[Brian Watson]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

Brian, your post is a little confusing. At first, it sounds like you're saying that Phil and the Lakers expect the refs to cut Shaq some slack; you seem to say that they did not (since he had 3 offensive fouls), and that that's a good thing.

But then you end with the comment I quoted above, which says that Shaq does get slack. So I'm not really sure where you're going with this.

My personal opinion is that a couple of the offensive fouls on Shaq were borderline. Could easily have been no-called and nobody would've said anything. But there was clearly contact, so I'm not going to say too much about the calls. I don't think Shaq gets a whole lot of "slaq" from the officials. He gets hammered by defenses, but b/c he's so big, he is not always put at a disadvantage, so some of it is let go. On offense, his best "move" is obviously to try to back his man down and my guess is that the officials were trying to clamp down on that tactic and not let him push defenders out of the way with his butt.

Just my thoughts,

Chuck

My point is I think the Lakers are way out of line to suggest that the refs should swallow their whistles because he was 13 for 15 or whatever it was when they hit him with the 3rd foul. To suggest he should be let to run loose in the paint and play with no penalty because he is having a great game is ludicrous. We all know the stars get a break, the NBA is a different animal, it is entertainment and the people pay to see them play; but for the head coach to suggest his guy should be given free reign because he might drop 50 is too much. If that were to happen, would WWF style scripted games be too far behind? "OK, tonight Shaq gets 60, no matter what." And I know it is just not him, I see plenty of highlights, both ways, where I think a foul should be called. That segues into my question on Wilt: I think it is obvious that Shaq and the people defending him do get a huge amount of leeway by the officials. Shaq beats on those guys as much as they beat on him. Was it that way back when Wilt played? Did Wilt use is butt to knock people 3 feet out of the way and walk to the hole (I have seen Shaq do this)? Bottom line is Shaq has the potential to, and to a degree has changed the game much like Wilt did (Can Shaq sleep with 30,000 women?). There really is no one who can match up and play him straight up, think the zone was just a coincidence? Was Wilt just smarter, and avoided situations where a foul could go either way and be called against him, or did he get all the breaks on the calls?

Bottom line, I am just tired of hearing the Lakers whine when they lose.

Someone else may now take the soapbox...