The shot clock
I’ve put up a fresh story with quotes from the locker room.
As you might imagine, Mike Woodson was pretty steamed.
His full press conference (questions approximated)
Q: What happened with the apparent shot clock malfunction?
A: I’m not going to comment on it at this time. We’re just going to file a protest without a doubt, let the league review it at the two-minute mark and then see what they think.
Q: What role did that play in the game?
A: We’ve got a one-point lead with the ball going the other way and we’re rushing to get a shot because the clock is not in our favor. You figure it out.
Q: How do you rate the team’s defense?
A: It was a great game. If you’re a fan or you’re watching it on TV, it was a great game tonight, both ways. Both teams fought, didn’t want to give an inch. Unfortunately, it had to come down this way, but as an organization, we have to do what’s right for our organization and our basketball team.
Q: Is it difficult to lose a game like this?
A: Sure it is. We’re playing hard, just like they are. It’s a [heck] of a game tonight. Both teams are fighting, wanting to win. It’s a shame it’s got to come down to that, but, hey, it’s what it is, and we’ll figure it out when the league reviews it.
My initial suspicion is that the league won’t force the teams to play the game over again. Here’s why. When David Stern overturned the Hawks’ overtime win over Miami in Dec. 2007 and called for a replay, he judged that there was “gross negligence” in the scoring table giving Shaquille O’Neal an extra foul.
It’s a lot harder to establish that what happened tonight was gross negligence. Clearly, it was a mistake and a bad one, but shot clock malfunctions happen from time to time. The game moves fast and I imagine it’s hard to be perfect on it.
When a player is called for a foul, the referee goes over the scorer’s table and tells the scorer the number of the player charged with the foul. If you mess that up – a matter of record keeping which is something that can be corrected after play has resumed – I think that’s a little different.
Suspicious timing? Sure. But let’s say for argument’s sake that the timekeeper was trying to help out Cleveland. Do you think he (or she) would think he could get away with something so obvious? I wouldn’t.
(Of course, the counter-argument is that, Well, he did get away with it, so, yes, he did think he could get away with it. And my answer to that is, I don’t know what happened with the officials. They wouldn’t give an explanation after the game to a pool reporter. I’m sitting next to ESPN reporter Chris Sheridan, who says that video replay can’t be used for shot clock malfunctions. So, one more reason why the protest may not go very far.)
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90 comments Add your comment
northcyde
December 31st, 2009
4:02 am
I’m coining this game . . . “The Holiday Heist”
Youngstown Transplant In Gwinnett
December 31st, 2009
4:05 am
So many conservatives in here I bet. I can tell from all the non sense talk. It’s ok, I’m used to it living in Hicksville, I mean Georgia now.
The Hawks are a pretend elite, pretty much like the city of Atlanta itself.
Cavs are by far the superior team, and would win each time they have a series either 4-0 or 3-1.
The Hawks played as good as they could tonight, and still lost. What a same.
RaJaH
December 31st, 2009
5:24 am
Keep your head up hawks! I respect the way you guys remained professional these past couple games but ya’ll got to quit allowing these teams to disrespect you. LBJ and Verajou shoulda been on their backs the entire 4th qtr. If the ref is gonna blow the whistle anyway, give him a reason!
Anthony
December 31st, 2009
5:34 am
The Hawks were not good enough. They blew a 17 point lead… They’re only 1-4 against the top teams in the league and they have to settle for excuses and moral victories because they will NEVER get to where Cleveland is at. NEVER.
Michael
December 31st, 2009
6:14 am
Seems like the NBA, with known, documented problems involving tainted officials, would take incredible pains to “get it right.” Nope, as long as ESPN gets its share of James highlight footage, all is well.
All isn’t well. NBA plays favorites. Michael Jordan. Lebron James. The Boston floor.
PhotoMat
December 31st, 2009
6:16 am
Anthony, are you smart enough to know that you paint yourself into a corner using words like NEVER?
Guess not.
The dumb-arse level on this blog is very high.
santa cruz dawg
December 31st, 2009
6:25 am
Nique said on the post game ” Hawks got hosed” and he should know. Hey remember how many times the refs screwed the Hawks back in the 80’s: when we played Bird or Jordan. The superstar calls are pathetic and still in effect today. It’s to bad for solid teams like our new look Hawks. And please give Woodson a new contract. He is a great coach!!!
