When the Refs Decide the Game
First off let me say that my "bold" NBA Finals prediction of a Thunder-Raptors match-up is still possible and I am quite proud of that.
Moving on though, it seems that at least a few times in the playoffs the NBA has had to come out after a game has finished to say the referees got it wrong and that a foul or other violation should or should not have been called. These statements, often probed and praised by media outlets, become a glorified post-game validation for the team that lost letting them know they shouldn't have lost.
This is bogus.
Calls were missed. Calls are missed at many points during the game. Fans will always think there should be a call even when one is not merited. ESPN personality Mike Golic states about refs that there are "one or two calls they miss at the end of every game." Calling a foul or violation is a bit subjective, not totally as there are guidelines that need to be followed by the officials, but part of the magic and strategy of the game is playing to how the refs are going to call it. Some games are allowed to be a bit more rough and others will have stricter refs. This is an element of the game that (so long as it is consistent to both teams) is simply a variable to success.
Taking a missed traveling call in Game 1 of the Warriors-Thunder and the many calls missed at the end of the Thunder-Spurs Game 2, I will clearly show why the missed calls were not the reasons behind the outcomes of the games.
Starting with Game 2 of the Thunder-Spurs match-up, I will not recount the fiasco as it would take too long but simply state that 5 calls (at least) were missed. The result of a Thunder inbound play was a Spurs takeaway leading to a missed three-point shot and the Thunder win the game. The thing to remember here is that fouls or no fouls, the Spurs ended up with the ball and with the last shot where they could have won the game. They missed. They lost. Had the no-calls been on a Spurs inbound play leading to a Thunder takeaway this could be a different post.
In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Russell Westbrook seemed to have traveled when he slid before calling a timeout. The NBA came out after the game saying it should have been called but remember here that the game was won by more than three points (108-102); more than one possession. In addition to that note, the Warriors defeated themselves long before that missed call. The Warriors had 14 turnovers in the game which is more than normal for this seemingly invincible team. Steph Curry only shot 40% from the field which is well below his average and the team was 65% from the free throw line. Not a good percentage considering they are usually closer to 75%.
In the end the Spurs lost and the Warriors lost. Those results cannot and will not change. Arguing about it is a waste of breath but lets remember that unless it is a number of bad or missed calls throughout a full game, there is usually another reason why the team that lost ended up with that result. If you choose to analyze the refs and their decisions, you must also analyze and critique the decision making of the teams for better or for worse.
Moving on though, it seems that at least a few times in the playoffs the NBA has had to come out after a game has finished to say the referees got it wrong and that a foul or other violation should or should not have been called. These statements, often probed and praised by media outlets, become a glorified post-game validation for the team that lost letting them know they shouldn't have lost.
This is bogus.
Calls were missed. Calls are missed at many points during the game. Fans will always think there should be a call even when one is not merited. ESPN personality Mike Golic states about refs that there are "one or two calls they miss at the end of every game." Calling a foul or violation is a bit subjective, not totally as there are guidelines that need to be followed by the officials, but part of the magic and strategy of the game is playing to how the refs are going to call it. Some games are allowed to be a bit more rough and others will have stricter refs. This is an element of the game that (so long as it is consistent to both teams) is simply a variable to success.
Taking a missed traveling call in Game 1 of the Warriors-Thunder and the many calls missed at the end of the Thunder-Spurs Game 2, I will clearly show why the missed calls were not the reasons behind the outcomes of the games.
Starting with Game 2 of the Thunder-Spurs match-up, I will not recount the fiasco as it would take too long but simply state that 5 calls (at least) were missed. The result of a Thunder inbound play was a Spurs takeaway leading to a missed three-point shot and the Thunder win the game. The thing to remember here is that fouls or no fouls, the Spurs ended up with the ball and with the last shot where they could have won the game. They missed. They lost. Had the no-calls been on a Spurs inbound play leading to a Thunder takeaway this could be a different post.
In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Russell Westbrook seemed to have traveled when he slid before calling a timeout. The NBA came out after the game saying it should have been called but remember here that the game was won by more than three points (108-102); more than one possession. In addition to that note, the Warriors defeated themselves long before that missed call. The Warriors had 14 turnovers in the game which is more than normal for this seemingly invincible team. Steph Curry only shot 40% from the field which is well below his average and the team was 65% from the free throw line. Not a good percentage considering they are usually closer to 75%.
In the end the Spurs lost and the Warriors lost. Those results cannot and will not change. Arguing about it is a waste of breath but lets remember that unless it is a number of bad or missed calls throughout a full game, there is usually another reason why the team that lost ended up with that result. If you choose to analyze the refs and their decisions, you must also analyze and critique the decision making of the teams for better or for worse.
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