NBA Player X: Refs play favorites
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hoops23I'm not sure who this is, but his take is kind of funny, especially the bolded part...
http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/blog?name=player_x&id=5046968 (it's an insider link, I got it from RCF though)I was asked the other day what I think of the referees this season. My answer: I hate the referees.
I was only kidding, kind of.
Lately, the refs have treated me and my teammates OK, but there was a point earlier this season when they were acting like they were bigger than the game. Joey Crawford, especially. That guy. You can't even ask him a question; he won't even look at you. Did you see what happened a few years ago when he challenged Tim Duncan, of all people, to a fight during a game? Ridiculous. The guy is a hothead, and players around the league know that whenever he refs a game there is gonna be some drama. More foul calls, more technicals, more delays. If you're watching a game and see Joey Crawford as one of the refs, expect controversy. It's a shame but it's true.
I always say that you can tell the difference between a young ref and a veteran guy. Generally speaking, players like young refs better because they don't tend to favor coaches or individual players, they just call the game as they see it. The problem is they are constantly being overruled by older refs. They'll make the right call and then an older ref will come running in and say, "Are you sure that's the right call?" Then the young guy will be like, "Well, what did you see?" They don't want to show the older guy up so they defer to him, and he's most likely biased. That's right, you'd think that the veteran referees would be more mature and balanced about their calls, but really they just carry more baggage onto the court.
Of course, the refs, young and old, are always getting worked over during the game by players and coaches. We played Charlotte earlier this season and Larry Brown completely controlled the whistle. The same thing happens with Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson and George Karl -- they're considered the greatest coaches in the league so it's easy for them to get the refs to do their bidding. I guess it's no surprise that refs favor winners. Let's say you're a great team and you're on a fast break and someone fouls you. A ref won't call it right away, he'll let you dunk, then call the foul so you get the three-point play. But if you're on a bad team they'll call a ticky-tack foul right away. No dunk for you.
Me, I always try to chat up the younger refs during the game. I'm a pretty calm guy, so I usually start with "Excuse me, sir. Can you explain to me what just happened?" Then I'll ask him to check the call at halftime because I think he missed it. My favorite response -- and this is what they usually say -- is, "That wasn't my call. Ask him." I get that a lot. Maybe I'm not one of the refs' favorites like some guys in the league. For instance, Kevin Durant has impressed me with his ability to get a whistle at such a young age. He had 15 free throws the other night! LeBron always gets calls, obviously. Kobe gets fewer than you'd think because he travels all the time. But the guy who gets the most calls by far is Dwyane Wade, even though he carries the ball a lot and is always falling down. The refs like his personality, I guess. He never met a ref he didn't like.
Chris Paul gets away with the most talking. There have been times when I've seen him curse a ref out like, "What the f--- are you looking at you ---hole?! Learn how to call a f------ game!!" The ref will be like, "My bad, I'll get you next time." What?!! If that had been me I'd have been T'd up and thrown out. You can't curse at a ref without getting a technical or at least a stern warning. Unless you're Chris Paul, who can say whatever he wants. -
devil1197Kevin Garnett
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sleeperYes we know refs play favorites. This is the reason why players whine and complain so much because they know they can get a future call due to that whining.
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hoops23No way lol..
This part takes KG and D12 out of the equation:
I also don't think KG is that well versed in writing or the English language.Me, I always try to chat up the younger refs during the game. I'm a pretty calm guy, so I usually start with "Excuse me, sir. Can you explain to me what just happened?" -
devil1197Garnett just got fined 25K for complaining about Durant.
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Fly4FunI think it's Paul Pierce... but it's definitely someone from the Celtics.
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devil1197Their old.
Old people are grumpy and complain alot. -
hoops23
I know that, but this doesn't sound like Garnett.. He's not polite about anything and he wouldn't be praising KD while talking about how Kobe and Wade travel and carry the ball..devil1197 wrote: Garnett just got fined 25K for complaining about Durant.
I'm sure he would have had some disdain for KD in there as well..
I actually don't think it's anybody from the Celtics. They don't know what computers are. -
jpake1I'll take a very wild guess and say Jason Terry. He's still probably upset with Wade living at the foul line in the finals.
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Cleveland BuckWade gets the most favorable treatment by the officials in the NBA. You can't go near him without hearing the whistle.
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jpake1I don't know why everybody always says that about Wade. All the top superstars that are AGGRESSIVE get the benefit of the doubt. To be honest, I actually think they could call more stuff.. in a 'by the book' kind of way. A lot of times Wade and other stars should be getting and ones, but don't. Not too often have I seen Wade get a phantom call, and I watch almost every game. A few here and there, but that's probably because of poor positioning by a ref and just giving him the benefit of the doubt. Wade a quick lil knicca and is great at changing direction and getting contact while they're still moving. It's a reason why he's top 5 in the NBA in FTpg.
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Trueblue23Wade flops more than Vlade Divacs
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jpake1That's funny.
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wildcats20
There is not one player in the League that would EVER go to a ref and say that. lolLTrain23 wrote: No way lol..
This part takes KG and D12 out of the equation:
I also don't think KG is that well versed in writing or the English language.Me, I always try to chat up the younger refs during the game. I'm a pretty calm guy, so I usually start with "Excuse me, sir. Can you explain to me what just happened?" -
SQ_CraziesLOL, stupid thread. RETARDED level comments about D-Wade.
All great players get calls, the refs aren't consistent enough at anything in the NBA to even pick a favorite. -
KnightXC1NBA refs suck and are the worst of the 4 major sports and it's not even close.
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SQ_CraziesYou could make an argument that they have the hardest job too.
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hoops23Why is it a stupid thread?
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SQ_CraziesBecause it's blatantly obvious that they play favorites and have for YEARS and YEARS.
Player X's next tidbit of information might be to tell us that water is wet. -
Sonofanumphttp://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5058557
Phil Jack-son is now $35,000 lighter in the pocket. -
Hb31187Wade gets more ticky tack calls then anyone in the NBA, I agree with player X.
I still LOL @ Wade getting wheel chaired off the court for a shoulder injury. When players like Desean Butler ect..hobble off with torn ACLS -
Hb31187
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wildcats20
Granted it doesn't mean ANYTHING. But, KG dropped an F bomb regarding officiating and only got $25K.Sonofanump wrote: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5058557
Phil Jack-son is now $35,000 lighter in the pocket. -
wildcats20
lol...ACLHb31187 wrote: Wade gets more ticky tack calls then anyone in the NBA, I agree with player X.
I still LOL @ Wade getting wheel chaired off the court for a shoulder injury. When players like Desean Butler ect..hobble off with torn ACLS -
Hb31187Lol ooops, fuck it not worth going back to edit