Anthony
December 31st, 2009
6:27 am
Anthony, are you smart enough to know that you paint yourself into a corner using words like NEVER?
Guess not.
The dumb-arse level on this blog is very high.”
The Hawks are a bad franchise that hasn’t got out of the 2nd round in years. They haven’t been a title contender since being in Atlanta and that isn’t going to change because they’re a 2nd rate team with 2nd rate players. Lebron will be owning them for the next decade like he did tonight.
Ken Sugiura
December 31st, 2009
6:58 am
Northcyde- thanks for your comments.
this is a definition i found for “gross negligence” – “Gross negligence is a conscious and voluntary disregard of the need to use reasonable care, which is likely to cause foreseeable grave injury or harm to persons, property, or both. It is conduct that is extreme when compared with ordinary Negligence, which is a mere failure to exercise reasonable care.”
Here’s why I’d maintain it doesn’t fit the definition. First, I don’t think it was “conscious and voluntary disregard” of the malfunction. The Hawks went down and got the shot off and the action continued the other way. It was over that fast. Was it a mistake? Obviously. A very bad one? Definitely so. The problem is that it happened and was over so quickly.
As Chris Sheridan wrote in the story linked above, “there is no recourse for going to a video review on a malfunction such as this.”
Obviously, one of the officials should have figured out what was going on. Maybe I’m not giving them enough credit as referees, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they just blew it.
MVP23
December 31st, 2009
7:09 am
Was there a shot clock problem…yes !! But why didn’t Woody call a t.o. and bring it to the officials attention? There’s no way to tell if the ATL player was just not going to the hoop and lost the ball. Did the Cavs get the calls last night …yes, but the Hawks had more foul shots on Tuesday. It’s not fair but the NBA officiating usually favors the home team and favors it’s superstars even more.
Willie Coyote
December 31st, 2009
7:33 am
The lead was blown because of the free-throw disparity. The Hawks play inside all the time so there is no reason for them to ever shoot 23 less free throws than their opponents. That was bad even by NBA ref standards.
The Cavs have an elite player who is catered to a little too much. If you take #23 away, they may not make the playoffs. You also have a lot fewer “Cleveland” fans out there all of a sudden. Boston and the Lakers are the only two elite teams out there. If you take away anyone on either team (even #24 in yellow), they still make the playoffs and advance at least one round.
The shot clock thing was bad. Yea the Hawks should have noticed but so should the refs. If the Hawks benefited from something like that, Stern would make the last part of the game be replayed. Don’t believe me, he’s done it to us before. Some of you can defend that kind of crap all you want but I am tired of seeing my team and others get cheated out of games in such pathetic fashion.
Cole
December 31st, 2009
8:42 am
Cleveland is not an elite team. They don’t have one ring, the haven’t won anything. And Lebron is a crownless king. Without ref support Lebron and his band of castoffs would be a 6th or 7th seed team maybe. Elite my a##. Win something first. The Atlanta Hawks were the victims of a league in the business of promoting it’s chosen stars at any cost. The ref’s influence on the game was blatant. It’s not about sportmanship, it’s about money for the fat cats at the top. Lebron should say a silent pray, because Vera*** miracle 3 was just that.
vava74
December 31st, 2009
9:45 am
MVP23,
How do you intended Woody to get the officials attention with a TO if the game was ongoing?
I am sure that, like anyone else who is paid to look at it (the refs), Woody only realized that there was a “malfunction” when he saw Josh driving to the hoop and not from the very beginning of the possession.
Ken,
As for the gross or non gross negligence, what we saw from this refs was waaaaay beyond negligence and the shot clock situation was just the most obvious “mistake” made in favor of the Cavs.
I presume that you prefer to protect your a** by not committing to actual reporting – which would warrant very strong criticism towards the refs – in order to “protect you future” as a “NBA/Establishment compliant” reporter, however, intimately you must know exactly what happened on that court yesterday.
Face of the NBA?
