Where ridiculous happens!
Dwyane Wade doesn't like to see Mario West dancing! (This fine photo is courtesy of my main man Curtis Compton of the AJC)
MIAMI - I know what the NBA’s slogan is supposed to say.
But after two weeks of great basketball in most cases, and relentless dramatics in others, the only thing that seems to be rising from the dust right now is foolishness.
From griping on and off the floor (more on that in a minute) to tough-guy antics (from as far away as the radio perch) in almost every single series to the continued assault on the game by an army of awful game officials, the playoffs seems more like where ridiculous happens?
At a time when the NBA game should be on full display for all to see, everything else is getting in the way.
I dare anyone that’s watched any of the Bulls-Celtics series to tell me they’ve seen more intense playoff basketball anytime recently. That’s what real lovers of this game deserve to see.
But it’s not happening these days.
Good luck focusing on what should be a frantic and fantastic Game 6 tonight between the Hawks and Heat here at AmericanAirlines Arena. Good luck enjoying yet another entertaining playoff series that’s being marginalized by the news of the weird that seems to be the flavor of every day this time of year.
And in true ridiculous fashion, verbal shots are being fired across the floor before the opening tip (and no, I’m not talking about the faux furor over Josh Smith’s missed dunk at the end Game 5).
Apparently Heat star Dwyane Wade didn’t appreciate Mario West’s version of the Ray Lewis dance at the of the possession just before halftime of Game 5. He lit West up to my man Mike Wallace of the Miami Herald and the rest of the assembled media here after practice Thursday. Here’s Wade going off on our man ‘Rio:
His celebration for his one stop? What is this game coming to? One thing I go back to is something my high school coach always told me. Act like you’ve done something before. He used to hate when I used dunk and pound my chest all the time. He used to tell me to act like I’ve been there before, act like I’ve done it. Win lose or draw, you have to be classy. There are some unprofessional things that they have to take care of. On the court, you show emotion, and that’s great. But celebrating after one stop, that’s funny.
The HP (Hypocrisy Police) might point out that Wade doesn’t seem to have a problem with jumping up on the scorer’s table and pounding his own chest after hitting game-winning shots or staring Joe Johnson down after making a deep shot off the glass in Game 2 or screaming for one of his teammates take Flip Murray out on a baseline drive for a dunk late in Game 5. But you be the judge? But Wade wasn’t done.
It appears Dwyane Wade has a few celebratory moves of his own!
He had more to say about not only Wade but the Celtics and Bulls, too: I don’t know what it was a sign of. I was laughing after the fact because I’ve never seen that before. Tony Allen did that the other night when he stopped Ben Gordon from hitting a shot to win the game. That’s what you do. When it’s going into halftime and you stop somebody, that’s a little different. But we’re not here to point out every little thing they do, you know. Who cares? It’s about what we do. And that’s the only thing we can control.
He said all that to point that there’s no bad blood brewing between he and ‘Rio and certainly nothing personal between these two teams (before all but instructing his teammates to stir it up):
First off, I have nothing simmering with Mario. He’s not been a factor in this series. It’s irrelevant to me. I have nothing brewing with him at all. It was one of those games, one of those playoff series. It’s just about do we have the team to come back and fight as much as they’re going to fight. Zaza Pachulia is knocking people out. It’s simple as that. I’m not telling my teammates to knock him out. But when he comes down the paint, just make sure he feels us, on offensive rebounds. We’re not the team that’s playing dirty. We’re the team that wants to play smarter and protect ourselves as well.
THE HAWKS’ CAMP IS FAR FROM INNOCENT when it comes to baiting the other side. It seems Hawks radio announcer Steve Holman has enraged the masses here in South Florida with some of his in-game rants, so much so that the folks at deadspin.com have taken a liking to him.
I’ll let you judge the for yourself whether or not Holman’s calls were out of line. It hasn’t nearly the firestorm in Atlanta that it has here, where it’s been dominating the airwaves. But I imagine it will be one of the underlying story lines from tonight’s game, particularly if the Heat wins and forces a Game 7 Sunday back in Atlanta.
