19 Feb 2010  ::  home cooking
I think it is reasonable to expect a couple questionable calls to go in favor of the home team. It just happens too often to get really upset about them, especially when there is one or two and could go either way.

Denver v. Cavs? Different story. I was working on bicycles, so I was unable to watch the whole game, but here goes.

Denver is up one (100-99) when Billups fights over the top of a screen and hits Gibson, who had just dumped the ball to Varejao. After being hit, the ball gets kicked back to Gibson, who is still entangled with Billups and he chucks the ball towards the rim. The officials check the replay and award three free throws. The replays clearly show the initial foul before Gibson gets the ball in his hands. No continuation.

With 36 seconds remaining, Billups gets hit by Hickson and falls out of bounds. Turnover Denver. Maybe a no call if Billups doesn’t turn the ball over, but given the circumstances, foul on Hickson. I will admit that Billups could have thrown the ball inbounds to (I think) Nene.

These two ref oversights screwed Denver. Luckily, Cavs were too inept to capitalize.

OT. Some people might think that James was fouled by Anthony on a three, but it is a foul I detest, as the offensive player essentially takes a shot with a strange wind up to catch a defender’s hand. I say good no call.

However, Nene fouled out with 23 seconds left and James got a free throw continuation to tie the game at 116-116. There was only body contact, and it was initiated by James. Conversely, in the fourth quarter, Anthony had a similar drive and body contact with no call.

1.9 seconds left, 118-116, Denver. James gets the inbounds, slips, takes a dribble and launches a three that would have been good. There is no way it happened in 1.9 seconds.

The NBA was trending away from superstars. With James, Anthony, Bryant and Wade, things are regressing. I think the calls ruin the game.

Anthony is a great offensive player. I kinda wonder how great he’d be if he used the same athleticism and talent around the rim on defense and rebounding. I think James v. Anthony would be close; Anthony is really skilled, James is a bulldozer.