December 31st, 2009
9:52 am
How does 14-15 to 28-38 foul shots happen? How does 15 sec shot clock happen? How do “Bron Bron” and Varijo(I don’t give a |)@mn how you spell his name) only have 4 COMBINED FOULS?!? Oh that’s right MVPs get their own rule book. Don’t breath on Lebron you’ll get a flagrant foul! I’m sick and tired of the puppets, the pre-game Las Vegas side shows the Cavs put on. There is a game to play that people paid for and want to watch. If we wanted to see dancing and goofing around I’d watch the Super Bowl halftime. CUT THE BULL$H!T PLEASE
SLAM ONLINE | » Hawks Filing Protest Over Shot Clock Error
December 31st, 2009
10:00 am
[...] once, the shot clock wasn‘t in the Hawks‘ favor (they were on the road), and now they‘re planning on filing a protest with the League: “As you might imagine, Mike Woodson was pretty steamed. ‘Q: What happened with [...]
Time
December 31st, 2009
10:02 am
Let’s just hope that guys like Chris Sheridan keep this issue in the forefront. Sort of surprising given he’s a ESPN columnist and they’re in bed with the NBA that he would be one of the few actually taking notice of the screw at the Q.
Some enterprising reporter looking to make a name for himself should dig deep into the officiating in the NBA. I don’t think it would take reviewing too many game films for the picture to become crystal clear. It’s also not going to take too much digging to to start unraveling the fact that this has been a long held league mandated agenda.
Tim Donaghy is the Jose Canseco of the NBA. A general sleezeball, but speaking the truth that noone wants to acknowledge.
Mz. Hawkdafied
December 31st, 2009
10:50 am
I second that Face of the NBA! Lebron and his minions are a bunch of clowns masquerading as professional basketball players. The sideshow they put on reminds me of my high school days. I would expect that of high school basketball players but not grown men.
The fools had on birthday hats that are frequently seen at kids birthday parties. It was very fitting for a bunch of boys. Any man with the need to wear little kids hats gets no respect from me. HAHAHA. And Delonte West had the nerve to call J Smoove a boy. The Cavs are a joke. Any observant fan can see the preferential treatment Lebron gets. Why does the NBA make a big deal out of Lebron’s birthday?
How the heck does one player take more free throws than an entire team?
Cavalier
December 31st, 2009
10:50 am
We would have won anyway. We play just hard enough to win You had no chance at all. Stop kidding yourselves. Playing the Hawks is like playing our kids. We might keep it close, we might not, but come crunch time, it’s our ball game baby. (See last years playoffs for example)
GoldHaze
December 31st, 2009
11:04 am
Come on Hawks fans. Yes the clock should have been reset, but that is not why we lost. You can’t give up a 17 point lead in the fourth in the NBA against an elite team. You just can’t do that. There are people on here complaining about the treatment of the Hawks by the refs since the 1980’s. Does that mean you think there is a vast conspiracy against the Hawks that started then and continues today? Or is it the conspiracy to get LeBron a ring? You can’t have it both ways. We have to face the facts that as an organization, the Hawks are not elite. There is no superstar, just a collection of above average players that would compliment a championship team like the Lakers or Celtics. It is what it is. Josh Smith plays hard and is athletic, but not well rounded. He can duck and block, but does he make players around him better? Sorry, not trying to be negative, just realistic.
hickery
December 31st, 2009
11:12 am
I see a lot of guys complaining about the foul shots taken by the Cavs and the few by the Hawks, The cavs were trying to take the ball low and the Hawks just don’t play that way. outside shooting is a good thing if you make it. And not to many get to the line shooting long shots.
Joe Buddy
December 31st, 2009
11:13 am
Hawks fans seem pretty pissed at this whole clock malfunction. Karma is quite the bitch isn’t it? And the Hawks want to protest this? Man up and take the loss…and in the meantime, watch the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0EZPJ10kpI&feature=related
d.carter
December 31st, 2009
11:15 am
This may be the best thing in the world for the hawks… Maybe…. just maybe it will wake the team up too the fact that they arent gonna get anywhere by being nice!!!
