FanHouse

Terrible day when one sees such horrible officiating especially with regard to something so insignificant as laughing at the bench. Very upsetting to all of us who enjoy seeing the game for what it is--competition between players interested in playing basketball. Officials should know what their boundaries are--after all they are getting paid for their jobs just as much as the players are. Remain professional and objective.

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Crawford's reaction (or overreaction) was inappropriate to the situation. If he thought Duncan was mocking him- but how could he hear anything?- he should've at least given him a warning. Poor judgement on Crawford's part. In any case, Duncan should've expected as much from the little Nazi and be more restrained- like he normally is!

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Who is this Brett Edwards hack? He wrote, "I do know that San Antonio has the reputation, as a team, of being the biggest complainers in the NBA when it comes to the officiating." Prove this editorial by attributing it to documented quotes to this effect.

Your comment can be said about more than half of the teams in the league. I can’t remember game when Mavs player Dirk Nowitzki doesn’t complain to officials when he is called for a RARE foul. Of course in this Sunday’s game he himself had little to complain about, yet a few of his teammates were also frustrated with officials with obvious displays of disapproval directed at officials, but for some reason were given a pass while Duncan wasn’t so lucky.

Bad journalism on your part sir.

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I have never saw Duncan act the way he did today. I always though he was a model for any kid. I saw the whole game, and still think well of Duncan. The players need to play the game and let the officials call it. I think the reason for being throw out was because Duncan was laughing at Crawford. I have never seen Duncan sitting on the beach and smiling and laughing that much before. Harvey

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As usual the Spurs and Tim Duncan get no respect.Dick Bevetta watch the replay Tim had his hand under his chin watching the action saying nothing,then when another bogus call against the Spurs(Howard jumping into Omberto)Tim began laughing then your stupid overreacting.You should be removed from the NBA regardless of your 31 years your age have affecting your judgement the last couple of years in the call you have being making.And now your old ass is challenging NBA players to a fight.And a gentleman to boot like Tim Duncan.....Please get rid of him NBA.

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Today's Spurs v.s. Mavs game was ruined by the terrible injustice done to Tim Duncan by the NAZI ...JOE CRAWFORD!! How can you be an official calling the game, and challenge one of the games' finest ambassadors to a fight? Bad enough he gave Duncan 2 technical fouls, but now MR. BIGSHOT ,David Stern will fine him for telling the press. The SPURS basically cannot catch the SUNS for the #2 seed in the west now. Joey Crawford has a grude against DUNCAN and the SPURS! He should be fired, or at the very least not be allowed to officiate SPURS games!

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I am not a Duncan or San Antonio fan, but Duncan typically complains in a subdued fashion. What other job allows one do a lousy job and those impacted are forbidden to critique the poor performance at the time of the incompetence or afterwards? Two or three bad calls can alter the outcome. What frustrates viewing for me is the predictable uneveness of the incompetence. I doubt if Crawford calls a technical on a star player of a HOME team unless it is clearly indicated...and never a second technical regardless of the nature or severity of the behavior. Maybe they should calls reviewed after the game by the commissioner and get a bonus for calling a good game (hurting each team a comparable amount)or in the case of games called like Crawford, a penalty.

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It is never a good thing when referees names are known by the fans. I was watching and i find it hard to believe that what Duncan did deserved to get the 2nd T. Refs should not be in the limelight because if they are then there is something going seriously wrong. Refs need to be held to the same standards as players, if not higher. I also find it hard to believe an NBA ref would say something like this to a player, especially during a HUGE nationally televised game like this.

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Let me get this straight. You're on the bench,you're quiet' and you get a technical foul? Then about a minute later you're seen laughing on the bench. Result, another tech ,and leave the building! This is what happened to TIM DUNCAN and the SAN ANTONIO SPURS today against the league leading DALLAS MAVERICKS! Whose payroll is Joey Crawford on(Mark Cuban's)? Crawford said he wanted to fight Duncan. Then he said Tim complained and called him a piece of shit. DUNCAN has too much class and denied the comment. Well I don't,Crawford you're an old,sorry, piece of SHIT !!

