Comments on: Free Something For Anyone Who Can Tell Me Why the NBA Hates New Orleans

By: ticktock6

ticktock6 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:26:33 +0000

We’re all equal but the Lakers are slightly more equal than everyone else.

By: pistonsfan

pistonsfan — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:46:58 +0000

I’m not a Hornets fan (I’m a Pistons fan and found this link on yahoo! sports). I assure you, from reading other teams blogs and other teams message boards that EVERY single fan base in the NBA thinks there’s a conspiracy against their team. Heck, even Lakers fans (yes you heard it right, Lakers fans!!) think the NBA hates them. I’m not kidding. I’ve seen it all. So think about it: is there a conspiracy against every single one of the 30 NBA teams or is just the fact that officiating sucks for the most part? I’d go with the 2nd one. For instance, I watched the Pistons/Jazz game a few days ago and the Pistons had FOUR guys fouled out. And you can only imagine how Pistons fans talked about a conspiracy against their team (also, funny how Jazz fans keep saying the NBA hates their team even though the refs were pro-Utah that night). Few days later the Pistons played the Bulls and the officiating was pro-Pistons and the Bulls had 3 guys fouled out. And you can imagine how Bulls fans got mad at the refs. Some of them even said the NBA is in love with the Pistons and want them to win (even tho Pistons fans claim the EXACT OPPOSITE lol). So yeah, this just shows that some nights the officials will “screw” your team and some nights they will “help” your team. It doesn’t have anything to do with the NBA hating a particular team, especially the Hornets since they’re a great spot for the league (just think to how likeable Chris Paul is). The main problem is that refs are bad for the most part, not to mention the fact basketball is the hardest game to officiate. There are so many judgment calls that can go either way, meaning you will always have people disappointed, no matter what. People tend to complain even when the refs get it right so go figure. Plus the quickness of the players and the fact fans are so close to the court (meaning they can yell at the refs) make it even more difficult to officiate.

So, there’s not a conspiracy against anyone. Just bad officiating. Maybe next time you will be the team getting the benefit of the doubt.

By: Ha HA

Ha HA — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:29:55 +0000

I watched this game and i felt the reffing was bad (what was there like 8 techs called in the game?) but the reason NO lost was the fact they couldnt hit a open jumper if there life depended on it til the 4th where they started making some 3′s. West was something like 4-15. Reffing had nothing to do with that. At this moment the Lakers are just better than the Hornets. Theyve had the Lakers twice at home and have been down by 20 points or more in both games. And to MC Welk. The Jazz are a bunch of hackers. They lead the league in opposing teams ft attempts per game last year. And the playoffs just put it on a national stage for everyone to see. No more whining please!!!

By: MC Welk

MC Welk — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:52:40 +0000

As a (still) bitter Jazz fan all I can say is wait ’til you get them in a playoff series.

By: ticktock6

ticktock6 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:39:46 +0000

Looking back at this post and the last comment, it’s interesting that the Hornets showed a SUPER ton of poise when they got in foul trouble and won the Rockets game. After being called out in the TP by Byron for bitching too much.

Hmm…

By: mW

mW — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:51:14 +0000

Okay, anger subsided, I really don’t feel that there is an NBA conspiracy against the Hornets. But as I blogged once before, I think there is a major problem with the way calls are made in the NBA, and which just happens to work against our team. I’d like to do another post on it when I can be more objective. I wanted to after San Antonio, but I never got the chance. With any luck we’ll beat the Rockets despite getting no calls, because that is what history says should happen. They’re a “defensive” team and we’re a “high-foul percentage” team and those stats play into themselves. Although CP will draw many fouls that will drive Houston fans nuts as he always does. It will be also curious to see if refs call CP’s steals/steal attempts any different now that his streak is over.

By: StefanC

StefanC — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:30:01 +0000

@mW: Yeah, what did happen with those home court calls? We never get them. Must be something about the league hating on us. I guess the Lakers are better than our home court.

And @ Everyone: That picture of Posey pushing Kobe on the floor is the wallpaper on my iPhone! Bahahaha! I feel so cool with it.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:24:57 +0000

Yeah, honestly I’m with Caleb, but it’s hard to believe that especially when it was pretty evident San Antonio and Cleveland brought horrible viewership for the NBA finals, and commentators were pretty vocal of that fact, redeemed last year with big “rivalry” teams in big markets (for the record, I didn’t watch that series, nor any games past the Hornets game 7 last year).

I’m still on my happy cloud regarding no special treatment for superstars and market-specific targeting, but yeah, basketball’s probably the worst sport to get calls accurately. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done… right?

By: mW

mW — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:02:50 +0000

You know, one of the most baffling things about calls for the Bees Is that we rarely get those home court calls. What’s with that?

By: Caleb

Caleb — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:04:05 +0000

I don’t think there’s any conspiracy in the NBA. But the officating is often questionable and certainly inconsistent. That doesn’t mean something fishy is going on, it just means most of the refs in the NBA are bad at their job. They let things like homecourt and the prescence of superstars cloud their judgement way too much. Which is not to say the Hornets (and Chris Paul) don’t sometimes benefit from this… but that’s not really the point.

The officiating was just plain bad last night… and I almost never get particularly upset about calls. But three our four times last night the refs called those phantom fouls in regards to Kobe and I was just dumbfounded. They outplayed us regardless…. our shots weren’t falling and our offense looked like crap compared to theirs (it isn’t crap, it’s pretty good relative to most of the league… but when I see the kind of ball movement the Lakers consistently engage in, it makes me envious).

I know reffing basketball is probably the toughest officating job in sports… but it ought to be more fair and consistent than it currently is