By now you know about the mini controversy that happened at the end of the third quarter of last night's Pistons-Magic game (see the video, read the players' reactions), and you're probably thinking that a third post about it is overkill. Well, you're right, it probably is. But I have a thing for semi-obscure basketball trivia and I thought the explanation for what happened to make the clock go haywire was interesting. From Chris McCosky of the Detroit News:
The clock operator is a neutral official -- Tom Mauer, brother of referee Ken Mauer, who is from Minnesota. But he didn't really have anything to do with the malfunction. The referees' whistle starts and stops the clock. Apparently, what happened was, the whistle started the clock, then there was an inadvertant whistle that stopped it at 5.1 and again at 4.8. The inadvertant whistle could have been just a heavy exhale by an official with the whistle still in his mouth. Seriously, that could have done it.(To clarify, Tom Mauer is the brother of an NBA referee, but not a referee who worked last night's game. That honor belonged to Steve Javie, Joe Forte and Derrick Stafford.) Another question Magic fans are probably asking is why the refs didn't just use the video to fix their mistake, but as Dan Wentzel explains for Yahoo!, they simply weren't allowed to.
"Our instant replay rule does not account for this action," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said via email Monday night. "There was not a trigger to permit use of the (television) screen to view clock."I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before the league does allow for this type of video replay, even if it's limited to the end of quarters when a referee's mistake interrupts the flow of the game. It's not something that happens often, but that doesn't mean the NBA should be prepared for when it does.
League officials might want to write a "trigger" into the rules by Tuesday morning. The NBA was founded in 1946; this is the first time something like this happened?
"They have no timing device to do it," Van Gundy said. "Steve (Javie) was frustrated by not having it. He said with the technology they have, they should be able to go over and look at that. ... They were put in a very tough situation on that call."
ADVERTISEMENT
_thumbnail.jpg "NASCAR Cowboy Hats")
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Dear NBA,
My name is James Doyle. My dad and I currently have a partial season plan to the Orlando Magic team. I would like to talk to you about what happened during game 2 of the NBA playoffs (semi finals) with the Magic versus the Pistons. During the whole game (which I watched all of) there were numerous bad calls. I actually have personally tallied up the point difference between these “obvious” calls in which the Magic should’ve had a point difference between the Pistons by 12 points (meaning adding points to Magic or deducting) according to better calls.
Some of the calls include the pick by Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson hits the 3 pointer, the end of the 3rd quarter in which the refs had no right to guess the time in which was left during the shot (how in the NBA ruling does a shot failure lead to a guess in time by the referees; much of which I will talk about soon), and as well as a few drives to the basket which were horrible calls both when the Magic were on offense and no calls, and also as defensive horrible calls. I’m only 18 and I am a huge magic fan and before the playoffs ended there were some other horrible calls in which every fan in the magic arena yelled out “ref you suck”. Why do these calls happen to us? Why is there no respect for the Orlando Magic?
Some of these questions I would love answers to. You can also say that I am correct with these bad calls and I do not have a bias for calls. During much of the 4th quarter I can even say that I kept telling my friend oh that was a good call, even though it was a block or steal from Detroit. I am not bias and by replaying and replaying these calls on my DVR I don’t see how fairness is brought into this game 2 at all.
My dad promised me he would buy tickets for the Saturday game 4 in Orlando if we won tonight. My dad is a very hard worker and he is working in Canada right now and will be home for the weekend. How are the refs even possible with no consequences able to take away all of these points for the Magic and say that the Magic shouldn’t win! There are many negative consequences for each loss. Honestly right now I feel like crap because I feel like I’ve been robbed and I know as a fact each Magic fan out there is just like me thinking the same thing.
Listening on the Magic talk show radio after the game and hearing how pissed off people were made me even more upset and I know for them also. Being down 0-2 in the playoffs instead of tied 1-1 and heading back at home to Orlando is a huge thing. I am hugely upset, my stomach is churning, and I feel like punching walls because every single Magic fan was robbed tonight. The only other consideration is that there is no way if the Magic received those calls that the game would play out the same.. that is impossible to say. Needless they weren’t given that chance and I also take into consideration that there WILL be bad calls in these games but not so many that it could thus change the outlook of the game dramatically.
