Yup, Doyel crying like a b*tch and ignoring the calls that have gone OKC's way. Like for example, that offensive foul that Durant got called for where he put a couple of shoulders into Wade? He did that a couple possessions earlier on LeBron and didn't get called for it then. BIAS!

The "no contact" foul"? Durant hit Wade on the right elbow as he was shooting. That is called 99% of the time, especially in situations where a guy bites on the upfake.

You're complaining that Harden got called for a play in which he flopped...if he didn't flop, then the ref doesn't blow the whistle. When you flop, you run the risk that you get a call. And you're really complaining about a call when the Heat had the ball up three and could've taken it inside of seven seconds to go, and saying that cost the Thunder a chance at the game? Go f*ck yourself with your lazy revisionist b*tch history, Doyel.

Yeah, LeBron's contact on Durant could've been called a foul. But Durant had both of his arms free at the entire apex of his jump and could've made the shot easily - the contact didn't hinder his shot at all. And even if he makes both (questionable given his FT shooting in the series), then you're still relying on the Heat to miss a shot, there to be an OT, and Durant to play another five minutes without picking up a foul on a stupid play in order for the Thunder to win. And you ignore the fact that Durant had an obvious charge on Battier that was called on Battier to keep Durant in the game. Then you're going to whine about how OKC doesn't get calls?

It's also interesting that you'd bring up that Sefolosha wouldn't get those calls specifically, because he's the guy who DID get a couple of calls in Game 1 where there was no contact, specifically on a breakaway layup that he bricked and a bricked dunk where he landed on Wade.

You want a reason for the loss? How about Brooks taking Westbrook out for several minutes when Durant picked up his fourth foul in the third. Why take your best playmaker out of the game when your best shooter is out of the game, too? Harden hasn't done anything all series - Westbrook belonged out there. Why is Fisher playing more minutes than Ibaka?

How about the fact that OKC played lazy defense and couldn't hit short shots down the stretch.

/LeBron may be a douche, but the butthurt in the article is astounding
//He's still not going to sleep with you, Gregg Doyel

Snarcoleptic_Hoosier: How about the fact that OKC played lazy defense and couldn't hit short shots down the stretch.

Also, Bosh came up HUGE. People are talking like LeBron was the big reason for Durant's off-quarter, but Durant was past LeBron a couple more times until Bosh came over and helped prevent points from going on the board.

I don't care which teams wins, but complaining about 2.. TWO toss-up calls going the way of LeBron is really reaching. I could see if there were 18 calls, and 17 went to Miami or LeBron.. but dude.. 2 calls?
Also, fouls in the NBA are notoriously sketchy at best.. but I didn't see anything worth making excuses for or over thsi go round.

Maybe OKC will remember to properly bribe the officials next time. Those guys aren't cheap, you know.

God damn it we can not escape this crap.

There are games the NBA has fixed, but this was not one of them. This was not a frozen envelope, this was not a Dick Bavetta game, and this was not a "rogue official" gambling on the outcome, probably with help from the mob. This was the Heat making plays, and Derek Fisher throwing up 82 off-balance bricks that were lucky they even hit some part of the backboard or rim. Gotta make your free throws, Thunder! Get 'em next time. The country doesn't want to see LeDouche win, so hopefully you can get your [stuff] together by Tuesday.

Good luck. We're all counting on you.

Why would the NBA want the Heat to win? Doesn't everyone outside of Miami hate them? I'm certainly not accusing them of actually tipping the games here, but I'm just wondering why Miami would be the team they helped.

I didn't find that game *that* bad. Not that there weren't questionable calls, but I don't think they affected the outcome. Miami deserved to win. And yeah, even though the box score might not say so, Bosh was huge.

Gunny Highway: God damn it we can not escape this crap.

Hell, this is "It's not HateLebron.com, it's Fark" and even THIS place thinks that article writer is a whiney biatch.

