HEAT/Pacers Game 1

[Dave Gray]

What a sloppy, crappy game.

The refs really sucked.  They called the game way too tight way, way early -- got everyone on both teams into foul trouble on tick-tack bullcrap.  And then, down the stretch, were totally inconsistent.  The foul on the 3 point shot at the end of overtime was an embarrassment.  Yes, their fingers did touch well after the ball was released, but it was an airball that totally didn't affect the shot.

This also came after Lebron got elbowed the head the play before.

The HEAT didn't shoot well and I'm not blaming their struggles on the refs.  In fact, I'm sure Pacers fans are just as irritating with the over-officiating.

[EDGECRUSHER]

The NBA refs just love making themselves the center of attention. They were abysmal in the Knicks/Pacers series too. While that may have been overstated by the Knicks themselves, they still were awful and changed the way the game was played. Anytime a team has twice as many fouls as the other, something went wrong.

[Dave Gray]

I don't mean to complain about fouls against the HEAT or any one particular play.  It was both teams and it was on minimal stuff.  You had Lebron, Wade, and Bosh + Hibbert and West all missed time from foul trouble.  It would be one thing if these were legitimate fouls, but it was a bunch of offensive shift bullshit.  In addition to that, the refs had to turn on a dime late in the game to avoid throwing everyone out on fouls and when it mattered, they let guys beat on each other.

Just awful officiating.  It stopped the game in its tracks and made us watch a bunch of 2nd team players.

[EDGECRUSHER]

"I know the NBA wants the Heat in the Finals, but tell the referees to calm down" - Charles Barkley during Game 2

[Dave Gray]

Game 3 was awful again.

Referees dictate the game on both sides.  Everyone is in foul trouble the whole time, the game moves at a snails pace, and tic-tac crap away from the ball is killing the game.  There is no flow, your stars are on the bench or fouled out in crunch time.  Joey Crawford can't help but make himself the center of the show.

[Brian Fein]

Explain to me what happened last night, please.  I was watching the game in a bar with no sound, so I didn't hear the commentary...

About 30 seconds to go, Wade had the ball and did some pump fake, then dished to Battier who drained a three to pull within 1.  But somehow they called something on Wade and the shot didn't count. 

What was the call there?  I saw the replay, I didn't see anything really bad, but maybe they could call travelling?  Seemed like the call only came after he hit the three-pointer though...

What did I miss?

[Dave Gray]

They called traveling on Wade.  It wasn't.  But it's just one more drop in a much larger bucket.  There were well over 50 fouls called in 48 minutes.  It just stops the game.

It varies so much from game to game and crew to crew on whether or not they're going to let teams play or not.

[Brian Fein]

Yes, agreed, but that one had a direct impact on the game result.  Down by 1 with 30 seconds to go is much different than down by 4 and you lose the ball. 

Seemed like a garbage call to me, so I'm glad it really was.  There were a bunch of garbage calls in that game.  I agree with your statement, Dave.  The "foul" that LeBron "fouled out" on was kinda odd-looking to me as well.

[Dave Gray]

I try not to get caught up on one particular play or one call.  Basketball is a lot like the NFL's holding on the offensive line.  You can find something to call a foul on on just about every play, if you're looking for it.  But good refs recognize fouls that give an advantage and call those only.

In games 1 and 4, they got too caught up in calling these little minor things.  At some point, you have to let the players decide the game.

[Phishfan]

Three of us watching all thought Wade travelled.

[Dave Gray]

I don't see how that's possible, but it doesn't really matter.  You're allowed to take two steps in any direction when going up with the ball.  Either way, it's not one play that was the issue.

[Phishfan]

I found the replay and it is fairly tight of a call but Wade moves his feet before his dribble.

Click Here without the page distorting link.

[Brian Fein]

^^ that happens 100 times per game, and its never called.  Every time a ball is inbounded, you'll see the guy take a step or two before the first dribble.  I've seen guys dribble out, pick up the ball, and fake a pass and dribble again, and not be called.

[Dave Gray]

Here, SI breaks down the rule: http://nba.si.com/2013/05/29/dwyane-wade-travel-heat-pacers-east-finals/

But even if you're looking really hard and you find a travel in there, that's just not a call you make to end a game.  It's over-officiating and it ruins the sport.  Let the players decide.

[Dave Gray]

And just like that, the officiating in game 5 was reasonable and a total non-factor.

The HEAT didn't play well early, Indiana did and the score reflected that.  Then, the HEAT started hitting shots and Lebron went off and the Pacers couldn't get points inside, so the score reflected that, as well.

That's how a basketball game should look, regardless of the outcome.