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Brett Edwards=whinny ass Spurs hater

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Richard...Beveta had nothing to do with this? It was Joey Crawford.

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A few things:

1. Please, please, please, don't call him a Nazi. An unwarranted technical does not warrant that term being brought up.

2. Brett Edwards runs one of the best NBA blogs on the web, and is a frequent contributor here. I don't know him personally at all, but to call him a "hack" simply because he insulted your favorite team, is uncalled for.

3. If David Stern is half as interested in improving the quality of his game as he is in improving the "image" of his game (dress code, zero-tolerance on griping), he needs to suspend Joey Crawford for the entire playoffs. The finals last year were an absolute debacle with regard to officiating, and the last thing we need is a situation like this ruining what could be an incredible playoffs. This game meant nothing, but what if this happened in the Western Coast Finals with the Spurs and the Mavs? A referee should not think he's the main attraction, which unfortunately, is exactly what Joey Crawford thinks.

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Brett, you are distorting the fact to promote your agenda to discredit the Spurs and everything the franchise has accomplished over the years to advance the image of more marketable teams which is shared by others in the national media. Dozens more photos similar to the ones you presented can be found every night in the NBA showing how many more teams display equal frustration with the poor officiating. Unfortunately most of it goes unnoticed because it show’s the NBA’s beloved major market teams in a negative light and advances the Spurs’ frustration with officiating the is inconsistent and leaning toward teams other than the Spurs especially in pivotal games.

Part of Duncan’s frustration is with the abuse he and his teammates receive by defenders that clearly exceed the league’s contact limits yet fouls are not called by the officials 9 out of 10 times. Yet, on the other end of the court a Spurs defender is whistled for a ticky-tack foul for just being in the vicinity of Dirk while he is shooting. A similar gripe of other teams when playing the Mavs that goes unnoticed by the national media because it involves their Dirk “great white hope” Nowitzky.

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Brett the funny thing about yout post is reading all the Mavs fans reactions on that website. They absolutly blasted the Spurs fans for complaining about the refs and wouldnt you know about 2 weeks after that every single Mavs fan would be doing the same thing after the Finals were over.

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Well, this has been good reading and some truth has been said and I would like add this if I may. I am not sure if David S. is focused on the officiating as much as he is the $$$$ the game brings but I am certain that he is not a domb administrator so it would seem that flooding his office with emails comcerning the poor officiating might cause him to take the same action against officials as he has with players. Just a thought.

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Tim Duncan is the biggest cryer in the NBA. I'm glad he got punted. I don't know if I hate him or Barry Bonds more. They both RUIN the game in their sport.

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I live in San Antonio and have seen the Spurs play many times, front row courtside. Tim Duncan is a gentleman. I have seen horrible calls made on him and he usually displays a look of disbelief but he doesn't call refs names or threaten them. Someone posted the remark that the Spurs are complainers. The Spurs get some of the worst calls in the NBA. They should complain and more of it but since the team is made of gentlemen and not outlaws, they don't. I was shocked at Joe Crawford's call. I think Stern should reveiw the tape and take appropriate actions against him. They do when players act up so why not refs?

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Well, well, finally the ref's have had enough of "Whinning Timmy's" complaining. This guy thinks he never fouls anyone. About time someone puts him in his place, especially setting the stage for the playoffs. Timmy; just play ball and shut the heck up. Now if only someone has the coconuts to put an end to Ginoblli's fhony flopping!

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I've been refereeing for 30 some years and have seen escalation of player and referee verbal and some physical interaction. It does not surprise me -> Coaches, Management, Players and Referee's need to realize that we are in spiraling and escalating times on many fronts: Global Tension, Personal Issues, Sport Success Expectations to name only a few that affect all of us, and consequently, we all need to step back when heated situations occur and evaluate before responding. That is a little idealistic, I know, but really needed before some actions / events / issues / reactions occur in a more uncontrollable fashion occur.

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