It's not just the Blazer's big men- Update What is going on with the officials and Stern? Could the release of Tim's book notes be bringing this foul fiasco upon the league. If so, what a sham...err... shame that would be! http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4976 http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/van-gundy-nba-rules-penalize-howard/#cont Hopefully this helps GO down the road, although he needs to help by being more vocal.
Haha. I love this part: Whenever anyone says, "Let me say that again" and then says something different, it makes me chuckle. Ed O.
Riiiiiiiight... are you talkin' about the Shaq that was allowed 6 fouls per game and his Azz got 6 more!
that's the truth. i don't mind foul calls, as long as they go both ways equally. the whole, "shaq is the hardest man to officiate" line is complete crap, a foul is a foul, whether you are 350 like shaq, or anybody else in the league.
That's exactly the same shit that happens to Oden. Somebody flops, he gets called for the offensive foul. Shaq used to steamroller right over people and NEVER got called for the charge. Oden gets hacked like crazy across both arms and doesn't get the call. Last year, I thought it was an anti-rookie bias by the officials. This year, I thought it was due to the reputation for fouling Oden earned as a rookie, but now even Superman isn't immune to this crap. What's up with this anti-big man policy? It's like David Stern suddenly has a Napoleon complex. I know big men aren't as marketable, but this will make them even less so. Hard for the big guys to develop a loyal following when they spend all their time on the bench. NBA basketball is a man's game. Let the men play. BNM
Well said. As a young kid listening to (mostly and infrequently able to watch) the battles of Wilt, Nate Thurmond, Russell and Kareem was riveting. Those guys were tough and for the most part were allowed to play hard. Maybe instead of shorts Stern should issue todays NBA players skirts.
LMAO, yes Stern and the league have an anti-big man bias unless there is a big man on a big market team (Houston) and even then with the no hand check rule (this needs to go) big men are gonna pick up fouls left and right. As long as it isn't the doughy soft Laker big men who definitely should be issued skirts. The pro-big market team and fast little guy bias is making the game unwatchable. Clearly Donaghy is telling the truth.
yeah...Shaq was dominant because of the refs nevermind the changed the rules of the game because of Shaq. In his heyday he was hacked so damn much but he was strong enough to just power through them. Refs didnt call the fouls cause 1. He still made the shots 2. He didnt flail when he was hacked cause he was so damn strong
I am just wondering when it became a foul on the big guy for a little guy jumping into them, running into the larger mass, and hitting the ground in a heap. That is complete bullshit, and it happens a lot around the league, not just here. The facts are that when two masses hit, the big guy is going to win that battle. Just because he doesn't move, and the little guy ends up on the floor in a mess, doesn't make it a foul on the bigger player.
I like you DaRizzle and normally I agree with you, but Shaq fouled out of every game if we are keeping score. The refs swallowed their whistles for him more than any other player I've ever seen. Don't give me this crap about him being fouled all the time. He would shoot a million free throws a game even when legitimate defense was played against him(Sabonis).
lol...Shaq was fouled more than anybody in the modern era of basketball. Im sorry hes a Laker so it makes it harder to admit but it is true. ....and everybody in the league (except Oden ) gets away with fouls time to time
You are correct, the NBA did change the rules because of Shaq... They allowed an extra 6 fouls per game to his azz and only his azz. It was good for marketing you know!
I'm not at all a "hater", as a matter of fact I've always enjoyed watching Shaq play and especially his interviews. I am, however, a fan that wants to see the game called the same on both ends of the floor. To suggest that was the case between Shaq and opposing big men would at best be disingenuous. No, "azz" is not a technical term, it is slang. Usage can vary. To wit: 1. Wow, the azz on that lady is two axe handles wide! 2. No, I don't think DaRizzle in an azz.
I would love to see the no hand check rule go by the wayside while allowing complete zones. It would improve spacing, teamwork, and shooting a ton. It would also get away from a lot of this iso shit and fairies like Rondo would get the shit beat out of them and come back down to earth. The NBA has the bad reputation it does because all the players are wimps and the game is played for flops. Roy is about the most boring player to watch in the NBA right now because of it.
I don't particularly care for the hand check rule myself, but I still think the biggest bane in today's NBA is the inconsistent calls made or not by referees. This issue isn't just about fouls as the 3 second, traveling and illegal defense infractions also come to mind. The referee's need to have their own governing body completely outside of the NBA and hold their members to a non biased standard of excellence.
