(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
The Celtics lost to the Cavs in Game 6 in Cleveland last night. The officiating crew of Dick Bavetta, Joe DeRosa, and Joe Forte were horrid, with their execrable work culminating with a series in the last minute where they called Paul Pierce for an offensive foul when LeBron James was not set -- his feet were in the air -- and then a blatant non-call on offensive goaltending against Ray Allen. Not that the Celtics played all that well, but the poor officiating made it impossible for the Celtics to come back from a 5-point deficit in the final minutes.
Why is Dick Bavetta still officiating in the NBA? The man is 68 years old, for crying out loud. He can't even beat Charles Barkley in a footrace anymore. Does he have naked pictures of David Stern in his safe deposit box? He needs to retire.
Boston Globe: Visitors charged up over last-minute call
CLEVELAND - At times it felt like the Celtics had eight opponents on the floor last night instead of five.
Boston not only lost Game 6 to Cleveland, 74-69, but got the wrong end of the whistle, too. The Celtics were called for 25 personal fouls, while the Cavaliers got 16. Boston also shot just 13 free throws to 25 for the Cavaliers, including 15 by LeBron James.
Bleacher Report: Celtics-Cavs: Garnett, Boston Can't Overcome LeBron, Officiating
That was, by far, the worst, most embarrassing performance by an officiating crew in the history of the NBA.
The only thing that comes even close is when they decided to give Dwayne Wade a few games in the NBA finals a few years ago.
LeBron James had more free throw attempts than the entire Celtic team. Which would have been okay—if the Celtics weren’t taking the ball to the hoop. But they WERE.
Paul Pierce couldn’t buy a call. Taking the ball to the hoop and drawing contact did nothing to help him.
I understand that Glen Davis is a rookie, but he was fouled seven times and didn’t make it to the line once. He was MUGGED under the hoop. Yet no call.
Kendrick Perkins was thrown off the spot when attempting a defensive rebound, no call. Yet he was constantly called on the other end for minimal contact.
I’m not rational right now.
I was ready to blast the Celtics for losing on the road again, or praise them for finally getting over the road hump.
But what I witnessed was not a basketball game. It was a WWE event, where they had a scripted outcome designed to build up the next episode, which is Game Seven in Boston on Sunday.
LeBron James is hard enough to beat by himself. He doesn’t need help.
Then he has the nerve to complain CONSTANTLY in the second half? Are you kidding me? He’s the most unenjoyable superstar since Reggie Miller. And unenjoyable isn’t even a word.
The NBA is broken. Completely and utterly broken.
Hoopsvibe.com: Refs Give Cavs an Assist, Force Game Seven
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2 comments:
I have a hard time watching the NBA because the officiating is so arbitrary. The league needs fit, fast-eyed refs who can keep up with the action and who have played the game at some competitive level. It needs real standards it can enforce irrespective of home court or stardom. Right now, the game is closer to theater than to fair competition, and it doesn't really work for me as theater.
You are so right. The referees are all the same people who were refereeing in 1997. They're too old and can't keep up with the young behemoths playing.
But I still love basketball, and enjoy the Celtics as currently constituted. Kevin Garnett has them playing as a unit and committed to defense, which you rarely see in today's NBA.
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