The Demoralizing Effect of Bad Officiating
by JR99 on Feb 1, 2012 12:37 AM EST
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PrintA lot of fans are understandably worried about the Celtics after their last two games vs. the Cavs. They blew a big lead twice, losing one game and allowing the other to get uncomfortably close.
But it's important to remember that both games were HORRIBLY OFFICIATED. In the first, the refs' errors directly caused the game to swing to Cleveland – even if it is also true that the Celtics pretty much fell apart in the 4th quarter. In the second game, the refs often swallowed their whistles when the Celtics were fouled yet called ridiculous offensive fouls on the Cs, completely ignored the 3-second rule, and also wrongly gave possession to the Cavs at least twice (once after video review, no less!).
But, you say, the team should be good enough to overcome the refs' screwups. True enough. But let's consider what lousy, biased refereeing does to a team's mindset. We've seen this before. 2010's Finals Game 3 comes to mind, where, if you remember, the Celtics pretty much gave up in the first quarter because it became so OBVIOUS that the refs were going to hand that game to the Lakers (Cs were up 2-0 at that point, and would have put the Lakers away if they'd won.... bad for business, I guess.)
It's only natural – human, that is – to feel at least a LITTLE hopeless and demoralized when the refs keep wrongly swinging their decisions to the other side, and the contest is not evenly called. Sure, it's happened a lot over the years, and you might argue that they should be used to it by now, because they're pros, etc. Yes, they're pros. But they're also human, and thus fallible and sometimes weak. When they see the refs making mistakes in ONE DIRECTION ONLY, over and over again, well, it's understandable that they might take their foot off the accelerator a bit. And it doesn't take much deceleration to lose an NBA game.
I.e., the total negative effect of bad officiating can be substantially greater than the sum of the refs' calls... and that effect is something the players and coaches can't talk about. So we should. And no, this isn't an 'excuse.' It's a theory about perceived reality (and it applies to all teams).
Yes I know... things are what they are. But what they are in the NBA adds up to some pretty rotten officiating. Imo, this is by far the biggest problem and gripe we fans have with the NBA. And for good reason.
Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.
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This is just an excuse
These players have experienced bad officiating all their live, and they get demoralized by bad calls? I don’t think so. They’ve gone through so much bad calls and I’m sure they know how to shrug those off and just play. It’s not like the refs were blatantly officiating against us, it’s just bad judgement.
I’m sure the Celtic players won’t talk about officiating after the game, they’ll talk about how to play better. We have 17 championships despite having these referees man, one of them in the last 5 years too.
Not really
1) Team members can’t talk negatively about officiating at all… they get fined if they do.
2) This post doesn’t say that the Celtics are victims of bad officiating more than other teams. In fact it says the opposite.
3) So how is this an excuse? It’s a theory. A theory that the total effect of bad/biased officiating can be greater than the direct impact on the game. (Not that that’s not bad enough.)
Not even a theory.
Bad officiating can be measured in points.
Just like bad performance by a coach or player should be called out, bad performance by the officials should be too. Probably even more so.
Officiating has had a huge affect in at least 3 of the Celtic’s games this season, directly affecting the outcome. The Knick’s game, the Miami game and the first of these two Cavs games were all basically decided by the refs.
It’s not excuse making – it’s simple, observed fact.
NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.
Interesting...
I agree of course.
The point I was trying to make was probably too arcane or weird, I guess… it was that the effect may actually be greater than the “sum of its parts”… meaning that the direct effect you mentioned is CERTAINLY there — it can be measured, etc., as you pointed out — but there is an even greater effect that’s not typically noted, and that’s the effect on the morale of a team. I.e., if the refs are REALLY bad — and they are sometimes, when they’re not just making mistakes but clearly biased — then the guys, understandably, sorta give up.
I hope that they would not - but I know they are human.
And I know there are times when I, as a fan, think, “Oh man, what’s the point? The refs are screwing us over!”
Human nature.
