.

I can't wait for this crap!

Boys club is going to be so sweet!

kgstrodamus

i've gotta give credit to boston for some great defense (at times) but for me, this series is just further proof that something is amiss in the NBA. i feel like the C's were clearly not the best team in the league this year, but here they are winning the finals.
now i know shashers not gonna argue, he's too busy eating a live fish at boys club (gross!) but i'd like to hear from you Cs fans.

can you REALLY say that you think they are the best team in the league this year? i felt like at times, they had a VERY sound defensive unit, but just as often, they look confused or not focused. no?

i mean, richard called it out at the beginning of the season. as soon as they got KG, richard said "rings". (bravo) but i think even richard would agree that their schedule was total baloney.
does that mean anything to Cs fans/players/the rest of the world? if not, how do i make sure my team has a baloney schedule next year? =)
and if so, what penalty is there for having a bs schedule? its not like the rings are going to sparkle less brightly just because the guys wearing em beat a bunch of paper opponents to get into the finals. i feel like im taking crazy pills. didn't the HAWKS repeatedly abuse the Cs in ATL?
the hawks. the atlanta isotopes. and how long was it before the Cs won a road game this post season? 3rd rd?

(for this next line, pretend it's seinfeld saying it. just humor me)
and whats the deal with these NBA referees!?

am i alone here or is it getting worse? something's gotta give. i thought jimi/shasher brought up a good point the other day:
there's easily 5 or 6 blown calls a game (i'd say thats conservative, wouldn't you?) and most games are decided by less than 12 pts.
so, if the avg margin of error is as big or bigger than the avg margin of victory, doesn't that mean it's broken?
and if anybody tells me it will all come out in the wash, i will vomit on my keyboard right now.

what do you assholes think? are the Cs legitimate champs? is the NBA broke? is the reffing fair/consistent enough? is it at least as fair/consistent as other major sports?

i know this is a long and scatterbrained post, but i figure it's prolly my last one of the season, so i'm going out with a bang.

Canseco'esque?

Patrick - you're going to love this one. Maybe this'll get some attention maybe it won't. I don't know that corruption will change things but I freakin' hope so.



This corroborates all conspiracy theories for some & for others is a guy trying to minimize his jail sentence by lying about the NBA.


Sadly... after a slimeball started the whole steroids/hgh talk in baseball, I'm inclined to believe him.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3436401

Prettiest Play Evar?

So, what is the prettiest play ever?

Jimi and I were talking about this while watching a surprisingly entertaining Finals game 1.

Jordan's going up and then, for no particular reason, switching hands.

Jordan - "I just want you guys to know, that I am completely fucking around here."

Also in the list:

Dwight's rediculus full extension dunk.
Dr J's rock the baby.
Garnett's idea of a block where he just grabs the hook shot out of the guy's hand.

Lets hear em.

Ummm, Finals?

I'm not terribly excited about this either. Seems the League got their way in the end, what with two designer teams getting trades that didn't seem all on the up and up. Call me a conspiracy theorist, cause I am, but this is not the kind of NBA I care for. Maybe I should just start rooting for the Celtics. Nah, I'll just ignore the NBA till next season.

I just hope I don't have to bite a fish.