PETA says lay off Spirit the Hawk! (This photo is another C.Compton special)
Apparently PETA WANTS A PIECE OF THE ACTION, TOO. The recent flap over Spirit The Hawk prompted this email (below) from the fine folks at PETA.
And we all know that they don’t need GPS to find their way to Atlanta since the Michael Vick story dominated the sports landscape.
PETA didn’t appreciate seeing the Hawks’ Hawk ridiculed after that unauthorized flight before Game 2.
In fact, they don’t want Spirit victimized at all, per the email they sent the other day (they also sent a different letter to Hawks’ part owner Michael Gearon Jr. expressing similar sentiment):
Good afternoon.
After learning that a live hawk used as a mascot for the Atlanta Hawks got loose in an arena, which forced a game to be temporarily stopped, PETA has sent a letter to Hawks owner Michael Gearon Jr. urging him to implement a policy to prohibit the use of live animals at Hawks games.
PETA points out that the bright lights, screaming fans, and loud noises (such as air horns, music, and amplified sound systems) that make sporting events exciting for fans can be terrifying for animals. Appearing at games can be frightening and disorienting to birds and potentially dangerous for birds and fans alike. The hawk is also subjected to the stress of transport to and from games.
“If the Hawks want to increase fan support, they don’t need cheap gimmicks—they just need to start winning games,” says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. “The only place where ‘birdies’ belong in sports is on golf courses, not at basketball games.”
Game 6 can’t get here fast enough for me. I just want to get back to basketball for a little while.
SPEAKING OF BASKETBALL, both Al Horford and Marvin Williams will watch Game 6 in suits. Neither one of the Hawks’ starters is healthy enough to play tonight.
Horford’s sprained right ankle will force him to sit while Williams remains sidelined with that sprained wrist on his shooting (right) hand.
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594 comments Add your comment
DrewCat
May 1st, 2009
10:59 pm
Rick Sund your sarcasm isn’t even funny at the moment LOL… If we get to the next round, CLEVELAND will further prove that the Hawks need a leader and a star. PEOPLE DON’T BLAME J-SMOOVE. He’s playing with an attitude and although some of his emotions are misguided, he’s playing with intensity.
JK
May 1st, 2009
11:01 pm
I agree, at least Josh shows some fire. Of course he acts like a moron between his flashes of brilliance.
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:02 pm
Marvin Williams was quite a WARRIOR tonight. He tried to give it a go, but hey injuries happen. He is definitely a TOP PRIORITY this offseason. We know he will have MANY OFFERS on the table from other teams this summer. With his ABILITY and POTENTIAL he is definitely another guy that can be the ROBIN TO OUR BATMAN JOE JOHNSON.
Ed
May 1st, 2009
11:04 pm
There is more of a chance of Woody getting an extension as opposed to being fired, regardless of what happens in game 7. Sund and the ASG are happy with the regualar season performance and will discount what happens in the playoffs as growing pains.
atlrayzd
May 1st, 2009
11:04 pm
Big Dave superstars get double teams all the time but the true superstars make the other team pay by finding the open man, embracing the double team as an opportunity to find the mismatch. Unlike Joe who goes into a shell and disappears. No reason for Joe to have less than 20 a game stop all these excuses for the guy.
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:05 pm
Drewcat I agree with you and when we play Cleveland in games 3 and, I hope to see you and all these other Hawk fans for a special CHICK FILA FAMILY NIGHT. Rember Drewcat I told you a few weeks ago that BEATING MIAMI WOULD SATISFY ME and MY BOSSES whoever they are.
doc
May 1st, 2009
11:06 pm
thankfully missed most of it. seems imposters showed up for the flight. better hope the real guys show up. fans had better show up as well. it is disheartening, just the same a good season and one to revel in with one more victory.
durn, if kirknga had only been more positive i am sure we would have won. well maybe not.