But even without the ‘amplifier’ you are talking about, the simple, tangible impact of their ‘competence’ issues is already having too much affect on the games. Its disgusting and there are moments when I can barely watch the NBA because of it.
NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.
Yep, just an excuse
They blew the lead because their defense went to crap (and Cleveland got very hot) and they settled for jumpshots on offense. The Celtics have a habit of doing this from time to time.
Eventually they started going to the basket and made a couple of shots and held on for the W. It’s easy to blame things on the refs (especially if you happen to be listening to Tommy) but to suggest that the refs can be responsible for a 21 point comeback is laughable. They might impact 2-3 plays, but an experienced team has to be able to move on, play their game, and close the door as the Celtics (eventually) did last night.
THIS is not an excuse
Be the celtics or any other tema, the refs should not be the deciding factors in games, in any sport. They have their part to be fair and impartial. something horribly lacking in the NBA in the past 5 years. It needs severly addressed, but as long as they are in sterns pocket it’s gonna be a problem. Picture this scenario. Cletics are up by one point aginst the Heat in game 7 of the eastern conference finals. With 5 seconds left, heat inbounds the ball to Lebron who lumbers it up court Bulling over every celtic in his sight en route to the hoop. He takes 30 steps without dribbling from the 3 point line for the layup and misses. FOUL called on Bradley, who’s not even in the game, plus a technical to the mascot. Lebron hits both..Heat to the Finals. For cryin out loud, if it weren’t possible to happen it’d be funny.
Some Refs are..
only part of the problem. Stern is the other. He allows this inconsistent officiating to happen without critique. He wants high scoring games to draw fans to the game. The NBA has become more like the old WWF, Stern=McMahon. The officials turn their heads for the elite players but the average player gets the phantom foul called on them. Some players are just like the wrestlers, flopping (talk about overacting, Stern said the officials were going to correct this two years ago, not seeing it). The make-up calls are even worse.
Keep it simple, if you don’t see it, don’t blow the whistle. Keep it fair and get rid of the Jordan rules, rules should be consistent for players.
If you really want to get a better product, STERN and his lackey Adam Silver need to go. If Silver takes over, it will be more of the same.
Let them play your killing the game!!!
The real theft was Finals Game 3
Where the refs were just unbelievably biased, CLEARLY intent on throwing the game to LA — presumably because a sweep is bad for business. I remember that game clearly, because it seemed our guys just sorta gave up…. it was that hopeless.
glad you mentiuoned game 3
people seem to forget about that game, but it was AWFUL. the c’s came out on fire and the lakers were ready to roll over and then bennett salvatore and bill kennedy (who has a well-known feud with doc rivers) got all the c’s best players in foul trouble and it killed their momentum. that game was a pure fix-job, and had the c’s not been cheated there the series would have never gone back to LA.
That game still haunts me every day
Lakers got away with too many over the back calls at the beginning and the 4th quarter was fixed. Our guys were getting beaten up on one end with no call and the Lakers where getting to the foul line with persistent phantom calls. Bryant got away with 2 blatant travels and Gasol jumped with the ball and landed before he shot a layup which went in (travel – no call) in the 4th. Free throw disparity was 37-17. I think the Lakers got to the line a record setting 21 times in the 4th quarter in comparison to the Celtics 6. Celtics would have won that game by double figures if not for the terrible officiating.
Mark Cuban Speaks Out...
How is this for timing? I know he has been a loud mouth in the past, but he is passionate about the sport and his team. I’m glad he said something because of his status in the league. Probably would not have said anything if his team won. But then again, would any of us?
"Look, I haven’t said a whole lot about the officiating in a long, long time, but I haven’t seen it this bad in a long, long time," Cuban told ESPNDallas.com. "Guys miss calls; that’s part of the game. You’re not always going to have a great crew. Officials have got to learn that’s part of the game.
"But these were officials that have been part of the league for years, and it was just off-the-charts bad. And, if no one ever says anything, nothing ever happens."
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