I admittedly was busy and could only keep one eye on the game last night, but after those back-to-back possessions when the Thunder were playing a zone but Ibaka and Fisher grossly overreacted on their attempts to contest corner 3 attempts which led to 6 Heat free throws in a matter of seconds, they seemed to abort playing the zone for the rest of the game.

Wade and LeBron are basically living in the paint. Mix in more zone defense and force the Heat to live on jump shots. Also, you don't commit as many defensive fouls (generally) in zone defense (again, unless your Ibaka or Fisher and apparently enjoy blowing up three point shooters) and Durant might stay out of foul trouble too.

The problem is that the NBA officiating is shiatty, has allways been shiatty, and will continue to be shiatty.

This is the same league with a fixed draft and refs who fixed games to win bets.

Just stop watching

What is it with Seattle and refs?

FTA: "This is the way of the NBA: Officials are incompetent, but they're so incompetent that neither team gets an edge."

Clearly, the writer doesn't acknowledge the ~20 other teams without a player with Kobe level star power.

I actually didn't think the refs were bad in that game. It was a close game and OKC just missed a couple shots and made a couple of bad turnovers.

Turnovers against the Heat are free points.

perilsensitive: I actually didn't think the refs were bad in that game. It was a close game and OKC just missed a couple shots and made a couple of bad turnovers.

Turnovers against the Heat are free points.

Or dunks.

Heat got more calls because they were more aggressive. Harden flopped. Heat hit their FTs. Heat out-rebounded OKC. FG % didn't matter. Heat wanted it more. They are all business in these playoffs; well at least until the Pacers series got ugly.

Luther924s: perilsensitive: I actually didn't think the refs were bad in that game. It was a close game and OKC just missed a couple shots and made a couple of bad turnovers.

Turnovers against the Heat are free points.

Or dunks.

Heat got more calls because they were more aggressive. Harden flopped. Heat hit their FTs. Heat out-rebounded OKC. FG % didn't matter. Heat wanted it more. They are all business in these playoffs; well at least until the Pacers series got ugly.

I don't know whats more frustrating when I watch a game: The Paul Pierce/Lebron arm flail and cry after every botched offensive possession or the Harden/CP3 flop.

/yes I chose those 4 because they are some of the biggest stars in the league who do it routinely
//Yes, Lebron has been much better about that recently

This was where I stopped watching.

I don't think the refs are in the bag for either team, they just can't see everything, so when a player does something that looks like it might result in a foul, they whistle it, even if they didn't see it.

Which is the exact opposite of what they should do.

Cry moar, or make your damned shots. Each team gets at least 60 possessions a game.

That's why this series is 7 games, to smooth out the anomalies (bad calls/non-calls) that are game changing.

moistD: Luther924s: perilsensitive: I actually didn't think the refs were bad in that game. It was a close game and OKC just missed a couple shots and made a couple of bad turnovers.

Turnovers against the Heat are free points.

Or dunks.

Heat got more calls because they were more aggressive. Harden flopped. Heat hit their FTs. Heat out-rebounded OKC. FG % didn't matter. Heat wanted it more. They are all business in these playoffs; well at least until the Pacers series got ugly.

I don't know whats more frustrating when I watch a game: The Paul Pierce/Lebron arm flail and cry after every botched offensive possession or the Harden/CP3 flop.

/yes I chose those 4 because they are some of the biggest stars in the league who do it routinely
//Yes, Lebron has been much better about that recently

I vote for arm flail from those choices, but the Reggie Miller leg kick always pisses me off. I also would have gone with Wade over LeBron because he is a much more accomplished flopper.

Miami Heat FTs: 31/35 (88.6%)
OKC Thunder FTs: 15/24 (62.5%)

If OKC had hit 88.6% of their FTs, they'd have 21 points from the line instead of 15, enough for a 91-91 tie result and overtime.

/quit whining

Doogled: moistD: Luther924s: perilsensitive: I actually didn't think the refs were bad in that game. It was a close game and OKC just missed a couple shots and made a couple of bad turnovers.

Turnovers against the Heat are free points.

Or dunks.