Harry Hawk
May 1st, 2009
11:08 pm
kirk is the only one who can carry us to postseason glory.
TheHawksFan
May 1st, 2009
11:10 pm
Did we REALLLLY expect the NBA to let us win this game???? Come on now. Joe gets 2 fouls in the 1st 2 mins. Whatever! Yeah Haslem got 2 but he is not the Heats best player. Im over the REFS and the BS calls. The fact we shot like 19% didnt help at all. BUT after ALLL that we still get a GAME 7 at the HOUSE!!! Come on Home Hawks!! They need to take ALL of the seats out of the arena. Open ALL the doors and let in as many the Fire Marshall will allow. Hand out 20,000 thunder sticks rally towels Hawks FLAGS EVERRRRYTHINNGGGG!!! If you EVER cared ANYTHING about the Atlanta Hawks NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOW AND PROVE!!!! I myself will be drinking till Sunday noon. I dont plan on haveing a voice at all next week. LETS GOOOOOOO HAWKSSS!!!!!
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:11 pm
Thank You Ed you said it right. These are GROWING PAINS for the a very YOUNG team.
atlrayzd, you shouldn’t expect so much from Joe. He average points in the REGULAR SEASON. I have been in the league years and I know that SUPERSTARS lie Joe Johnson draw more attention. Joe is basically a POOR MAN”S KOBE, right Hawk Fans?
hawks in 6
May 1st, 2009
11:11 pm
just when i started to think that the Hawks were for real, they go doing this sh*t again!! just a pathetic display
kwooden1
May 1st, 2009
11:11 pm
I MISSED the 1st Quarter which would have told me the result of this game.
It is a very bumpy ride being a HAWKS fan. This team isn’t mature enough to be truly consistant. From the 2nd half (which I saw) on, they stopped executing and stopped playing with urgency!! Josh missed several jump hooks, and lost confidence. JJ didn’t get in his teams faces and Bibby just doesn’t have the ability to take over a game anymore.
I do, still believe this loss is part of the maturity process, but its VERY HARD to watch.
GAME 7:
———–
The only thing I don’t want to see is Wade walk out during the game hurt! Then I would agree with everyones comments about Wade being a baby! It looks to me that he body hurts a lot more when their losing opposed to winning. The HAWKS have to execute on the offensive side and rebound. I really hope HORFORD is healthy, because we need his toughness. If the HAWKS play together and rebound, it will be a win. But what I really want to see is a team that knows what it takes to win.
GO HAWKS!!!!
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:15 pm
Thehawksfan is right. We get game seven back at the highlight factory. Remember hawk fans Joe did lead the league in MINUTES PLAYED. Maybe it’s starting to catch up with him a little bit. You fans should be SATISFIED as I am. Heck we are going to be on ABC. Maybe we should do a special CHICK FILA FAMILY SPECIAL for sunday.
doc
May 1st, 2009
11:16 pm
probably worth repeating:
Melvin
May 1st, 2009
9:23 pm
Funny that we hear the comment “The refs are letting them play” on the Hawks end of the floor….
Heater
May 1st, 2009
11:18 pm
When was the last time the Hawks won a game 7…Like 40 years ago…
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:20 pm
atlrayzd, Correction=Joe averaged 21.4 points a game.
rob
May 1st, 2009
11:20 pm
Immature, unprepared, GUTLESS wonders!
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:23 pm
Heater you are right, but with the UPSIDE of this team and the POTENTIAL we look to end that drought. I tell you something Heater we hope to see you for game 7. Even though you are a heat fan, we welcome you to the Highlight Factory. We are right where we want to be as an organization. Afterall Hawks fans, haven’t we improved every year?
Heater
May 1st, 2009
11:25 pm
kwooden1
It is easy to tell when Wade feels good. He drives the lane an dunks on the entire team.
