Two things I know to be true: You are not supposed to call out the referees without repercussions from David Stern and the whole "Coach's Corner" type segments usually stinks. Well, Phil Jackson, as the third quarter just ended, reversed both of those (at least until Stern nails him for his anti-stripe-speak on ESPN). Phil apparently thought the refs were being inconsistent based on his answer to Lisa Salters in between the third and fourth quarters.
... What changed to slow you guys down?That's not the worse thing that he could have said. And the Lakers won, despite coughing up a 19 point lead and letting the Jazz get back in. Still, you have to imagine that Stern and Stu Jackson will have some sort of "polite request" to Phil about his mentioning the quality of the officiating during the playoffs.
It's a very uneven refereed ballgame. You know, they're calling little fouls one place and not fouls the other. It makes it very difficult to play a good, emotional game. So, that's tough.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Why do coaches and players get fined for saying the refs suck? I have never understood this. When my managers at work screw up and do something stupid, I have no problem telling them, and they don't dock my pay for it. It's just one mans opinion. Treating the refs as though they are above critism is precisly why they are so inconsistent and downright dreadful. Also, where does the fine money go? Does Stern donate it to charity or does it go to the league?
Posted at 7:52PM on May 4th 2008 by anny
2. There are quite a few excellent players in LA Kobe, Gasol, Fisher, Lamar and then some but the X factor has to be Phil Jackson;
With so many good coaches in line in the West (Scott,Popovich and then some) to prove that is not only about the players but the brains behind them the coaches more then ever have to prove once and for all that they can outcoach their rivals.
In the East is going to come down to the coaches as well.
Posted at 8:06PM on May 4th 2008 by frank
3. Stern doesn't want coaches or players to criticize refs because if allowed to do so, not only does that give teams a way to bully referees into calling the game one way or another, as well as the fact that it takes the focus off the game itself and onto something else. Stern wants the game and players to be front and center.
Posted at 8:08PM on May 4th 2008 by alejandro de Castro
4. Phil Jackson calling the refs out?
SAY IT AINT SO!!!!
Yeah...because this has NEVER happened before, lol.
Posted at 8:55PM on May 4th 2008 by claytor
5. I can't wait for the day that Stern is gone. I have never liked him. He's a punk. As with all professional sports I personally feel there should be a governing board made up of people who have been involved with the game throughout their lives, former players, coaches and such. Not one person. Something does need to be done with the lack of consistency in calling games. Someone should fine Stern for being a douche bag.
Posted at 10:09PM on May 4th 2008 by WitchDrgn
6. Phil Jackson is just doing his job by criticizing the referees for not doing their job and the commissioner will probably fine Phil for not keeping his gums a time out in the name of intergy of the game.
Posted at 11:38PM on May 4th 2008 by George B Vieto
7. Very close game right to the end all the starters from LA - Odom foul-out and all the starters from Utah - Boozer foul-out;
Very difficult series it looks like for both teams;
LA is showing a lot of discipline, rhythm and coordination especially at the end of the game;
Kobe and Gasol have a lot of chemistry ;
Gasol in the last 68 seconds of the game scored 6 points assisted by Kobe that shows that these 2 got an especial chemistry besides Fisher and Odom ;
It will be very important that LA keep this rhythm and coordination especially come the last minutes of the game.
Posted at 10:03AM on May 5th 2008 by frank
8. I think Sunday's game is a perfect game to study how Donaghy influenced games.
It's not the foul total at the end of the game, its the non-call, or ticky-tack foul that's called to disrupt the momentum flow. Refs know that as long as the fouls are about even at the end of the game - most will think the game is evenly officiated, until an astute observer recognizes how refs can take a team out of what they do...
Look at the total fouls called at the end of the game - pretty even, nothing stands out. Laker's won anywise - no need for further follow-up, right?
Yet, if you watched every play of the game - Coach Phil Jackson was being honest. Lakers were caught with ticky tack fouls, and the Jazz were only caught on obvious fouls situations until the early fourth 4th quarter.
No conspiracy, but bias and discrepancy still exist - and I am hopeful one (1) day when the game can be played and become better officiated.
If performance enhancing drugs can be cause for a congressional grand jury investigation, why not bias, betting and racketeering in the NBA? All they would have to do is say what they know and be truthful right?
Posted at 3:15PM on May 5th 2008 by Nev