Granted, I'm well aware of the fact that star players have been known to get star treatment. Everybody, from fans to players to coaches to Commissioner David Stern, knows this unwritten rule. I may not like it, but that's the way it is. Lakers coach Phil Jackson and Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett both suggested the officials favor Kevin Durant. Maybe so. However, he's getting the same calls as Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, DeWayne Wade, and the like. Why won't any players or coaches criticize the officials for calling fouls on James.
Game five of the Bulls-Cavaliers series was completely unbearable. The officiating was biased for Cleveland the entire series, but last night's officiating was an abomination. Brad Miller picked up six fouls in 10 minutes while guarding Shaq. Think about this for a minute. Six fouls in 10 minutes. Brad Miller would have needed six fouls against Shaq--10 years ago. Even TNT analyst Reggie questioned the two consecutive fouls Miller received while guarding Shaq. Gibson fouled out, and Joakim Noah had 5 fouls. Shaq and Varejao had five fouls each, but as physical as the two guys are, there is not a reason as to why they did not foul out of the game. Maybe the officials thought if the Bulls stole game five , the Bulls would have won game six in the United Center. In this scenario, a winner-take-all game seven would have been played at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Derrick Rose is a guy that loves to get to the rim. He's considered one of the quickest players in the league. He took 27 shots in game five, but shot six free throws. James, on the other hand, hoisted 12 shots, and shot 14 free throws. Now, do you see where I'm going with this? There was a crucial play in the fourth quarter when Shaq fouled Derrick Rose. Rose took two steps (without dribbling), and made the shot. In the NBA, this is known as continuation. Against other teams in the league, the shot would have counted, but not against the "King".
No one will be able to play solid defense against James. The refs will call a reach in if a player steals the ball from him. The refs will call a foul on a player who blocks his shot. On the post, the player will be nailed for a phantom push. Phantom hip checks have been known to be called while he's driving.
Is the NBA so desperate to give "King James" a championship? Perhaps disgraced former referee Tim Donaghy is not the only ref who deliberately tanked calls?
LeBron James shows good sportsmanship
It was nice to see LeBron show class, and shake hands with the Bulls after game five against the Bulls. However, why didn't he shake hands when Orlando beat them last year or when Boston beat them in seven in 08? I was curious as to why James stayed on the court to receive congratulations from the Bulls team and staff. James himself said he did not want to shake hands with the team that beats him. Doesn't it seem a little hypocritical to stay on the court to shake hands with the team you've beaten? I get it, though. You're happy as long as you win, but you act like a sore loser when you don't get your way. Come on, LeBron. You're not 8-years-old anymore. You're a professional now. You need to take the approach from the Huggies commercial in which the kid sings, "Mommy wow. I'm a big kid now."
Stop the dancing, parading, and showing up other teams. Although very few guys have the guts to call you out on it, a majority of the players feel the team acts like a bunch of immature little leaguers. Joakim Noah is a guy known for speaking his mind. It was nice to see someone step up, and tell you what they thought about your antics. He didn't appreciate the theatrics from a team that acts more like a college team. I understand firing your fans and teammates up. However, dancing before games and during blowouts is a blatant slap in the face. That's why Orlando slapped Cleveland silly in six games last year?
Kobe Bryant had enough class to congratulate Boston after they won the title in 08? Think about this for a minute. His team lost in six to the franchise's biggest rival. They blew a 24-point lead in a game four loss. In game six, Boston won by 39. Yet, despite this, Kobe had enough class to shake hands with the guys.
Please learn from Kobe, LeBron. Stop acting like a 25-year-old turning five. Please, please, please act like an adult, and show class.
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