Do they still dislike the officiating? I feel really good about Sundays game. It was as if Portland finally figured out how to beat the Rocket defense mid way through the 3rd (spread them out and beat Yao in the pick and roll), and had plenty of oppurtunities to win this game. Aldrige was 6-15 shooting, Roy struggled, and our first half was brutal, yet 5 more minutes we win that game. Tough loss, but some encouraging signs....
I initially thought the same thing about the FT, but with the Blazers fouling at the end that added 6-8 to the FT total, so in the end it was more even than it looks.
Too bad the Rockets "defense" commits more fouls than Portland, although you'd never know it judging by the whistles.
I think this is the better point. There is no rule that the fouls need to be even. However, you would expect that team that is more physical on defense to get called for more fouls.
88 to 58 is the mark on the series so far. And we've had more points in the paint in two of the three games.
One freakin' team foul for Houston in the fourth quarter until they used their foul to give under 2 minutes left. Ridiculous.
Ugh .... 8 free throws came in the final 20 seconds when the Blazers were purposely fouling to get back in the game. Thread title should be 12 to 10. Not quite the same, is it? Through first 3 quarters, Blazers had 10 free throws and the Rockets 7. And the Rockets were still leading by 7. Edit: Ok, I'm a dumbass. 24 - 8 = 16. Need to go back and review my addition tables. Still, 16 free throws through most of the game is not a lot. And prior the fourth quarter, it was merely a 11-10 free throw edge for the Rockets.
All else being equal, I agree. But the Rockets are simple a better defensive team. Their players are less often out of position, they are more experienced, they know what type of contact they're allowed and what type of contact they are not allowed. And not fouling has been a core defensive concept for the Rockets for years, going back to JVG. Compare the Rockets and the Jazz. The Jazz are more physical than any team in the league, but they also don't know how to play proper defense, and as a result they usually foul more than anyone else. It's not just a matter of how physical you are. It's knowing how and when to be physical. The very good defensive teams understand this. Young teams that aren't quite all there defensively, like the Blazers, still need to learn it.
And two of those were a gift that should have been a turnover (the Battier slip 'n slide). The Blazers were getting screwed by the officials right up until the very end. Still, it is what it is. The Blazers deserved to lose for being too passive on offense for the first 2.5 quarters and digging themselves into a 19-point hole. They need to attack the paint like they did in Game 2. They do that, and they'll get more calls. Plus Dick Bavetta has made his token appearance in this series. Hopefully, the Blazers won't see him again until the 2nd round. I just cringe every time I see Dick announced as an official. I don't think he has any inherent bias against the Blazers, but you just know he's going to have 3 or 4 senior moments per game where he makes totally inexplicable calls. BNM
Roy had 6 fouls. Artest had 0. You can't honestly tell me Artest didn't foul anyone. Yao had 3 fouls at half, had 3 fouls at the end of the game. Greg had 5 fouls. Joel had 4. 4 Blazers had 4 or more fouls, the Rockets had 1. That said, the team needs to get production from more than just 3 players a game. Blake's production came when the team was making it's comeback. Before that, he was basically a wasted roster spot. Same with Outlaw. If the playoffs are were "names" are made, I'm not going to repeat the name that Outlaw is giving himself.
Who did Artest foul? I didn't see him bumping anyone out the way, or slapping down on people's arms. There was one play, I think, where he knocked the ball loose and as he was going after the ball he might have shoved off a bit. Often refs will let that kind of contact go when players are scrambling for a loose ball, but that's arguably should have been one foul. If you want to get him for something else, it could be this: http://www.nba.com/features/misunderstoodrules_051128.html "Hand Checking: A defender may not place and keep his hand on an opponent unless he is in the area near the basket with his back to the basket. A defender may momentarily touch an opponent with his hand anywhere on the court as long as it does not affect the opponent’s movement (speed, quickness, balance, rhythm)." Were there instances where Artest used his hands excessively on a Blazer and it in any way impeded his movement? If so, that's supposed to be a foul according to the hand checking rule.
If that's a foul on Greg, honestly, how did Artest not get 1 SINGLE foul all game? I'm not saying he got away with stuff, but if you're going to call weak shit like that on Portland, call weak shit like that on everyone.
That was a horrible call, and I would hate to watch a game where it was getting called all game on both teams. Greg got a reputation and he is paying for it now. It's too bad that reputations factor into the calls that are made on a given night, but I guess that's human nature.
My point is I don't want weak calls like that called period. It demeans the game, and gives fans reasons to believe the NBA is out to screw their team over (or the players on their teams).
That was a weak foul. It happened away from the play, didn't really seem to effect anything, and so I think that should be a no call. He got in front of Yao, gave him a slight shoulder or forarm bump to impede his progress instead of using his body. I agree, if you call that on one end, it should be called on both ends. So, did Artest or any of our bigs do something similar and not get called for a foul?
