Monday, June 19, 2006

What Was He Thinking?



I usually don't do Mavs post after a loss, but Jesus Christ. I absolutely cannot believe what went down tonight, especially in overtime. I'm not a conspiracy theory person, and no, I don't think that the NBA orders refs to extend a series by giving one team all the calls, but the league likes to protect their starts, and it sure seemed that they were going out of their way to protect Wade tonight. In the second half, he took more foul shots than the ENTIRE MAVS TEAM. And that last foul at the end of overtime? Well first of all, it wasn't a foul in any way, shape or form, and it shouldn't have been called at any point in a game (watch the replay if you don't believe me). But refs NEVER call fouls like that at the end of the game unless it is so obvious that they can't get away with not calling it. Way to go guys. Deciding a Finals game on free throws. I don't know what else to say.

And lets not forget what Josh Howard did. Not that the Mavs were likely to make a last second shot like that anyway, but come on. I knew they only had one time out left. Why didn't he? There is a debate about whether he actually called a time out or not, but it sure looked like he did in the replay, and the look on his face afterward kind of said it all. I just can't believe he did that, and there is NO excuse for it, despite his solid performance otherwise.

Earlier today, I said that this game was a must win for the Heat. And it was. But they won it, and because of the way it went down, I'm not sure that the Mavs can recover. I really hope they do, but I'm not feeling very good about it. This could be our one and only chance to see the Mavs get this close, and it feels like its slipping away.

28 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hate conspiracy theories too but it seems like the NBA and Stern in particular already know who they want to win.

That said, home teams have won every home game so far in the series. But I have a bad feeling about all of this too. This makes me not want to watch basketball.

8:49 AM  
Blogger Chris said...

yeah, it's hard not to complain about that last call without sounding like it's sour grapes, but the refs had no business calling that phantom b.s. Michael Jordan is the only other player who would've gotten that call, and it's clear the league wants Wade to fill those shoes.

but like gary said, i blame this one on Josh Howard. missing two free throws in that situation is inexcusable.

9:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have faith. Even if you think the calls were bunk last night. This is a nice little blurb from the NBA Finals blog:

The 2006 NBA Finals -- most certainly started, with a conclusion yet to be written -- closely mirrors that of the 1955 Finals between the Syracuse Nationals and Fort Wayne Pistons.

Back then, the format of The Finals from 1953-1955 was 2-3-2. Syracuse captured the first two games at home; Fort Wayne the next three despite staging its "home" contests on the road in not-so-nearby Indianapolis because their arena was unavailable.

With the scene shifting back to Syracuse, the Pistons needed only one victory. No easy task considering the team was winless there in six years.

Tuesday, the scene shifts back to Dallas, where the Heat is winless the past four years. Miami's last win in north Texas came on a 109-95 decision on March 2, 2002.

Back to those Pistons ... they didn't get the win they needed to capture their first championship. Syracuse used every bit of its homecourt advantage, winning Games 6 and 7 at home and making it the first, and only, time the home team has won every game in a Finals series.

But that was more than 50 years ago. The same can't be true two generations later, can it? The Heat is thinking no, confident it can take one game before Dallas gets two.

"I'd much rather go down there this way," Riley said after his team took Game 5, "one game away from the championship, instead of having to win two in a row."

History, however, isn't on the side of the Heat. In the modern era -- the NBA went back to a 2-3-2 Finals format in 1985 -- only two other teams have taken a 3-2 lead on the road looking for that one win. The 1988 Detroit Pistons and the 1994 New York Knicks went home empty handed.

10:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree, the NBA and Stern hate Cuban and the Mavs. I saw the look on Stern's face when one interviewer asked him about how it would be to hand Cuban the trophy... he loked sick.

But, I have to say... watching tht gme and this series is why I hate basketball. The refs are a joke. There is no consistency in the enforcement of the rules. It is so frustrating to watch, it is a constant reminder of why I don't watch the regular season. The NBA needs to address that.

Also, Howard choked at teh end. Twice. And Dirk? Where was he? HWere was Mr 50 points? He needs to try and step up and play like a champion. Wade sure has. Mavericks are choking and letting one player dominate them. Sad.

10:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That last foul was really ridiculous, especially when called on Dirk. The other people defending Wade, you could make an arguement for, but Dirk was nowhere near fouling him.

Also how many free throws did the Heat get to shoot? I remember sometime in the third period it was somewhere in the 50's. O_O

oh yeah, and...poor josh howard :(

1:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes that last call was Bullshit!

Their was no foul any person watching that saw it from different angles..


Anyways that's my say

Cameron
Blackheart Society

1:07 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

I agree. And Wade DID push off like three times.

Some people are also saying that he actually caught the pass in the front court (just on the line) before he moved backcourt, making the whole play illegal anyway. I'll try to get some replays if I can.

1:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Am I the only one hoping the mavs lose horribly so that wsjr will give up on sports and go back to writing about all music instead of the current 50/50 state?

Isn't staying home and watching TV the exact opposite of what a local live music blog is all about?

I got no problem with jocks but enough is enough is enough.

1:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

50/50's is right. Even J0HN FUCKING LENNON when asked about following football, said, "We don't follow any sports, it's a waste of time, sports".

1:37 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

well either way, its all over Thursday night no matter what, pal.

And then for the rest of the summer, we will be covering Cowboys training camp and provide an in depth analysis of each and every Texas Rangers game.