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:25 pm
Rob that is not called for. It’s a long season and with my 30 years of experience I can tell you each game is different in a series. With my SHOULD HAVE BEEN COACH OF THE YEAR MIKE WOODSON OFFENSIVE SCHEME, we could do DAMAGE for years to come.
rob
May 1st, 2009
11:28 pm
I stand corrected.
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:30 pm
What can we call Mike Woodson’s OFFENSE. HMMMM….. lets see you have the TRIANGLE OFFENSE of PHIL JACKSON and the RUN AND GUN of Mike Dantoni. What about the Hawks?
I got it, the DRIBBLE DRIBBLE TRIPLE ISO!
DecDawg
May 1st, 2009
11:31 pm
JJ was double-teamed when he had the ball but he wasn’t double-teamed when his teammates had the ball. And he definitely didn’t move or put himself in position to take advantage of the defense. He has to be one of the laziest scoring threats in the NBA. He doesn’t run off picks to get open shots, he doesn’t like to run the break and finish at the rim (often pulling up on the break for a 3) and he doesn’t like to post up even though he’s probably the biggest 2-guard in the league.
But hey, I’m sure somebody’s going to blame his lack of effort on the number of minutes he plays. And if that’s your argument, explain to me why he wasn’t doing any of this at the beginning of the season (before he was “overworked”?
But it’s not all his fault…his coach runs the worst offense in the league. And yes, he should be fired!
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:33 pm
Thanks Rob, that is type of fans we want. You know those that share our STANDARD and GOALS of getting to the SECOND ROUND! One other not our FREETHROW shooting has improved a great deal.
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:37 pm
DecDawg, such negativity. Yes Woody has played Joe a substantial number of minutes, but hey look how far it’s gotten us. 47 REGULAR SEASON WINS and 3 PLAYOFF WINS. We are practically knocking on the door of the SECOND ROUND which was our GOAL from the start of the season.
For the last time DecDawg and you other Hawk Fans that have unrealistic expectations like you know winning a NBA CHAMPIONSHIP instead of realizing the SECOND isn’t so bad, WOODY AND HIS DRIBBLE DRIBBLE TRIPLE ISO OFFENSE GOES NO WHERE!!!!!!!!!!
J.J.M.
May 1st, 2009
11:38 pm
This has been a horrible series. Games are not even close. refs seem to let the crowd controll the game calls. game 6 Wade Ft 16-17 hawks 11-18. i mean come on How you shoot more free throws then an entire team. Other that Heat wanted it more and smh @ the hawks assumin that they will win game 7. Anybody knows whats up with joe johnson?
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:40 pm
There great execution in the dribble, dribble triple iso offense tonight, we just didn’t make all of our shots. But you could see the INTENSITY OF THE PLAYERS from the START. You can’t win them all.
understand greatness!!!
May 1st, 2009
11:41 pm
maybe i am faking hurt some games, but at the same time what ever joe johnson has done, i’ve done better!!!! i’m a superstar baby, you call it what you what but it’s effective, nobody say anything when jordan did it, but now, all hawkfans are doing is crying, refs been bad for everybody not just you, remember that
rob
May 1st, 2009
11:42 pm
Hey Sund, I know the second round would be a monumental accomplishment, After we finish taking the Cavs to four games, think you might get us an enforcer to put folks on their a$$ after the 35th drive to the basket. Think we could get us a coach who will double a scorer like other teams double Joe.
DeeMack
May 1st, 2009
11:45 pm
Now, do I hear the Hawks fans whining? No, it couldn’t be that. Thought only the Heat fans and D-Wade were cry babies. Face it, no one likes to loose and when you loose you loose alone. Wasn’t that a song written back in the day. LOL. By the time these teams finish playing game 7, they will both be so beat up King James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will take them in 4!
