What are you thoughts on David Stern?

[23]

・$100,000 & a possible lifetime ban, Jeff Van Gundy, Rockets, May 2, 2005:
"I got a call from another official in the NBA who's not in the playoffs that I've known forever, and he told me they were looking at Yao (Ming) harder because of (Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's) complaints. ... ." JEFF VAN GUNDY

・$50,000, Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers, March 11, 2004:
"(Referee) Bob Delaney's known to be very prejudiced against Shaquille (O'Neal). We know that ... Delaney's prejudiced against Shaq." PHIL JACKSON

・$50,000, Pat Riley, Miami Heat, Dec. 18, 2002:
"It's a joke. It's an absolute joke, and I've had it. ... I feel a lot of it is (referees') dislike for me over the years ... ." PAT RILEY

・$35,000, Larry Brown, Detroit Pistons, Jan. 29, 2005:
"It's not fair (that a late goatending call wasn't made against Minnesota). It's a joke ... ." LARRY BROWN

[KillRoy]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

The fines are a little steep but I agree with everything Stern did when it comes to "THE FIGHT" that occured this season.

[coogrfan]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

JVG's penalty does seem harsh, when you consider the fines handed out to the other coaches listed here.

[Stu]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

I think all the coaches in these cases had legitimate gripes. Instead of fining coaches to keep them quiet, why doesn't he actually do something to try to fix the officiating. I don't watch a ton of NBA games but the ones I have were very poorly called. Players get calls based on reputation all the time so I can see where the coaches are coming from in these cases.

The most annoying thing for me, a casual spectator, is the touch fouls. It seems like every game I watch has several plays where a good clean block is made but the officials blow the whistle because they assume a foul occcured.

Also, I've seen a lot of plays where an official right on top of the play will let something go while the guy on the other side of the court with the obstructed view blows the whistle. How can Stern expect consistent officiating when members of the same crew can't even agree on the rules?

[poster]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

I think all the coaches in these cases had legitimate gripes. Instead of fining coaches to keep them quiet, why doesn't he actually do something to try to fix the officiating. I don't watch a ton of NBA games but the ones I have were very poorly called. Players get calls based on reputation all the time so I can see where the coaches are coming from in these cases.

The most annoying thing for me, a casual spectator, is the touch fouls. It seems like every game I watch has several plays where a good clean block is made but the officials blow the whistle because they assume a foul occcured.

Also, I've seen a lot of plays where an official right on top of the play will let something go while the guy on the other side of the court with the obstructed view blows the whistle. How can Stern expect consistent officiating when members of the same crew can't even agree on the rules?

Great points. NBA refs are a joke. I dont know why either. Alot of calls are judgement calls but their judgement is simialr to a guy after drinking a bottle of Jack. That foul on padgett last night is a prime example. How embaressing. I like Stern, but some of these fines are a joke. Now in this case Van Gundy is alleging(sp) something very serious here that fans have always claimed was true, that the games are fixed in some form. I dont believe that and dont know if Gundy made this ref story up or not but this is more serious than just saying the refs suck. I think that is what played in his head when he gave this fine that was steeper than others.

[HardwoodHeisman]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

I think all the coaches in these cases had legitimate gripes. Instead of fining coaches to keep them quiet, why doesn't he actually do something to try to fix the officiating.

Cuz he looks for the easy way out of things.

[23]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

That easy way will come back to bite him in the behind in the end

[glucklich]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

Cuz he looks for the easy way out of things.

Maybe hell try to fix the officiating or maybe he wont...but the fact is that a lot of these guys are the beneficiary of bad calls going their way most of the time...yet they dont complain then...so when the pendulum swings the other way they should just keep their mouth shut. I can see why Stern would be amused and annoyed at this. I can also see Stern getting fed up and telling the refs to call every charge on Shaq or every carrying every time Iverson does this.

[HardwoodHeisman]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

Maybe hell try to fix the officiating or maybe he wont.

He won't.

[mboss03]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

They need to either start disciplining officials for horrible calls, or bring in some sort of replay system besides the one they already have.

Coaches should be able to speak their mind on anything as long as it is not false. I still don't get why they don't get freedom of speech in the NBA.

[23]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

Maybe hell try to fix the officiating or maybe he wont...but the fact is that a lot of these guys are the beneficiary of bad calls going their way most of the time...yet they dont complain then...so when the pendulum swings the other way they should just keep their mouth shut. I can see why Stern would be amused and annoyed at this. I can also see Stern getting fed up and telling the refs to call every charge on Shaq or every carrying every time Iverson does this.

Stern has never held the refs accountable. Tell me sir how many of those players has Stern threatened to kick out of the league?

How about the ref who said he'd kick AI's you know what?

Why did he not step in there?

IMHO its completely hypocritcal, and the main reason he has to lobby politically to keep the game afloat now

[glucklich]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

Stern has never held the refs accountable. Tell me sir how many of those players has Stern threatened to kick out of the league?

How about the ref who said he'd kick AI's you know what?

Why did he not step in there?

IMHO its completely hypocritcal, and the main reason he has to lobby politically to keep the game afloat now

Look, you dont have to explain to me that the officiating is a joke. Lax officiating is what made the game slow down and become one of clutching and grabbing. Id like to see it called the way it was 20 years ago, but bad officiating has also cut both ways and for these coaches to complain is silly. If Stern were to crack down and call a foul on Shaq everytime he violated the vertical plane of the man guarding him, dont you think the coaches would complain then too? Yeah, it has gotten out of hand but the reality too is that a lot of these coaches have been dependent on bad officiating in terms of how they coach as well.

[23]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

Its not who's called for the foul, its the way the game is officiated man.

Its one sided most of the time

Look how they took a good basket away from Denver and made them lose a game

I wish you would have told Mark Cuban to shut up, and this is the thinking of why the league is losing fans.

There is a clear cut difference in making a bad call, and changing the rules constantly to benefit bad shooting and making questionable calls throughout the year.

You can also ignore it as if it means nothing, but you had better watch out for the backlash.

[Freelance]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

The NBA has a horrible image problem. Most people see it as "thugs with drugs". TV ratings suck, even for playoffs and finals games. It's tough to officiate. The game is flawed by nature because the athletes have outgrown its rules.

Stern is trying to fight off the notion that it's also fixed, which a lot of people believe, too.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: What are you thoughts on David Stern?

The NBA has a horrible image problem. Most people see it as "thugs with drugs". TV ratings suck, even for playoffs and finals games. It's tough to officiate. The game is flawed by nature because the athletes have outgrown its rules.

Stern is trying to fight off the notion that it's also fixed, which a lot of people believe, too.

Who are these " a lot of people" that think the NBA is fixed?