i think at some point NBA officials and rule makers that guide the game need to look into the possiblity of giving a level technical foul to players that obviously look to milk fouls like Howard did here.
He did what many do ...Dikembe was brilliant at it. But he hooked AVin an attempt to try and get the officials to bite and call a foul on AV, when in fact he did what he did solely to try and draw a foul on AV. AV did an excellent job there. It was a good no call by the refs.
Despite all the bad press the refs are getting, only game two, to me, was a game that was called way below NBA standard.
That crew was guessing on every single call they made, and it ruined the game in my mind.
But, we csan't get wrapped up in what ther officials do and don't do. Orlando is too good to take on two opponents. We need to shut up, play the game, and let the calls go as they may.
Especially Andy ...I really feel he lets the refs negative;ly effect his game some nights by not being able to let things go.
Facts are, with each passing game, we are getting better and better, and locking in more and more on Orlando's tendencies. Game Four we finally started to figure out how to more effectively space on offense and get higher quality shots.
To me, just a few more tweaks in our rotation, and we'll be right where we need to be.
I think we just get Mo on Alston, and they lock horns. Lebron cheats to much off him, and isn't the guy to be covering him anyway. Lewis is who he should be covering, and is better conditioned to handle. Lebron has been cheating off of Alston way too much, Lewis will make him respect him, stay close, and not cheat too much.
Delonte needs to just lock onto Hedo.
Other than that, we need to get Z's minutes down around 20, and have Ben take more minutes handling Howard. His veteran guile low has some effect on Howard. He's better on pick and rolls, and just better overall.
And I don't understand why Mike Brown is so stubborn at wanting to keep two bigs in together, but, that's got to stop. We need to have Lebron at PF for about 80% of the minutes he's on the floor. Why that's been such a difficult realization to make I don't know.
Mike Malone, I've heard, has wanted to make this adjustment since before the series started, and Mike Brown has been adament to not do it ...he has to go with MM thinking here I believe.
Love your intelligent posts man....so much better than other places I tend to hang. Even when I disagree with you, I see the point you're making.
here's the thing on officiating....Didn't David Stern make a "BIG" announcement during last year's Playoffs about how "flopping" and "faking" fouls was going to be severely punished NEXT season - meaning THIS season?
Anyone else remember that BIG announcement and all the press it got?
Has anyone noticed ANY change? In fact, it may be worse then ever.
As for the officiating, I felt the bad game was Game 3, it was a Joey Crawford clasic and a free-throw shooting contest broke out turning this great sport into a boring game of guys standing around shooting FT's....made the game take like 3+ hours as well.
I hate when games are called like this when they don't need to be. So many ticky tack fouls, heck Turkoglu shot 12 FT's and only 2 came going to the rim, the other 10 came on little "nickel dimers" outside the arc.
Going small is the Cavs only option. Z can still play, but his minutes need to be limited and when he is in the game, the Cavs need to USE him....like the old Pacers did in Rik Smits' last few years.
Throw AV, Ben, and Joe Smith at Howard and make him WORK all night. I still think you bring an occasional double on him just to make him THINK. The kid isn't a thinker of the game like LeBron, so that little bit of hesitation that comes from making him THINK the game takes away some of the massive physical edge the guy has.
The smaller lineup rotates better to Orlando's shooters and the Cavs don't get stuck with a BIG closing out on a shooter like they do when they play 2 bigs.
I agree West has done fine on Hedo and if Hedo wants to try and launch 3's over West all night, well be my guest.
I also kind of see what you have said about the Cavs breaking through a bit....fact is if not for Alston's crazy game (like the 3 he BANKED in) the Cavs win Game 4. I think Game 4 was the best game the Cavs played in this series.
W&G - Can you tell me/us what the deal is with the Cavs coming out of the half? 3rd quarters have KILLED this team and it's not just a Playoff thing...it's been a trend all season long....and even in past seasons.