Magic-Cavaliers: Why Game Five Should Frustrate NBA Fans

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

I wasn't convinced that the officiating in the 2009 NBA playoffs was historically bad.

Do not get me wrong, it's been bad. But historically bad? 2006 Finals bad? Nah.

Even ESPN egghead John Hollinger didn't think it was that bad. And he had stats to prove it.

Game Five changed my mind.

There have been bad calls in every NBA game that I have ever watched, regular season and postseason. But they usually even out. When one team's star is given one, then the other team's star will usually be spotted a gimme to make it fair.

With that said, I am fully aware of the so-called "superstar rules" that apparently apply to LeBron, Kobe, Jordan in the '90s, and maybe a couple others over the years. The idea being that the NBA wants to showcase their best players, so they give them more opportunities to show their stuff and fill up their stat lines. It's business. I get it.

But Game Five was different. Game Five was egregious.

Take a look at the picture above. That was a shooting foul. LeBron would routinely bump himself into a defender, just like any other player would do when driving the lane, draw the foul, take a step or two, throw the ball up, and get two at the line. Magic, heed my warning. If you touch LeBron James, expect to get a foul.

As a basketball fan, I am disgusted.

It did not stop there either. In the second quarter, Courtney Lee got run over with no call, while Delonte West gets bumped, takes three steps, throws the shot up, and gets the whistle. Unreal.

In the third, as LeBron pushed on the fast break, Rafer Alston fouled him by wrapping him up just past the half court line. No shot was taken. It should have been a reach-in on Alston and the Cavs should have taken the ball from out of bounds.

But the officials ruled it a clear path foul and LeBron was given two shots. What is a clear path foul!? One of the analysts had not heard of that!

Had Howard been fouled just as frequently, you would never hear me cry foul. But he had to get hacked two to three times to draw it.

As a basketball fan, I want to see a good game. Cleveland did play much better in this game then they had all series. They hit their open threes, they passed around Orlando's defense, they got good production from Mo Williams and their bench. So, in that respect, I applaud them.

The Cavaliers should have won Game Five. They were the better team. But the officials made it cheap. That game should have been decided by less than five points, not by 10.

When it comes to the zebras, they should be ensuring that the game is played fairly. Their calls should not decide games. Cleveland may have won this game without their help, but it would have been a slug fest. It would have been more like Game Four, a drag out brawl to see who wanted it more.

So I plead to the NBA referrees. Please, oh please do not let Game Five happen again. Lighten up, let LeBron take some contact, and call a fair game.

The fans demand it.

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