Video: ESPN's Bayless, Legler get heated over referee's calls made in Game 6 of WCF
The San Antonio Spurs' season is over as they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2) in the Western Conference Finals but Game 6 wasn't without its controversy.
When the Spurs were surging back after losing an 18-point lead, the referees made two questionable offensive foul calls (both on Manu Ginobili) which may or may not have cost the Spurs a chance to tie the series and force a Game 7.
Even Tim Duncan quipped the refs seemed to have made favorable calls for OKC.
ESPN's Skip Bayless (an ardent Spurs fans) and Tim Legler discussed the refs' calls against San Antonio's Ginobili and it got quite heated. Check it out.
What do you have to say Spurs fans? I know the series is over and it's time to move on but do you feel the refs cost the Spurs the game and a chance to force a Game 7?
Legler is one of a bevy of shills for the NBA (see Jeff Van Gundy) who will refer to a replay and basically tell the audience , "are you going to believe me or your lying eyes"...It is disgusting.....they always fall back on the reasoning that the offended team was not playing wel, so they have no right to complain.....referees are supposed to be impartial by definition of the job regardless of how a team is playing or whay player is being judged....This ended when it was deemed Magic Johnson could routinely palm the ball....either the refs are guided by some unspoken league mandate of bias, or they are incompetent....either was it is a sad day for the NBA and a disgrace to honest competition
I've always thought of officiating a lot like the work of a good actor, cinematographer, or film editor. Typically the best work is done when it goes unnoticed, that is, the lighting or performance doesn't take away from or stand out to much from the viewing experience. It just is. It merely exists in such a way as to accommodate the flow of the film.
Likewise, officiating in its purest form exists to accommodate the flow of the game. The fact that this game has elicited such a debate within the NBA community about the performance of this officiating crew then should in itself speak volumes to the higher ups in the NBA administration. Clearly the weight of the whistles on the flow and outcome of this game was, at the very least, of greater significance then it should have been.
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James Harden, the shrewd operator, clearly flopped on that Ginobili play. He is a good player who is fast becoming one of the best floppers in the NBA. Throw-in the vintage Derek Fisher, a master flopper himself too, who flopped on a Duncan legal screen in middle of fourth. That was a blown call, too. Stephen Jackson shouldn't get a technical for congratulating himself. That's a free point given to the Thunder during the third. Durant was given the superstar call on a Ginobili drive that was called a charge. He didn't get there in time. He leaned his body to create contact with Manu. A 4 point lead stayed that same without the possible 3 point play. Phantom foul on Parker on Westbrook lay up when he clearly fall down by himself. Holding fouls called to Jackson when he tries to guard Iceberg Slim. Goaltending calls not called on Serge Ibaka blocks. Officiating in these series clearly had the officials influence in it. Without a doubt, it puts the integrity of the games in serious doubt.Like the NBA is a Fixed League. This series is a great example of conspiracies in the NBA.
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Tim Legler You're full of *&%# for defending OKC on this. These two calls most certainly determined the game and this series would be going into a game 7 had they not been called. The only reason why you're making a case for OKC is because you're with the NBA and you're defending the NBAs reputation. The anger in Skips voice is the same frustraition every legatimate basketball fan has (with the exception of OKC fans). There should have been a game 7 in San Antonio.
