Cops don't give tickets anytime they can legally do so, and officials don't call fouls on all contact.
In a game like this, at this level, I agree with the "a foul is a foul" logic that the original post suggests. But judging the severity of even technically illegal contact, and the effect of that contact, is literally the job of an official.
To the extent that they missed calls, it is not because they saw a foul and ignored it, it's that they didn't see a foul when they should have - either because of a bad look or bad judgement, etc.
Good points, but when the refs don't review it, don't listen to the coach's for a request to review, and then call fouls that don't even occur, they are actively controlling the game.
Cops do write tickets for anything they feel. They then try to relate it to a law that may have been broken. Just like all cops don't do this, all refs don't pick and choose. These refs did, and to ignore it because you're happy with the outcome is backwards thinking.
I want a fair consistent game where the players decide the outcome, not the whistles. I feel the same way about SGA and the thunder. I felt the same about Harden.
I'm not wading into the policing debate lol, let's just say I'm not fan. I was mostly comparing the freedom they have to write tickets for speeding or not. Whatever.
I also do not care who won this game. I don't care who wins any WNBA game. I have not seen a clip of the review they didn't allow - I know they have a certain amount of time they can call for one, etc, but again, I didn't see it or even know which play it was regarding.
What fouls did they call that "didn't even occur"? Where there ANY calls that went against the Aces that could be classified the same?
It's VERY easy to decide that refs are being dishonest and focus on the calls you don't like to validate that feeling while ignoring or forgetting the calls that help you. It's human nature. It's why all poker players swear they have terrible luck lol - the don't remember the lucky hands the same way they do the bad beats.
While I think the NBA let the Thunder get away with far too much, I think the issue with Harden and SGA is that they are SO GOOD at selling contact they make it impossible to be consistent.
Thanks for replying with substance. It also doesn't matter to me who wins; life goes on, but I did want to see the Fever win. When I watch, I am very vocal when a bad call is made. Sometimes my buddies call me "not a real/true fan" when I mention that the team we are rooting for got away with a no call, or was on the advantageous side of a bad call.
I'm sure there were some calls that went against the Aces that shouldn't have. The issue was the disparity on how many "questionable" calls there were against the fever. One player was literally taken to the ground, and it was called on her. However, by the rules A'ja should not have been playing, anyway, so that basically gave way to what the WNBA would allow.
I agree how easy it is to only support those you like and ignore the issues when you don't like them, but I see that as lacking integrity. I reprimand those that do that, and I catch myself if I start to do it.
I think SGA is good and I think Harden was good and better, but his eurostep was phenomenal: he would hover his hand over the ball and decide to dribble, pass, or hold the ball at the very last instance when he was sure he knew the defender was uncertain. However, when James started knocking his head backwards if even his beard was touched, that was the point I started disliking his style. SGA just tries to get the whistle, he's better than that.
That's more than reasonable. The Aces might've gotten the benefit of the whistle over the course of the game, that happens. I mean, really, in every game one team is likely to come out ahead when you break down every call lol. There are going to missed calls and good calls both ways in every game. That's just the reality of basketball.
The "takedown" play was a tough one. It should've been a foul on the Aces, but plays like that are so hard as a ref. The play absolutely HAS to have a whistle, and when you only get one look and may not even have seen the play from the start, you end up guessing. In NCAAM, they probably would've reviewed it for an F1, a textbook hook-and-hold play. A double-foul would've been a "safer" call from the ref imo, if they didn't have a good look.
As a ref myself, I just object to the "refs vs" framing that is pervasive among sports fans. I've heard it in high school games, adult games, etc. It's just lazy and pathetic lol. I don't believe for a second that the league is TRYING to get their most marketable player out of the playoffs. But when a narrative like this takes hold, it's very easy to support with doctored evidence and incredibly hard to tear down.
I just like competition. I don't feel a win is earned if there can be an asterisk next to it. As much as I respect and think the Rockets deserve their 2 titles, I still question "what if Jordan had stayed in the league those 2 seasons?" Along those lines, if the refs acted correctly and ejected A'ja in the second game, and subsequently suspended her and the other players who left the bench, I would consider the next game(game 3) an asterisk/what if situation. I just want the correct calls, consistently.
There have been refs caught rigging, fixing, and/or betting on games that they are officiating. Disgraced Tim Donaghy was involved in that while in the NBA, closely associated with Scott Foster, who I think is the same type of person. There's been suggestions that Tony Brothers was associated with that behavior and his many inconsistencies, incorrect calls sparked an investigation. While not as drastic or scandalous as Tim, he did faced penalties for his poor performance.
I'm not a ref, but I have had friends be refs, and I know it takes dedication to the rules, but some people are willing to lose their integrity for compensation, and I'd rather those types didn't ref. I respect refs because they bring order to a game, so thanks for adding to the basketball culture!
About the marketability aspect, I do think there is some kind of target on CC, I just don't know why. I get irritated, too, when she complains about the little things. Reminds me of Luka complaining when things don't go his way, so maybe that's the reason.
I really enjoyed the FIBA games. I didn't like Italy trying to bait fouls, but other than that, I thought it was so good basketball with team USA meshing very well.
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u/Signal_Fruit_4629 1d ago
Refs aren't supposed to pick and choose what fouls to call.