NBA

[Gintaras]

Is anyone following the playoffs?

[redweather]

I watched most of the Cleveland/Orlando game last night.  But it was tough.  The officiating keeps getting in the way of the game.  Maybe I don't watch enough NBA games these days, but did the officiating used to be this bad?  LeBron runs over people, or trips and falls on them, and the refs give him two free throws?  And now all of a sudden the refs are calling travelling?  Did they begin that during the regular season, or is that just something they've dusted off for the playoffs? 

[bosox18d]

The refs are really really bad.The game 5 Lakers-Nuggets game was a text book example.The Lakers get their ass kissed more than any team because it's LA but the last two fouls Nene got were a joke and while if you just look at Kobe late in a game it's a foul,Carmelo was hacked and hacked and hacked going to the hoop and nary a thing was called.Pro wrestling may be more on the level than the NBA these days.

[bodiddley]

RedW:
They've been calling traveling for the past 2-3 seasons.
LeBJ's 4 step jaunt got called late in Game 3.

Now they just need to start calling palming.

[redweather]

Bosox --

I didn't watch the Laker/Nuggets game but I know what you mean.  I'll never understand why the best players in the league always get an assist from the refs.  Well, I do understand, but it's tough to take.  They've created a monster.  Dwayne Wade complained to the refs during the Hawks series even when he got a call.  Not sure what he wanted them to do, call two fouls?

Bodiddley --

I seem to remember them calling palming a year or two ago when they decided to get tough.  That didn't last very long. 

[bodiddley]

Well, just to make numbers up, I'd guesstimate that they call traveling 3-4 times per game.
But palming maybe once every 3 or 4 games.

[kam]

Question: Which team will win the Eastern Conference?

Boston Celtics  11 (50%)
Detroit Pistons  3 (13.6%)
Chicago Bulls  0 (0%)
Miami Heat  0 (0%)
Cleveland Cavs  6 (27.3%)
Orlando Magic  0 (0%)
Washington Wizards  1 (4.5%)
Other  1 (4.5%)
 
Total Voters: 22
 

[kam]

http://www.getyourbasketballon.com/home/

The Game: http://www.getyourbasketballon.com/game/index.html

[bodiddley]

I assume that poll was done while KG still prowled the hardwood and before Billups was traded.
Possibly before the Magic acquired Rafer, which might have saved their season.

I still say that it would be Boston v. LA if KG was functional.
Even though Pierce and Ray Allen were running on fumes towards the end of their run.

[bosox18d]

What little credibility the NBA had after the non call of Gasol at the end of regulation went out the window tonight with no call on Kobe in a 91-91 tie.Not only did he swing his elbow,he freakin knocked an opposing player  to the floor and the official right there called nada.If the NBA wants the Lakers to win that bad why bother playing the fucking games.That said the Magic fucked up big time on free throws but the FACT is they were still right there until the terrible non-call that led to the three pointer.I have no doubt that the Celts with KG would have stomped the Lakers again this year.They are still the same soft team they were last year when it comes to physical play.

[bodiddley]

Soft team?
I thought Kobe was KO'ing mofos with his 'bows!

Nelson was still maneuvering under/towards him, I'd probably call a foul on Kobe in the middle quarters and prefer the non-call down the stretch.  And I'm far from a Kobe fan, though I can't seem to root for the Magic.

Lakers had a hard slog to get to this point.
Battling against the mostly Yao-less Rockettes, then Denver.
Denver, like 'Lando, had ops to take a series lead -- but neither team has experience vet poise (aside from Billups).

Lakes and Magic are good teams who provide matchup problems for most teams, but not great teams, especially as both teams have had spotty bench play. 

[kidcarter8]

What little credibility the NBA had after the non call of Gasol at the end of regulation went out the window tonight with no call on Kobe in a 91-91 tie.Not only did he swing his elbow,he freakin knocked an opposing player  to the floor and the official right there called nada.If the NBA wants the Lakers to win that bad why bother playing the fucking games.That said the Magic fucked up big time on free throws but the FACT is they were still right there until the terrible non-call that led to the three pointer.I have no doubt that the Celts with KG would have stomped the Lakers again this year.They are still the same soft team they were last year when it comes to physical play.

If Kobe swung the elbow it would have been called.

[kam]

Kobe has a right to move his arm to make a pass with some smurf running into it.

[rembee]

Kobe has a right to move his arm to make a pass with some smurf running into it.

Nelson had the right to contest the pass-out without getting clocked on the chin.

Watch the replay...Nelson got there before Kobe even started swinging around, and he wasn't leaning in at all.  Kobe would not have been able to complete that pass with Nelson there, so he moved him out of the way.  Kobe was the one who initiated the contact.

Anyone else who wasn't all-league would have been tied up by a well-timed double-team.  But this is Kobe we are talking about.

[Gintaras]

It looks like Rubio is his own worst enemy at this point.  My guess is he balks and stays in Spain.