The refs Steve Javie, Joe Forte, & Derrick Stafford are corrupt. If they aren’t corrupt how are they in the NBA as professional officials after the game I just watched?? Why should I even watch NBA basketball or fund them with tickets and going to their games if the games aren’t even fair? How do we not know that any one of these three refs pulled an “Tim Donaghy”? Can someone please change the ruling about how the end of the third quarter played out? I know if I am this mad just imagine season ticket holders for the Magic or any other fan that loves the Magic, about how they personally feel? Those referees and the time shot clock operator from Minnesota is going to have a lot of explaining to do and they better get to the bottom of this…Reply back if you actually care about your NBA fans if not throw it away in the garbage.
-James Doyle
Age 18, Orlando Magic fan
PS: I just want true answers and justification
Posted at 11:19PM on May 6th 2008 by james
2. What the frick are you talking about? Seriously I am sick and tired of those fans who see conspiracy everywhere..read again what Matt Watson posted in this article and you'll CLEARLY see what happened. It was just a ref who ACCIDENTALLY blew the whistle. What the frick Donaghy and RETARDED conspiracy theories have to do with this? Mind explaining me? Are you even able to read what Watson posted?
And btw, if you know anything about the game of basketball, you would realize that the Magic TOTALLY BLEW the game in the 4th quarter. Look at how many turnovers they had, look at their TERRIBLE TERRIBLE shot selections, tons of mind-boggling decisions (like the stupid 3pt-shot Turkoglu attempted). Don't you think that the reason why the Magic lost was because of this? You can't beat a powerhouse like the Pistons playing like the Magic did in the 4th. It's really sad that people blame what happened at the end of the 3rd on the Magic loss. Those are only excuses Magic fans are making up because they can't accept their favorite team lost.
Come on people.
Posted at 12:35PM on May 7th 2008 by NBA fan
3. and no the refs and the clock operator do NOT have anything else to explain..read again what Matt Watson posted and you'll see all the explanations needed. And actually, the refs did their best. It's not their fault if they coulnd't use the TV replay. You clearly didn't even read what Watson posted because if you did you wouldn't be here talking about Donaghy and conspiracy theories.
Posted at 12:40PM on May 7th 2008 by NBA fan
4. Oh and btw, funny how Magic fans aren't saying anything about some phantom fouls called on the Pistons (how about the foul called on Stuckey in the 1st? or the "5 second call" on Tayshaun Prince?). So really quit crying and screaming "OMG, Donaghy, conspiracy!" every time a call goes against your favorite team. There are bogus calls in EVERY game, especially in close games and this will never change. Fans really need to get used to it and stop freaking out all the time. See? There also were bad calls against the Pistons, not just against the Magic.
And I checked what Orlando columnists said: even them said that fans shouldn't blame the refs and should blame only their team for the crappy way they played in the 4th.
Posted at 12:58PM on May 7th 2008 by NBA fan
5. LOL TYPICAL DETRIOT FANS>>>!!!
Posted at 7:27PM on May 7th 2008 by james
6. I know the letter I wrote wasn't edited and too harsh for any positive feedback. However my progress is as follows:
Regarding game 2 of Magic vs. Pistons game. I got in touch with Derrick Stafford and he seemed very frustrated with his responses and he clearly didn't seem happy with some of the calls in the game. As for contact with the other two referee's Steve Javie and Joe Forte, were both unsuccessful. The shot clock operator has not replied back (Tom Mauer) but still hopefully awaiting responses (I have already talked with his brother Ken). As of usual David Stern is busy in his office and hasn't officially made any amendment to the NBA ruling according to the end of the 3rd quarter incident of game 2. Will update you with my progress to get to the bottom of this. Thanks again.
-James Doyle
Posted at 7:27PM on May 7th 2008 by james
7. Go read the papers. Detroit can't beat Orlando Magic 4 games of 7 if the calls are JUST and FAIR! Can't see how you are an NBA fan if you didn't watch all the bad calls against the magic in that game and agree with me..lol detroit fan
Posted at 7:30PM on May 7th 2008 by james