More NBA Referee/Cheating For Boston Escapades

More NBA Referee/Cheating For Boston Escapades
M.D. Wright
5.13.09

Where Amazing Happens (c), eh?

Let me run down a laundry list of infractions that have gone unchecked all playoffs:

1. First Round. Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics. Game 5. Rajon Rondo pimp slaps Brad Miller, knocks a tooth out and leaves Miller bloodied. VIEW HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TzGrzs7-AI

NO FLAGRANT 1. NO FLAGRANT 2. They even waited for a second to even make a REGULAR FOUL CALL -- and before anyone disputes this, I was watching it live. The call was late. They were actually going to let this clown get away with that malicious foul. He made no attempt at the ball. It was just a cheap shot foul because the Celtics ganged up on Ben Gordon (triple teamed him, actually -- since he is known to kill teams at the ends of games with backbreaking three pointers) and left Miller a wide open lane. They panicked and were determined not to give up the easy bucket. Okay. But go for the ball, not the man's face. Then exaggerate his weight in the postgame interview (Rondo claims Miller is 290, he's 265... MAYBE) to further defend your actions. Somehow.

Meanwhile, Derek Fisher (rightfully) gets ejected for a forearm shiver and Rafer Alston gets ejected for... SLAPPING (softly, I might add) a guy in the back of the head (deservedly)?

Let's move on.

2. First Round. Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics. Game 6. Rondo is at it again. Punches Kirk Hinrich http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5VkdP_I-XM. No ejection. No suspension. Guys have gotten suspended and assessed Flagrant 2 Fouls for less. I don't get it. Rondo has goaltended three or four shots in these playoffs that have not been called, by the way.

3. First Round. Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics. Game 7. I have no video, because David Stern and his cronies made sure 1) TNT didn't even show a replay of the play itself and 2) subsequently, there IS no video online. But Glen "Big Baby" Davis chops Dwight Howard across the arm. No foul. Knocks the ball loose. Davis grabs the ball with BOTH FEET CLEARLY OUT OF BOUNDS. No call. The referee was standing RIGHT THERE WATCHING IT. I guess he was so amazed by things that he forgot to blow his whistle. The Magic had a chance to go down and cut the lead to 3, instead on the play Ed House gets a breakaway layup off Davis' "steal".

4. This isn't playoffs, but more Rondo bitchassness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9wKL3y-rGU Notice he walks away, because Kobe was having NUNNADOT. ha.

5. Second Round. Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics. Game 5. Two things here. Well, actually three. Remember in the Chicago series, Ben Gordon shot an obvious 3 pointer that was called a 2. IN THE FIRST HALF. The refs changed it in the second half. Last night, in Game 5 of the ORL vs. BOS series, Ray Allen shoots a 2 (if you can't see anything between the white three point line and the white in a player's shoes, HE IS COUNTED ON THE LINE. The rules for officiating are clear. I have been an official in the past. I know this. The play was called a 3. They did not change it to a 2 -- BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE FIRST HALF AND THEY CAN'T "GO BACK"? WTF??? They just did that in the Chicago series! Does the NBA front office really think people are overlooking these incosistencies and this ruse to keep Boston in it?

Anyway, this play here typifies what has gone on all playoffs. No Boston player has been fined, suspended or even assessed Flagrant 2's; when Rondo, Perkins should each have at least one. This OBVIOUS airball -- which resulted in a 24 second violation, concluded with the referees huddling and OVERTURNING the call, even though none of them saw the ball touch the rim, nor did they go to replay. THE HELL? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su6PxE0BOZg