Yes, I absolutely would. I don't think the teams should have ANY ability to influence the officials between games. Unless the rules are changed, there should be no change in the way the games are called - and the rules should only change between seasons, not between games. I have been a fan of the Portland Trailblazers for over 20 years - but I have been a fan of NBA basketball for over 40. I truly hate the whole superstar treatment and favoritism. I am a firm believer in one set of rules for all players, all teams and all situations. I prefer a level playing field to one that's slanted in my favor. Enforce the rules, as they are written, equally (as best as humanly possible) for all and let the talent and execution of the players determine who wins. Give me a level playing field and I'll take my chances with my team - and if they lose fair and square, I'll accept it graciously. Ironically, I grew up a Bulls fan. Although I'd already moved to Portland and become a Blazer fan, I still cheered for the Bulls when they won their first title. While I think Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players I've had the pleasure to watch, I detested the superstar treatment he got from the refs - but I still respected his talent. What really turned me off about the Bulls was Phil Jackson and his constant whining about the officiating after EVERY play-off game. He had the best player in the world playing on his team reaping all the benefits of superstar treatment from the officials - yet he was the one whining about the officials. I don't think he believed half of what he said, but was using it to get an even bigger advantage. Those teams were good enough to win without help from the officials. The non-stop lobbying for even more favorable treatment made me sick - and it still does. BNM
Not really, because he isn't the focal point of the Portland offense yet. But, eventually, he'll learn how to defend and rebound without fouling so much, and he'll have to contend with guys beating up on him when he becomes a primary offensive weapon. Then, perhaps Blazer fans will be more sympathetic towards what Yao goes through.
Even now, Oden is routinely doubled because of his size and strength. If there is one man on the Blazers immune to Yao's brute strength, it's Greg Oden.
Crimson THE Cat. Many apologies Fair enough, maybe I should have used different words. How about "Personally, I'd be surprised if the Blazers hadn't also issued a complaint to the league by this point in the series"? That's all I'm saying.
It was a real treat watching Olympic basketball last summer. You want to see basketball played without favortism, go watch international ball. Yao looked very ordinary.
I don't even want to read through this whole thread. First the complaint is Joel is a flopper . . . and now Yao is being riden by Blazer big men the whole game and not geting the calls. So according to Houston: the refs are calling fouls on the Rockets when the Rockets are in fact not fouling . . . and the refs are not calling fouls on the Blazers when they are in fact fouling. Very original of Houston.
Scola labeled a flopper on the "offensive foul" from LMA... not agreeing with the technical... not thinking Roy was out. So far, the referring has been atrocious and is favoring (you guessed it) the whiners.
Well, I doubt the Rockets are frustrated with the officiating tonight. Well done, Rick. Your whining worked.
BTW, nice phantom foul on Aldridge at the end of the 4th when Battier fell down. Way to seal the deal in crunch time, refs
The "whining" was about the defense played on Yao. As far as I could tell, the refs didn't give Yao any more calls than in previous games. He barely had any post catches, and only one trip to the free throw line.
I don't know how you can say that about Rick. He may be a Rocket now, but that guy orchestrated too many amazing Blazer moments for me to ever hate him.