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:47 pm
J.J.M., to answer your question there is nothing wrong with JOE. His just utilizing his skills, not necessarily to score, but be a DECOY so that we can get guy like JOSH SMITH going. With JOSH being a PURE SHOOTER he has to get a rhythm early. This is exactly why we pay JOE 14,000,000.00 a year to be a DECOY. If Josh continues to be COOL, CALM, an COLLECTED in these games then we should be OK.
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
11:52 pm
Rob we have an ENFORCER and his name is IVAN DRAGO i mean ZAZA PACHULA. He is as tough as it gets. He’s a RICK MAHORN TYPE. You know my answer about WOODY, HE GOES NO WHERE. Woody being an ELITE DEFENSIVE MINDED has done a great job in this series. You can’t expect the team to play with URGENCY every night, after all where is game 7 gonna be played right here in the HIGHLIGHT FACTORY. THIS IS WHY ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS WAS TO BE THE FOURTH SEED.
kiringa
May 1st, 2009
11:57 pm
Damn all of this squish!
You freaking people have been knee-jerk all season long so the heck wit ya! You people complaining tonight are the same ones that said the Hawks would go 3-17 in their last 20 games. You are the same people who said the Hawks would not secure the 4th spot. Coach Woodson this…Josh Smith that…JJ over that…trade Bibby at midseason.”
Those who really paid attention to this team this season knew they were going to lose this game.This team does just enough. They win just enough to take the 4th spot. They win a game in Miami they had to win and keep their home court advantage.
We wanted home court just in case there was a Game 7.We are exactly where we’re supposed to be right now.
Let’’s face it,we need Al and Marvin to play and contribute if at all possible.The Hawks are not so talented they can win without 2 of their starters making contributions.
Go Hawks!!
Rick Sund
May 2nd, 2009
12:03 am
Kiringa, that’s the spirit. We wanted that fourth seed and we got it. On sunday we will reap he BENEFITS of making such LOFTY GOALS. We do need AL and Marvin so that Joe can do his job of being a DECOY and drawing double teams so he can feed our GREAT OFFENSIVE WEAPONS!!
rob
May 2nd, 2009
12:07 am
exactly Kiringa, wha is all of the complaining about?
Rick Sund
May 2nd, 2009
12:11 am
Kiringa, you aren’t like most of these ungrateful fans who want to win a championship. You shared our organizational goals. We kept Woodson and his GREAT OFFENSIVE SCHEMES and BIBBY’S DEFENSIVE INTENSITY and JOSH SMITH’S GREAT SHOOTING AND GOOD ATTITUDE AND JOE’S JOHNSON’S AGGRESSIVENESS and now look where we are. Hawk Fans the HIGHLIGHT FACTORY IS GONNA BE ON ABC. Now they can see Josh shoot jumpers all over the place.
Rick Sund
May 2nd, 2009
12:13 am
Last year WE ALMOST SHOCKED THE WORLD, now WE WILL OWN IT!
kirkinga
May 2nd, 2009
12:22 am
Just win the game, we don’t need no shocking!
Go Hawks!!
niremetal
May 2nd, 2009
12:34 am
I’ve changed my mind. We should trade JJ, Horford, Marvin, Smoove, and Bibby, and replace them with these guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1L-8xLI_5c
MAC-TOWN
May 2nd, 2009
12:37 am
What happened in the beginning of the game? How did we dig ourselves such a big hole???
Rollins Tree
May 2nd, 2009
12:51 am
Thanks Josh for inspiring this beat down tonight.
EAST ATLANTA HAWKS FAN
May 2nd, 2009
1:22 am
I HATE TO SAY THIS BUT IF YOU ALL GO WATCH TAPE OF JOE JOHNSON THE YEAR BEFORE HE CAME FROM THE SUNS,HE HAD A ATTACK DUNK GAME ALSO LIKE KOBE,BUT SOON AS HE GOT THE BIG CONTRACT,THE REAL JOE JOHNSON DISAPPEARED.