1:37 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

and by the way, currently on the blog (not counting archives) there are 9 posts about music only, 3 about the Mavs only (including one that is just a Youtube post and another that is like three sentences long) and one post that is about music AND the Mavericks.

So 50/50 is wrong.

1:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmm that kinda sounds like "God Stonedranger, why can't you tailor all your writing just for ME? man I hate sports! and I love music! even though they're both just simple interests/hobbies...they're somehow opposites! they can't co-exist!!!"

what planet are you people on?? relax, it's just a blog!

...also, John Lennon is DEAD, and currently has no opinion of Avery Johnson.

2:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear 50/50,

While it may be true that you are just aching to read another post about how Black Tie Dynasty are lame, how Wanz is a martyr, how Denton/Dallas is better than Denton/Dallas, if ____ DIY venue is better than ______ rock club......

Some people like sports and music and when their city's team is in a championship they enjoy discussing this with fellow like-minded music/sports fans.

I pray that in order to avoid any hipocracy on your part, you have NEVER stayed at home in the evening and watched anything on tv. EVER. Because being a music fan is all about never being at home watching tv. If we all stayed home and watched something on tv, the local music scene would crumble and all the venues would close and Terrell Owens would turn Exposition Park into a strip mall and museum in his honor.

Go listen to Merzbow and cry.

PS - So even though I love Keith Van Horn, he really should be washing towels and handing Marquis Daniels cups of Gatorade. Make yourself useful.

2:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, if John Lennon said it, let's burn it into the side of Mount Rushmore with a laser.

John Lennon also had veneral diseases. Are you gonna pick up a raging case of herpes in tribute to him too?

I'm gonna go ahead an stick with watching and listening to both music and sports. You stick to being a working class hero, buddy.

2:12 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

yeah, they're just jealous guys anyway.

2:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't blame JHO, blame Avery. For the timeout at least. Those free throws are all on Howard's shoulders. As well as Dirk. Christ, when did the Mavs grow a bunch of vaginas?

2:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah, because reading internet blogs and watching tv are completely different types of activities....

wait, no they're not....

5:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey maybe all the little fucking bitches can get together and make a regulation blog. you know, what people "can" and "can't" write about. just so that everyone can know the RULES before they even start typing. keep it real civil-like, that's how coach likes things.

other day I was in the garage, you know pumpin iron, anyways had the b-ball game comin out of the chevy... man you wouldn't fuckin believe it if I told you... my lil sister TOTALLY flipped my game off, tried put on her "jams" or whatever. goddamit for the last time music and sports don't mix!!!

uh anyways thanks music geeks we shore appreciate it! rules and stuff really help us out. it's like uh...we're all meathead jocks and can't think too good. personally, I wish this blog was all about gatorade and pussy, but I gotta see what coach says first.

5:36 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

And anon 336 just won post of the day!

5:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

alright look, if your going to keep writing about sports you can at least relable the blog "We Shot J.R.-Dallas/Denton Music/Sports Blog" cause thats what it is. You can write about anything you want, just make sure it's labled correctly.

OR whenever you post about sports you can keep it brief and then make a couple awesome music posts (like GvsB Chris does)

Just tryin to help you out so you'll get more readers and bring more attention to local music, thats all.

5:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't this where the all time classic "WELL, GO START YOUR OWN BLOG IFF YOU DON' LIKE IT" goes?

Lighten up, cracker.

6:23 PM  
Blogger Josh said...

The clip of the backcourt violation is here on youtube.

It's pretty clear that he catches the ball with a foot in the frontcourt, and then, pivoting, goes into the backcourt. That's a textbook over-and-back, but it isn't really clear until seen in slow-motion.

6:49 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

thanks josh

6:56 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

hmmm... I watched it a bunch of times, and to me it looked he was in the air when he caught it.

6:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"alright look, if your going to keep writing about sports you can at least relable the blog "We Shot J.R.-Dallas/Denton Music/Sports Blog" cause thats what it is. You can write about anything you want, just make sure it's labled correctly.

OR whenever you post about sports you can keep it brief and then make a couple awesome music posts (like GvsB Chris does)"

wow! I was kidding around but you actually WROTE THE RULES huh? that's hilarious!

...and why would a "sports" post need to be shorter than any other post? maybe you can go ahead and explain that too?

8:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

seriously. is the rule guy legit? did he really just say this:

"OR whenever you post about sports you can keep it brief and then make a couple awesome music posts"

did someone posting on wsjr actually learn to write by reading those "Say No To Drugs" comic books?

latest news: dirk got fined $5,000 for kicking the ball into the stands and the nba is considering fining cuban (who by the way, matches all his fine dollar for dollar to charities) but they won't announce their decision. mark cuban is gonna be on the channel 8 at 10 tonight to talk about all this shit. should be entertaining.

alright, who's got the AWESOME music post to follow this up? AWESOME!

8:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah that's totally a backcourt violation. but i do have to admit that between the big trophy painted over the line and how fast it all happens, it's hard to catch.

8:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

about the backcourt violation:

wade didn't comit an over and back. paraphrased, the nba rules state that if a team is inbounding from half court, they can pass the ball to a player in the back court, who in turn, has 6 seconds to advance it to the front court.

at least, that's what paul silas said on espn today.

fuck all that shit though, and bring on game 6!!

5:04 PM  

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