Heat got more calls because they were more aggressive. Harden flopped. Heat hit their FTs. Heat out-rebounded OKC. FG % didn't matter. Heat wanted it more. They are all business in these playoffs; well at least until the Pacers series got ugly.

I don't know whats more frustrating when I watch a game: The Paul Pierce/Lebron arm flail and cry after every botched offensive possession or the Harden/CP3 flop.

/yes I chose those 4 because they are some of the biggest stars in the league who do it routinely
//Yes, Lebron has been much better about that recently

I vote for arm flail from those choices, but the Reggie Miller leg kick always pisses me off. I also would have gone with Wade over LeBron because he is a much more accomplished flopper.

I think they are 50/50 in terms of how often I see them doing it, which is how I chose my participants (as well as star power). I forgot about the leg kick. I hate that as well, I thought they stopped calling that as much?

/hated that JJ did it at Duke, and Scheyer

Kuta: Miami Heat FTs: 31/35 (88.6%)
OKC Thunder FTs: 15/24 (62.5%)

If OKC had hit 88.6% of their FTs, they'd have 21 points from the line instead of 15, enough for a 91-91 tie result and overtime.

/quit whining

That's underselling it. They would have been winning down the stretch, or at least at the end. So a whole new ballgame.

Lebron got away with one at the end of game 2. Wade got freethrows on one play where no one touched him. That's two calls.

This article sucks for its ridiculous "There were 3 options on that Lebron call and two benefit the Thunder, so it was worse than a 50/50 call!" shenanigans. Reffing the NBA is hard.

This is not a new problem with the NBA. I'm not sure when it started, but for as long as I can remember playing defense in an NBA game is a foul.

It's going seven, for once Stern has committed to a long term storyline and won't rewrite on the fly just before bell time.

And this is not a conspiracy theory, because if it were, I'd note that Kevin Durant received a lousy whistle in Game 3. (See for yourself. Here were the first four fouls.) The first foul, ironically enough, came when Durant had the ball in his hands and gave to Dwyane Wade the same sort of shoulder that LeBron gave to Harden in the final seconds. The results? Offensive foul on Durant. Defensive foul on Harden.

Translated: I'm not saying this is a conspiracy theory, but... it's a conspiracy theory.

I can't take you seriously, Gregg Doyel. I'll give you that #1 and 3 would be better no-calls, but this article is almost completely conspiracy theory. There are bad calls on both sides, let the players play.

I do think it would be interesting putting WWE refs into the Finals and just see what happens.

netweavr: What is it with Seattle and refs?

I think Seattle is one of two cities in America cheering for the Heat, so I'm not sure where you're goign with this.

/subby
//haven't watched a second of the 2012 Sternball finals

*going

farking spellcheck, how does it work?

Honestly, who cries about NBA officiating anymore? Everyone knows the league is fixed.

If you are foolish enough to give them your money thinking it is legit sport, that is on you.

If you give them your money because you somehow enjoy the "entertainment" value like you would the Globetrotters or wrestling, I suppose that is OK.

What CBS columnist isn't considered a complete idiot?

moistD: I think they are 50/50 in terms of how often I see them doing it, which is how I chose my participants (as well as star power). I forgot about the leg kick. I hate that as well, I thought they stopped calling that as much?

/hated that JJ did it at Duke, and Scheyer

It's certainly not as popular as it is in college, but I can remember at least one instance of Wade using the legkick in these playoffs. Hopefully, the next commish will make some changes... hopefully...

Funbags: This was where I stopped watching.

Yeah, that one was bad. But Sefolosha drew a similar "foul" on Chalmers in Game 2 where there was no contact. Unfortunately, the internet does not bother documenting "star calls" of Thabo Sefolosha, so video isn't as easily accessible.

he must have lost some money

NewWorldDan: This is not a new problem with the NBA. I'm not sure when it started, but for as long as I can remember playing defense in an NBA game is a foul.

I believe the formal name for this foul was originally "interruption of potential highlight reel footage of Mr. Jordan."

Well, duh. It is the NBA. The game was predetermined.

If you want to watch a sport that is a little less scripted, try pro wrestling.

