Sheer IDIOCY. I literally won't turn on ESPN radio until 1 pm because of that guy...and his stupidity isn't limited to officiating.

I heard Mke and Mike talking about this on the way to work, and couldn't wait to take a look at the play. They, of course, made it sound like a weak call. While I would agree with the "let it slide" theory if it is a borderline call, you HAVE to call THAT foul. He may have even gotten away with a little body lean, but when he extended the arms to hold the guy, forgetaboutit.

I didn't see the game - I was watching Rangers/Devils - but I have no problem with the call. However...can someone who did watch the game tell me whether there were similar plays that weren't called? Not that it would change whether this was a foul but it would bring up a question regarding consistency.

Definitely an illegal screen, and I look forward to NBE officials consistently calling this and other fouls in other games. Too much to ask for?

My impression was that there were more offensive fouls called in this game relative to other NBE contests.

You do not watch too many NBA games do you? And when I mean watch, I do not mean peak in and watch a couple of minutes and then turn to something else. I mean sitting down and watching an entire quarter, half or game several times over.

Peace

Agreed, I can't stand Cowherd.

Funny story, a few years ago, early 4th qtr of a close game. One of the coaches comes up to me during a TO, and says "let the players decide this one, right guys?" Last possession with his team down 1 and we have a no-call on a shot with about 4 or 5 seconds left. He was yelling that we decided the game.

I guess it just depends on your perspective ;)

I just heard Tim Cowlishaw on "Around the Horn" say that "Normally officials do not want to make that call." OK, do these guys ever have any real conversation with people that actually officiate? So it is not just Cowheard or any particular media person. It is clear they are are dumber than a box of rocks when it comes to anything officiating. All they would have to do really is read this board and they would see many people that actually officiate that feel this should have been called.

Peace

It's extremely frustrating that this call is getting any attention. It was absolutely the correct call. Plain as day. That wasn't even close to a screen. It freed up Pierce, so clearly there was a huge advantage. And it was right in front of Smith. Easy call.

You know any call near the end of the game or no call at the end of the game in the playoffs is a source of constant conversation. If they did not call this then the story would be on a different angle.

Peace

No, but it is certainly expounded a great deal more when he discusses officiating!

Actually, you're correct. KG looked like a pulling guard on the play.

Oh, I agree. But, it would be nice if one of the talking heads would acknowledge that. It was a 'damned if you do damned if you don't' situation. Smith made the right call.

There it is.

So, what's the general motivation behind this grumbling? (Besides "ignorance." That's too easy.) Is it "officials shouldn't determine the outcome of the game," or "a foul in the last minute is different than the rest of the game", or "these guys think they're the show," or something else?

I believe it goes beyond sports and/or officiating. It is the prevailing "victim" mentality in our country. A loss, foul, no-call at the end of any event HAS TO BE somebody else's fault. This mindset has been growing over the last ten years to it's present level...and sadly I don't see it diminishing any time soon.

Personal accountability...in sports (or life) is almost a thing of the past.

Going back to the original clip...can you imagine what would happen if KG or Doc said "They got it right. I was trying to get Pierce free and had to set that screen. It was overly agressive, but I had to make it work. Unfortunately it was in front of an official and he got me on it. Sometimes I can slip one by...sometimes not." Instead...it's the official's fault. KG is the victim, Doc Rivers is the victim...the Celtics are the victim. They got shafted.