BUT HE WILL SHOW-UP IN HIS LAST CONTRACT YEAR,LOOK AT HOW KOBE LEBRON AND D.WADE PLAYS,THEY ARE WORTH MORE THAN JOE JOHNSON,BUT THEY STILL PLAY LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THAT BIG CONTRACT EVERY YEAR,THATS THE DIFFERENCE,BETWEEN THE BEST AND THE REST!
D2183
May 2nd, 2009
1:26 am
Some fans are funny… don’t get mad at JJ. Yes he’s only had one 20 pt game but he has been pretty effective against Wade outside of game 6. He’s not on Wade’s level but everyone knew that coming in. If you’re expecting him to go head to head with Wade you’re crazy.
Concerned BB Hawks Fan
May 2nd, 2009
1:45 am
To the Commissioner of the NBA (self declared BB God)
As a legal (I stress LEGAL before some of those self-called “intelligent fans” start ranting on me) foreigner, after my arrival in the USA, I started to watch NBA games more closely than I could when I was in my home country. The NBA always is pronounced as the best basketball leage (hmmph !! What a misconception I came to realize after a couple of years!)
Fortunately, I arrived with my family (all LEGAL!) in Atlanta – a great city! We arrived in 2002, the year that the Hawks organization announced they would play play-offs or pay the season ticket holders back (part of) their tickets. Anyone knows that they didn’t make it to the play-offs until 2008. But I became a fan of this team. As all of the real fans, I cheered, had sometimes more disappointments then reasons to be proud during those years, but I kept routing for them because I saw a team being build.
Unexpectedly, last year they reached the play-offs as the #8. And I was proud! Unfortunately, because of business circumstances, I had to spend my time abroad, so I wasn’t part of the atmosphere – I only got it second hand from my wife. And now, this year, they rightfully improved to the #4, struggling through ups and downs, but if you have a 4 game advantage on the #5, it is in my opinion well deserved! And it has been a great team effort. Yes we have great players, Joe, Bibby, Al, Marv, Mo, Flip, ZAZA, Smoove (if he plays the plays he has to play – and although I was surprised by his famous try to dunk, he had every right to do it – why the hell did he have to apologize to the Heat??!!), Mario, Solo, etc. And a good coach (I know a lot of you fans don’t like him that much, but you have to give him credit too! He had times he could only do that much – there were times he could have done better, but in the end, he brought us here!)
Over the years, I have seen multiple games, especially Hawks games, but a lot of others as well. To me, it seems more and more that it doesn’t matter so much what the teams bring on the floor, as how referees (try to) lead the game in certain directions. A lot of times, those referees should be called “flagrant misjudgment” calls, the same as they decide on flagrant fouls.
I have read comments the last couple of days (mostly from Hawks bloggers in regard to DWiner’s behavior, but from Mi(m)ami “fans” in respect to Hawks players too) that the players should be playing soccer, the way they act on the floor after being fouled.
My home country is soccer crazy, and so am I, I admit. But at least, the European soccer league (UEFA) and the world soccer league (FIFA) have (almost independent) controlling organisms overseeing their referees! Just as your manager/supervisor evaluates your performance at work. Every game, a neutral observer is present, not so much to watch the game, but to observe AND evaluate the referees’ performances. Of course, there is always room for some interpretation of the rules, and yes, mistakes happen – referees are human, and they need to make decisions on a split second. But nevertheless, if they make the wrong decision, their evaluation suffers and they risk that their ranking goes down, or worse, get suspended for a couple of games, and have to return on a lower level.
I haven’t figured it out yet completely how or why, but the referees in the NBA (and lower levels for that matter, yes even starting in middle school) are certainly NOT independent, as they are supposed to be. Is it because they are protected so much on the court that they feel themselves equal to the status of God? Is it in some cases to hide their pitiful lack of self-confidence out of the uniform, outside the gym or sports arena? Is it a combination of both? Or is it because they are pressured from above? Or is money a factor?
