Xpinionated

Finally! Someone else saw at least a hint of what I saw, click here. Check the excerpt:

You love NBA conspiracies … what’s the best one you heard during the playoffs?

A: As you know, the officiating was curiously one-sided in the Finals. It reached the point where ABC was afraid to show replays — like when Rasheed delivered a flying forearm to Devean George in Game 5, sent him flying out of bounds, drew a prolonged whistle from the referee … and play was mysteriously allowed to continue. What the heck happened there? Thank God for TiVo. And have you ever seen a team set more moving picks in a single series?

I’m pretty much at a loss for words. The pistons played the best that they could have possibly played. Combine that with shady officiating (more on that later) and less than average play from the Lakers and I guess the outcome of this series isn’t as ’surprising’ as the lame ass media would have you believe.

As far as the officiating goes, I am not saying it was some conspiracy cooked up by the NBA. What I am saying is there is no way you’ll ever convince me that one team could be ‘aggressive’ enough to shoot 171 free throws in five games (avg 34.2 per game) versus 111 (avg 22.2 per game). My view? The refs allowed one team to play physical because that’s how they played all year long while they blew the whistle if the other team played physical. Tayshaun Prince wasn’t moving his feet on Kobe at such an incredible rate that he could stop him, he was holding and pushing long enough for help defense to arrive (Strangely enough, tv announcers throughout the series applauded Detroit for playing Kobe and Shaq straight up, yeah never saw that).

I know this sounds like sour grapes but when a team is in the penalty within the first three to four minutes of every quarter, it makes it extremely hard to be competitive. Especially when the calls aren’t being made on both sides of the floor. Just how often is Ben Wallace allowed to jump over someone’s back to tap the ball out? Is Chauncey really allowed to take two steps and a hop…..when catching the ball?!?! Rasheed is allowed to curse the referees blatantly for 3/4 of a quarter but if Gary Payton so much as looks at a referee it’s time for a technical? One sided affair and I’m not talking about the gameplay….

History begins in 7 hours. Theysay it can’t be done….I say it should be…and it will be. There is no other acceptable ending. PERIOD!!

132 -78 free throw advantage, 115 -78 fouls called advantage, 4-0 opening tip violation advantage, yet I’m the only one who sees a disconcerting difference in how the officials are calling this series.

It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even be upset anymore. I feel like the crazy person who really isn’t crazy; rather just has a deeper understanding. No one can convince me that one team is aggresive enough to have a 50 free throw advantage. 1) They are a physical team which would lead one to believe that they would commit more fouls because in order to be physical, you have to make a lot of contact. 2)Aggression leading to more free throws? Most of the calls they have gotten have been phantom fouls when viewed upon replay. I know I know, refs are only human (old humans, but humans nonetheless) that see and react at real speed. But after four games, you would think their seeing and reacting would adjust at least a little…..And what call are they making exactly on the opening jump ball for 4 STRAIGHT GAMES?!?!

Want some numbers? I got numbers….91 -52 free throw advantage to the Pistons…..58 fouls called on the pistons vs 80 called on the Lakers…..Oddly enough, field goal % is just about even at 42% to 40% for the Pistons….

If Defense is being allowed to do whatever you want because the refs are not going to call it, then the Pistons have a great defense…..if methodical offense means shooting behind a moving pick (they refer to them as screen and rolls…new terminology because they must be aware that the original idea of a pick is stationary), then they have a methodical offense…..

And for all these new Pistons fans that suddenly are raving lunatics, I bleed purple and gold….do you even know where Detroit is?