Announcer Babble

[Hawks Coach]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
Hawks Coach, it seems your main points are

1. the game was called in a tight, consistent manner for both sides
2. it was NOT well called because these 2 teams are used to playing a more physical game
3. it was NOT well called because it was a big game.

Agree with this assessment?

If so, are you saying the game is to be controlled by the teams & venue? And not the officials?

You are skipping half of my point to twist my argument into something it is not. I am saying that the entire tournament, down to the no-call on Bynum down the stretch of the game immediately preceding this game, has been called much less tightly than this game was. I am saying that officials should consider the context, how preceding games have been reffed, how much contact players can handle (advantage/disadvantage), etc. in determining what is and is not a foul in any game at this level. I am saying that tightening up calls in a manner unlike anything either team has faced in the past few months is an inappropriate way to call a national semifinal.

I wouldnt give the refs an F because they were consistent throughout the game. I wouldn't give them an A because they were inconsistent with how the entire tournament has been called. The calls clearly disrupted the rhythm of the game for both teams. That is not good officiating. These teams were playing no differently than they have for the past two months, the refs called a very different game than has been called for the last two months at this level.

You can defend the refs all you like, but I believe that this one one of the more poorly officiated big games I have seen in several years. One of the refs is the uncle of a good friend of mine. I normally like watching him ref. But it doesn't matter to me, because he was part of a crew that didn't do the kind of job one expects in this type of game. And it is disappointing to have that happen in a national semifinal.