The way the officiating went only one-way in yesterday’s game 6 in Mi(m)ami, I fear the worst: it is the NBA at the highest levels that order the referees how to lead the game! (with bonus pay on top?) After yesterday’s game, I can’t believe those referees took all those bad decisions on their own account. They were puppets on a couple of “steel” strings, guiding the game they way they were ordered to.
Yes, I am a Hawks fan, but I am first of all a fan of the game. Those referees killed the game yesterday. Why!!??? All because of that self proclaimed Super God D(winer) Wade? What else to think of his flagrant foul on Mo Evans in the previous game being overruled by the NBA? I thought the almighty commissioner of the NBA saw the same thing as all sports fans saw: an attempt to stop a basket, badly gone wrong. (In soccer, such an assault would have guaranteed a red card = double flagrant/technical and immediate ejection + suspension for the next couple of games!!) What is NBA’s reaction?? “We revoke the decision!” (because it was our protégé sissy Dwayne Wade).
In my opinion, the officiating in game 5 was one of the better we have had in the series. So what does the NBA do? Yeah, kick them in the nuts because they dared to call Princess Wade back. At the other hand, did anyone notice even their reaction when the situation heated up after Solomon’s foul on D(winer) Wade? Yes, Solomon hit him hard on the wrist, defending the basket. Did anyone notice the immediate retaliation from The Dwiner? Shuffling the ball in Solomon’s face, both hands? (Again, in soccer, Solomon’s actions would have earned him a yellow card (call it a flagrant foul in bb), but retaliating like DW means immediate red = double technical!! + suspension!). Did you notice after that moment whom that poor old ref was protecting with his life (did you notice the fear in his eyes?)? Yes, “Superstar” D(winer) Wade. Is he really such a sissy he needs protection of a 5 something foot tall, 60+ year old referee? And why was he the one being protected? He was the aggressor!!
So it was no surprise that the officials in game 6 would be against Atlanta Hawks. Especially after D(winer) Wade’s press interview. I guess he must have the private number of the commissioner too, so he could W(ad)e(ep) his heart out about those tough and nasty Hawks that don’t respect him or aren’t afraid of him. But can anyone seriously call that show still “real” officiating on the part of the referees? In Europe, it wouldn’t have taken 5 minutes after the game or an official investigation would have started to research the possibility of a pay-out of those refs’s. But not in the NBA, of course not! We all know they are higher than the Holy See: don’t you dare (as a coach or player) to comment on the officiating of a game, even if it was as flagrant as yesterday! Only one explanation: the NBA itself instructed (and the Heat paid?) those refs (because their beloved protégé could loose a couple of 100K if he doesn’t get in the next round).
In European soccer, an organization has the right to object decisions that influence the game (it’s difficult, but at least there is a legal procedure!). Not anything like that in the NBA of course (au contraire, they reverse correct decisions if against a protégé – read: someone that pays them part of his out of NBA commercial contracts). So the NBA rather sees certain teams moving forward, based on commercial interests, rather than to support the real sportsmanship, the sometimes above human effort of athletes to achieve the highest possible, even if that means that sometimes (a lot of times) the slated favorite falls short because of too much self confidence.
I am very disgusted at this point about the officiating in the NBA. I have only respect for a couple, very few, that I know will play their role as correct as possible. The rest are only puppets on very tight strings of a couple of self proclaimed gods like D(winer) Wade, King Lebron James I, Cesar Kobe Bryant, and a couple upcoming princes(ses) more.
I am really hoping that game 7 in this great city of Atlanta will be fair. We all know that mistakes happen, and as we all know, usually, those get compensated. What happened in Miami was flagrant. If I would have been coach Woodson, I would have asked my GM permission to spend 25K in fines (oh, sorry for the Hawks that would have been at least x4, I suppose) and blast the officials. Maybe we finally would get some respect.
Mr. Commissioner of the Great NBA (sorry I don’t call you God) – PLEASE TAKE ACTION!!!
A worried Basketball Fan.