STOP LETTING LEBRON AND THESE OTHER GUYS TROT DOWN THE LANE FOR DUNKS AND UNCONTESTED LAYUPS…SINCE THEY ARE GONNA CHEAT YOU ANYWAY YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET YOUR MONIES
WORTH AND MAKE SURE THE FOULS ARE HARD….
Dammit Woody its time to use Jason, Randmo, and othello, hell bring back Garrett silar!!!! Stop settling for jump shots and go strong to the basket….
I would have love to see Lebron and co try that pregame birthday BS and play the badboys or 1 of those old knicks teams with anthony mason, then come out and try to drive the lane like that…. Its time to stop being nice and play physical…
Dan
December 31st, 2009
11:50 am
Aside from all the hoopla regarding the shot clock, did anybody notice two critical plays by Josh Smith? One is a jumper (17 footer from the side) and a very imp turnover during the shot clock play. Those two plays killed us. specially the turnover. If you look at it closely he was so lackadaisical about it. Again at that point we were still up by one. If only he could mature enough, learn from his mistakes. It doesn’t matter that he is not jacking up the three’s anymore, because clearly these mid range jumpers hurt just as well. Forget about him being an All-Star this year.
Bill W.
December 31st, 2009
12:04 pm
cavsfan09, you keep aligning yourself with an “Elite” team status. Until a team has won a championship they are not “Elite”. Lakers, Celts- Elite. Magic, Cavs- great teams but not elite.
Willie Coyote
December 31st, 2009
1:49 pm
Are these Cavalier fans or Lebron groupies that keep posting. That dude has enough chicks lining up to kneel down; we don’t need grown men doing it too.
I know Mark Price, Craig Ehlo, & Hot Rod are wondering where all these “die-hard Cavalier fans” were when they played.
DocZeus
December 31st, 2009
2:19 pm
I have no sympathy for Hawks fans. Not only did the Hawks cough up a 17 point lead, one night after they choke and go scoreless for 9 minutes into the fourth quarter but the reason they lost this game was because Bibby panicked and lost the ball.
And even with that said, the Hawks tied the game up on the NEXT possession so any particular harm from shot-clock chicanery was nullified on the NEXT ensuing possesion. The Hawks had their chance and blew it.
Besides any team that loses a game becase Anderson Varejao hits a three pointer is destined to lose that game regardless.
Sour Grapes.
DocZeus
December 31st, 2009
2:25 pm
“I know Mark Price, Craig Ehlo, & Hot Rod are wondering where all these “die-hard Cavalier fans” were when they played.”
Yeah because I DON’T remember going to the Richfield Coliseum and going to sold out games to watch Mark Price play in the early ’90s. Besides would you WANT to attend a game in the early ’00s when the team was trotting out Fat Shawn Kemp or the immortal Darius Miles/Dajuan Wagner/Ricky Davis triumverate of suckiness before Lebron came. No, you wouldn’t.
And I wouldn’t be talking as Hawks fans had trouble selling out a PLAYOFF game.
Big Mone
December 31st, 2009
2:26 pm
For all of you who keep on insisting that the Hawks were not aggressive enough in going to the basket please review my post from the other blog and pull the shot charts yourself. The Hawks were just as aggressive in going to the basket but did not reap the rewards of their efforts as did Cleveland. Here’s my post:
GeeMack, I’m not sure if you watched the game but Atlanta took but Atlanta took 31 shots in the paint (9 in 4th alone) and Cleveland took 33 shoots in the paint (only 6 in 4th) so your theory about Cleveland driving so much more than Atlanta doesn’t hold water. Cleveland took only two more shots in the paint than Atlanta overall and in the decisive 4th quarter where Atlanta took more shots in the paint by a 3 shot margin Cleveland shot 8 more free throws than Atlanta (11-3 edge and one of Atlanta’s 3 was for a defensive 3-second call against Cleveland). So it doesn’t seem to me that Atlanta was settling for jumpers, but they were aggressively driving to the bucket but the refs did not see fit to make any calls. Of course on the other end, Cleveland was less aggressive and settled for more jump shots but somehow managed to shoot 8 more free throws than Atlanta. Go figure.
