I STILL Hate The San Antonio Spurs

[THUNDER HANDS]

That team gets every call. Last night against my Nets the fould differential was 35-11. The Nets couldn't buy a call from the referees, even though they were driving hard to the basket all night.

Do they allow fans to carry rifles into the building? That's the only reason I can think of - that the refs are scared for their lives to make a call against the Spurs.

There's a reason the team has lost something like 4 out of its last 80 games at home, and its not because of a deep bench or Tim Duncan.

I hate NBA referees. :mad:

[Tummler]

1. The Nets average 6 more free-throw attempts per game than the Spurs

The Nets average 28.9 free-throw attempts per game to the Spurs' 22.9 per game.

On the season, the Nets have more free-throw attempts than their opponents.

On the season, the Spurs have 49 fewer free-throw attempts than their opponents. That's despite the fact that their two leading scorers (Duncan and Parker) are among the league leaders in points in the paint. Tim Duncan, the most polished post player in the league, isn't even in the top twenty in free-throw attempts per game.

Therefore, if we are to judge by the actual facts, it appears that the referees favor the Nets much more than they favor the Spurs. Oh, the poor Nets -- even the facts are biased against them! (credit to The Daily Show for that line)

Sources:
http://www.dougstats.com/05-06/NJNets.html (through 1/10)
http://www.dougstats.com/05-06/SanAntonioSpurs.html (through 1/10)
http://www.dougstats.com/05-06Players.html (through 1/10)

When discussing last night's foul differential, it's important to note that the Nets intentionally fouled the Spurs for at least the last seven possessions of the game. The final 32 seconds of the game took 15 minutes of real time.

Couldn't buy a call? The Nets got back into the game because Vince Carter made six free throws (half of them on a very dubious call) in the last 32 seconds.

Indeed, despite their "hack a Spur" strategy late in the game, the Nets were whistled for only eight more personal fouls than the Spurs (29 to 21). If you subtract the seven intentional fouls in the last minute, the Nets were called for only one more "unintentional" foul than the Spurs. That's hardly evidence for any sort of outrageous officiating bias in favor of the Spurs.

Sources:
http://scores.nba.com/games/20060110/NJNSAS/PlayByPlayPrint.html
http://www.nba.com/games/20060110/NJNSAS/boxscore.html
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA011106.1C.BKNspurs.nets.gamer.12868048.html

[Feenicks]

12. Dude, you came to play! :-) n/t

[GOPisEvil]

2. Why blame the Spurs?

For fuck's sake, they're just playing the game. They don't control the officials. I've said for years that the NBA has the worst officiating of any major sport. Don't hate the team for the shittiness of the officials.

[Feenicks]

11. NBA officiating is VERY subjective -- I hate

it when they get all chummy with the players, especially the "superstars". Calling each other by first names. Please.

But it's not about competition so much now as it is entertainment.

[LisaM]

3. I'll be in your club (along with, I'm sure, other Pistons' fans)

I think that they should introduce a 'diving' penalty. When they brought all the Europoean style hockey players to the NHL, they started calling for flopping and diving. Now, the European and South American basketball players are doing the same thing. I think the first penalty for flopping should go to Genobile.

And you are correct; the Spurs get away with a lot, while the refs call ticky tack fouls on the other team. Did you see Game 7 of the finals last year? I'm sure as a Nets' fan you have no love lost for the Pistons, but I think we can agree on this.

[Tummler]

4. Pistons-Spurs comparison for the current season

The Pistons are called for fewer personal fouls (19.6 per game) than the Spurs (21.2 per game).

Pistons opponents are called for more personal fouls (22.0 per game) than Spurs opponents (21.2 per game).

For the season thus far, the Spurs have been called for a grand total of one fewer foul than their opponents (over 35 games). The Pistons have been called for 77 fewer fouls than their opponents (over 32 games).

The Pistons take more free throws (25.8 per game) than the Spurs (22.9 per game).

Pistons opponents take fewer free throws (21 per game) than Spurs opponents (24.3 per game).

Despite all this, the Spurs are holding opponents to a 42.3% field-goal percentage (#1 in the NBA) while the Pistons are holding their opponents to 44.9% (#15 in the NBA).

Sources:
http://www.dougstats.com/05-06/DetroitPistons.html
http://www.dougstats.com/05-06/SanAntonioSpurs.html
http://www.dougstats.com/05-06Teams.html

[LisaM]

5. That is this season, not last year's playoffs

Additionally, they do not call the Spurs for travelling and those stats wouldn't count as fouls.

[Tummler]

6. The stats don't support you there either

For last summer's playoffs as well as the current season, the Spurs have been called for more turnovers of the traveling variety and overall.

2004-05 playoffs
All turnovers per game: Pistons 11.5, Spurs 13.7
Ball-handling turnovers per game (e.g., traveling): Pistons 4.3, Spurs 6.4

2005-06 regular season
All turnovers per game: Pistons 10.7, Spurs 13.6
Ball-handling turnovers per game (e.g., traveling): Pistons 4.3, Spurs 5.3

Sources:
http://www.dougstats.com/playoffs/DetroitPistons.html
http://www.dougstats.com/playoffs/SanAntonioSpurs.html
http://www.dougstats.com/05-06/DetroitPistons.html
http://www.dougstats.com/05-06/SanAntonioSpurs.html
http://www.82games.com/playoffs/045PDET3.HTM
http://www.82games.com/playoffs/045PSAS3.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0506/0506DET3.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0506/0506SAS3.HTM

[LisaM]

7. Well they aren't tracking what they DON'T call

I guess you didn't watch game 7.

[Tummler]

8. Not only did I watch game 7 ...

I watch the pivotal fourth quarter on the 2004-05 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs DVD all the time!

Ah, the memories ...

[LisaM]

9. Well I cried I felt so bad

It was terrible. I put on my new Chauncey Billups shirt and went to the store and a very nice man (I live in Seattle) spoke to me and said that he too had been rooting for the Pistons.

[yellowdogmi]

14. I recall it too.

It should never have went to seven games. The officiating was the worst. I was in Chicago and actually found people that were sympathetic. Surprised me. I will now hate the spurs until I die.

[Longhorn]

10. Aww, no fair!

You keep bringing up those pesky facts! :)

Thanks for the memories! :yourock:

[Name removed]

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