A jump ball? Really? That’s what was called? How do you call a jump ball in the final seconds of the game? How does LeBron not get that call last night at the end of the one-point loss to the Magic? That doesn’t make any sense.
Maybe the officials didn’t want to give LeBron the call because they gave him a slight gift at the end of regulation with the foul on the 3-point shot. I personally think the refs are out to get LeBron for some reason. I’m pretty sure the guy who made the call on the three-point shot made it because he thought there’s no way LeBron makes all three. He wanted to see LBJ falter. After he didn’t, the refs got together and decided that some how in overtime, they would get their revenge. And boy did they. (By the way, I also thought there was no way LeBron makes all three free throws. I should have no better since he was playing like a man possessed yesterday.)
But really, how is that not a fault call? Hedo Turkoglu reached in and had the ball for all of 0.1 seconds. No, he didn’t even have the ball. His hand barely scraped the ball and then grabbed on to LeBron’s wrist. This cannot be debated. It happened. But the refs wanted their revenge and they got it.
And how about the punk Turkoglu? This is what he said about the foul on the three pointer and the jump ball on the last play.
“I couldn’t say nothing about it, I just kept it to myself,” said Turkoglu about the foul that led to three James’ free throws. “I got ready for the next time. I hoped the next time would come. Finally, I was at the right place at the right time and didn’t foul him this time.”
Come on. Just say “I didn’t know how to stop so I grabbed him but he is so strong be broke out of it and some how the ref called a jump ball. I was just as shocked as you.”
At least when Bruce Bowen fouled LeBron at the end of Game 2 in the Finals on three-pointer, he admitted to intentionally pushing him but still LBJ didn’t get the call.
When is he going to start getting these calls? Superstars in the NBA are supposed to get the benefit of the doubt. And LeBron’s not getting them. Kobe would have gotten the foul call. Duncan would have. So would have D Wade. I don’t understand how LeBron continues to not get them.
Another thing that annoys me is how Mike Brown reacts to these type of situations. I understand his whole “no excuses” policy and that’s good to have. The Cavs had their chances last night, like if Sasha doesn’t air ball a three from the corner and Z doesn’t try to tip it in with his fist on the possession before the final one. But Brown needs show some emotion and appeal to the NBA and its officials through the media.
“A guy 6-8, 240 pounds and with the speed and athleticism he has, when he drives in there, it’s almost impossible to stop him without fouling him or without him getting a shot off. But somehow, someway, they did it.”
All true Coach, but how about ripping the refs. Yeah, it might cost you $5,000 but the next time that situation comes up you can guarantee LeBron gets the call.
Until then, the Cavs will have to settle for games that end with the seldom seen jump ball. Really? A jump ball?
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In other basketball news, Team River City lost a heartbreak game 55-50 last night to Chelsea’s. We led the whole first half and battled in the second. We were down 52-44 with about 3 minutes to play. CP hit one three for us to make it 47-52, then after a defensive stop, I got the ball to my brother for another big three. Down only two with 2 minutes to play. That’s when I had was forced to foul someone under the hoop. The guy is 6’8” and a horrible shooter but had a wide open layup. I had 4 fouls but I had no choice but to foul him. It was a good foul because he missed both free throws but bad because I had fouled out.
That’s when things went downhill for us (not because I was out of the game though). We got hosed like the Cavs. We didn’t score on the next possession and we fouled to send them to a line where they made one. Down three, CP chased a loose ball near just outside the 3-point arch. As he grabbed and turned around the ball was tip out off his hands and in the air. He caught, on a high bounce, then pulled up for three and hit it. Only a ref called him for carrying. Don’t understand that one. Oh well. We get a defensive stop, come down and my brother had an open three after a pump fake but missed. Rebound bounced out to CP who was wide open, only he fired up an air ball. After two free throws, there’s still 25 seconds are so left. Missed shot from the corner rolls over to CP in the corner where the ref called him for standing on the baseline. Only problem, he was a good 6 inches from line. Ball Game.
I had a shooting day that only Tim Duncan would be proud of. I scored nine points and every single one of them was thanks to the glass. I banked two three’s in, had a driving layup I was fouled on, and then somehow banked in the foul shot. Awful but still nine points in the first half. Second was just play ugly. I chalk it up to not playing as much as I should be.
It’s only the first game of the season so there’s plenty of time to rebound in this 10-game season. Last year we started out 0-3 before learning how to play with each and taking second place. We’ll be fine. Off next week for Thanksgiving but we’ll be back in two weeks ready to get a W.