Big Mone
December 31st, 2009
2:30 pm
Here’s a link to the shot chart from the game. Hopefully this will put to rest this foolishness about the Hawks just settling for jumpers. Shots in the paint were virtually even.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=291230005
«ÜFØ»
December 31st, 2009
2:37 pm
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Brian Taylor
December 31st, 2009
3:00 pm
From the video, it’s really hard to argue that the shot-clock problem had an impact. The Hawks sure don’t seem to be in a hurry on that possession.
Josh Smith casually pounds the ball a few times as he jogs across midcourt, and leaves it for Bibby to pick up. Bibby waits for everyone to catch up with the play, and then for Smith to set a pick on Mo Williams. After taking 10 (!) dribbles, Bibby passes to Smith rolling to the basket on the pick-and-roll. The pass hits Smith in stride in the lane, and he’s in good shape to attack the basket without having to dribble, but he gets stripped on the way up.
Aside from the finish, it would be hard for them to have a better possession. And at no point does anyone show a sense of urgency — there’s no moment where, for instance, Bibby looks up at the clock and suddenly starts hurrying. Everything unfolds at a deliberate pace.
If, say, Horford had to force a 3-pointer under defensive pressure because the shot clock was hitting zero and everyone was screaming at him to shoot, the league might consider the appeal. But given that the Hawks had a good possession until the strip, I think there’s no chance they will get anywhere with this.
Moxie
December 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
I really don’t get why Cavs fans are on this blog? You continue to say get over it, but you are on the blog that wants to talk about it. You all know that something wasn’t quite right about it, so you decide to see how the opposition feels. Go to your own blog and discuss it there. Not on a Hawks blog.
bravefalconhawk
December 31st, 2009
4:09 pm
48 points from king james,a lucky 3-pointer from sideshow Bob,help from refs and the shotclock operater.1st game Hawks didnt score in 4th quarter until 3:12 left and were still in the game.Its no question we can go toe to toe with Boston,Orlando and Cleveland,we just gotta close out games better
«ÜFØ»
December 31st, 2009
4:20 pm
I keep putting comment but i dont see them maybe its because am using my psp instead of a computer.
Go hawks
cheshire
December 31st, 2009
4:24 pm
cheated by the refs or not, the Hawks organization and their fans win either way because we don’t have to play or live in a cess pool like Cleveland
Lebron James
December 31st, 2009
4:40 pm
Next year Cleveland won’t even be in a factor cause i’ll be in New York
Brian Taylor
December 31st, 2009
5:16 pm
Moxie, are there territorial rules for posting here? It’s an interesting controversy.
The Hawks clearly have a case. But can they show that they were harmed? I don’t think so, based on how the possession went, as I detailed a few posts up.
The NBA has approved only one protest in the past 26 years. This probably won’t become the second one approved.
Old skool
December 31st, 2009
9:47 pm
I am really glad to see the support the fans are giving the Hawks. JSmooth keep up the good work. You guys showed a lot of class. I actually stopped watching the game at a certain point because I saw the refs were not going to let Clevland lose. Please for the fans sake knock the you know what out of people when they drive the lane. Let them know thats off limits. As for you sorry Clevland fans your team is not elite. They have not won anything the last time I checked your team has not won a champinoship. Oh by the way J smooth tell everyone on the team we are proud of you all and I admire the composure you all showed. If it was me playing last night someone on the opposing team would have gotten hurt. There is no way I could have accepted the treatment you recieved. They beat the hell out you. I mean this literally when you got fouled and they landed on top of you and nothing was called is when I abruptly stopped watching. I think the game was fixed how can you compete with that type of officiating?
Old skool
December 31st, 2009
9:52 pm
To the Atlanta Hawks sports reporters please step up your game and give this team more coverage. I have been upset about this for years. You should not be allowed to report on the team if you are not a true fan. You should be bias for the home team. How can we ever fill our stadium if you are not truly supporting the team.
JD
January 1st, 2010
12:40 pm
Brian Taylor,
Your analysis is inept. Yes, the Hawks acted as though there was no rush – they had just gained posssession and “thought” they had the full 24. Mike Bibby was quoted as seeing the time issue and made the pass to Josh in an attempt to get off a shot. With an additional 12 seconds the pass into the middle of the lane, where the ball was stolen, would not have been made.