MilesTeg: Everyone knows the league is fixed.

Is your brain power stuck in a crater or a valley? It's hard to tell.

If you don't like the pre-determined results of your fictional sporting contests, then stop watching.

It's like getting mad at the end of "The Mighty Ducks" or "Major League."

Also, why would the league fix the series for Miami? You know, the team that essentially put the last nail in the coffin for the lockout, pissed off all the owners, and is vehemently despised across America.

Maybe it's just me, but I thought David Stern's job is to make the league/owners/himself money. The Thunder bandwagon is HUGE; the money that would be made off of merchandising from them winning it all would be equally huge, and would be another validation for the owners that OKC is the "right" way to build a team. The Heat winning would just result in a bunch of butthurt haters because LeBron did something.

I'm a certified Heat Hater^TM, but the NBA would benefit from a story line beyond "Lebron, win a title already FFS".

gtfan92: Also, why would the league fix the series for Miami? You know, the team that essentially put the last nail in the coffin for the lockout, pissed off all the owners, and is vehemently despised across America.

Since I like conspiracy theories, I would say that the No. 1 reason Stern would have it fixed for the Heat is because he's sick of all the sh*t he's taking with everyone accusing everything of being fixed so he's just going to say "Fine. F*ck you then, I'll tear down your storyline, you lazy b*tches. Now you'll actually have to WATCH basketball!"

Which would also be a great move if he were retiring, because then ratings would go down for the next guy.

Man, when the Heat were down 3-2 against the Cs I called the end of that series and so far in this one I accidentally flipped the predictions for game 1-2 (i.e. that Miami would win a controversial one in OKC). We are just missing the blowout (my game 4 prediction) and the close one with well timed calls where it just seems like we are destined for Heat in 5.

/Heat in 5
//and it will make me very sad

gtfan92: Also, why would the league fix the series for Miami? You know, the team that essentially put the last nail in the coffin for the lockout, pissed off all the owners, and is vehemently despised across America.

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I'd wager that the ECF got many more eyeballs than the WCF. People love to root against teams just as much as (if not more than) they love to root for teams.

TheManofPA: Man, when the Heat were down 3-2 against the Cs I called the end of that series and so far in this one I accidentally flipped the predictions for game 1-2 (i.e. that Miami would win a controversial one in OKC). We are just missing the blowout (my game 4 prediction) and the close one with well timed calls where it just seems like we are destined for Heat in 5.

/Heat in 5
//and it will make me very sad

Calling a Heat win with "controversial" calls is calling every single one of their wins. There were people whining about calls in 20-point wins for the Heat.

Doogled: I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I'd wager that the ECF got many more eyeballs than the WCF. People love to root against teams just as much as (if not more than) they love to root for teams.

That and starting the WCF games at friggin' 10 pm.

/it sucks to be a sports fan with a job on the East Coast

DO NOT FOUL 3 POINT SHOOTERS.

Doogled: gtfan92: Also, why would the league fix the series for Miami? You know, the team that essentially put the last nail in the coffin for the lockout, pissed off all the owners, and is vehemently despised across America.

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I'd wager that the ECF got many more eyeballs than the WCF. People love to root against teams just as much as (if not more than) they love to root for teams.

Also, Boston/Miami might have more eyes than SA/OKC for obvious reasons.

The only douchey thing I've ever heard of LeBron doing was the whole decision thing. Yes, it was a bad idea. However, the complaining about it has become more irritating than the actual offense was.

However, the guy says all the things a good teammate should say, he doesn't get into trouble, he attracts a lot of attention to a sport that isn't what it used to be, and he does a hell of a lot of charity work. What the hell is everyone's problem with him?

gtfan92: Also, why would the league fix the series for Miami? You know, the team that essentially put the last nail in the coffin for the lockout, pissed off all the owners, and is vehemently despised across America.

Because a good heel puts asses in seats (and people in front of their TVs) as good as any fan favorite will.

OKC only has to blame their FT shooting, and not making much of anything down the stretch when they needed to.