Concerned BB Hawks Fan
May 2nd, 2009
2:03 am
Oh, btw, JO – I understood you are regarded as a veteran in the game, no? So stop weeping because the big bad wolf (aka ZAZA) accidentally touched your precious baby face. It’s the freaking play-offs! Did you see Zaza’s face during and after game 2? Did he complain about a concussion? No, he came back and punked y’all with 12 points and 18 rebounds! That is being a player! A man! A ZAZA!
Pete
May 2nd, 2009
2:26 am
Nothing hypocritical about jumping on the scorers table after hitting the game winning shot in double overtime! Not comparable at all to celebrating after Wade missed a shot at the half.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2009
2:35 am
When are we going to know dates and timings for Round 2?
I would think since the Hawks and Heat are both in the eastern time zone it wouldn’t matter which one advances necessarily… it would be nice to know this ahead of possible to make sure the schedule is clear during that time.
Big Ray
May 2nd, 2009
3:07 am
Had to record the game so I could watch it later. It was ugly, about as much so as I expected.
Life without Horford is rough. Life with only a few minutes of Marvin didn’t help either.
And our guys looked seriously gassed. And we have never been good on the road.
Did the officiating suck? Yes, it did, but that didn’t lose the game for us.
On to game 7, where I hope we will at least have Horford. It would also be nice to have just a few more minutes of Marvin (I know, I know, a judgement call, but do you want to win, or don’t ya?).
I’ll say one more thing about this game. Mike Bibby was clearly the best player on the floor for the Hawks. He was the only one with a truly cool head (including the baiting of young Mr. Chalmers). And I watched him PHYSICALLY help keep Josh Smith’s head in the game. Bibby showed a lot of leadership, even on the defensive end of the floor.
Say what I have about Bibby, he has the leadership thing down pat. We need someone, someone else with that quality around here. Our younger forwards have lacked that kind of locker room and floor influence for so long, and it still shows (in Smith more than anybody else) that this is a factor, though not the whole story (again, Smith needs to grow the F out of this..quick).
Every team needs a leader, but most need more than one guy. Bibby is that guy for this team, but he can’t do this alone, and he may not even be here next year. Where do we get such a leader, particularly while our younger guys are learning how to be leaders? A guy like Bibby has shown some of these guys what veterans/team captains are supposed to do. As ugly as this game was, I was impressed with what he brought in this area.
Bibby brought it. No one ELSE has…
Tech sucks
May 2nd, 2009
3:16 am
Dwayne Wade is now officially the biggest cry baby in the NBA. Jesus Christ.
Big Ray
May 2nd, 2009
3:23 am
Niremetal,
I had to laugh a bit ruefully at your comment on Woody. If our guys look like they’re the least bit tired or banged up on Sunday, you’ll certainly know why. I’m not sure what Woody was thinking, leaving them in when it was VERY clear that 1)We were down 20-something points, and couldn’t buy a bucket to save our lives, 2)Wade was going to get a foul call as long as he showed up in or near the lane with the ball, 3)Our guys were ALREADY showing they were tired AND frustrated, and 4)We’ll need everything we’ve got left in the tank for game 7 (since we clearly weren’t going to win game 6). Don’t know what to say that wouldn’t sound insulting…
And what’s all this noise about offensive scheme? Didn’t you get the memo? All the Hawks have to do is play with energy, and they will win. Energy answers all of life’s little questions.
Got two of your starters on the bench due to injury? You don’t need to modify your offensive approach at all. Just bring more energy. Can’t seem to buy a bucket? Shoot with more energy. Is the defense not letting you get anywhere with the same two (and only) plays you’ve been running at them for six straight games (and most of the year)? Well, run them with more energy. Are guys receiving the ball in every possible situation EXCEPT the one that puts them in the best position to be effective? Who cares? Add some energy, and it works, man. And don’t worry about the charge calls, Flip. That’s just an energy side effect.
Hell, we don’t need a coach. We just need a pile of batteries, a little lube, and some suppositories….