[theboys]

For me, I have this "thing" about fairness. As long as its fair (or I perceive it as fair), and I truly mean fair, as opposed to "fair for me", I'm okay with it. If the reffing team is calling/not calling arm slaps the entire game, I can live with it. The thing is, if you're calling the slaps fouls on both ends, regardless of the outcome of the shot or pass, then I don't get mad at you for calling the foul on my star player. I get mad at my star player for being such an idiot when I just told him to play smart since he had four fouls.

But, if you're using a/d as has generally been described, and you don't call a foul, I don't think, "Boy, that official is smart. He knows how to use a/d wisely." I think, "Whew. Got away with one there." Then I yell at my star player anyway.

And, to answer Chuck's question...sort of...I'll lean on the wisdom of Dick Divenzio, who was one of the most basketball savvy people to grace God's green earth. He hated the comment, "smart foul". Because, as he said, few fouls are smart. Fouls make a coach alter his game plan, and ultimately give the opponent a scoring advantage. With enough fouls, the opponent doesn't even have to shoot the ball to get an opportunity to score. So, would I want the easy lay-up or the foul called? I think I would lean toward the foul. Because, even if the situation isn't a 1-and-1, I still have the ball.