The frantic finish
I stayed up until 3 a.m. watching the replay of Game 5 of the Jazz-Laker series on KJZZ-TV so I could double-check what I had scribbled down during the final minutes.
In particular, I wanted to take another look at the work of officials Steve Javie, James Capers and Gary Zielinski, so I could be fair and accurate when discussing the turn of events.
Here's what happened, with the benefit of slow-motion and replays:
With about 2:30 remaining, the Jazz had rallied from a 20-point deficit. They trailed 95-89 when Memo Okur missed a jump shot.
Ronnie Price outworked everyone for the rebound, took the ball back to the basket and collided with Derek Fisher. His shot missed and Zielinski, who was the official stationed under the basket, did not make a fairly obvious call. Fisher stepped into Price and fouled him.
Next possession: It was still 95-89 when Deron Williams blew an uncontested layup.
After a free throw by Trevor Ariza made it 96-89 with 2:04 remaining, Okur put the ball on the floor and got into the lane, where he was bumped by Fisher as he shot. It could have been a foul, and it could have been a no-call. No foul was called.
Millsap kept the Jazz alive, however, when he rebounded Okur's miss and got the ball to Price, who went to the basket again. He drew enough contact so a foul probably should have been called by Zielinski. But it was not.
On the other end, Lamar Odom scored to give the Lakers a 98-89 lead with 1:30 to go.
The Jazz hurried up the floor and Millsap blew another uncontested layup. Price took the rebound away from Odom and tried to go back up with the ball. Again, it looked like a fairly obviously foul. But Javie, who was positioned under the basket this time, shrugged his shoulders and threw a backhanded wave at the Jazz bench, as if to tell the players and coaches, 'Sit down and shut up.'"
After Price's attempted shot, the ball squirted out of bounds just beyond the Jazz bench. That's when Javie hit coach Jerry Sloan with a technical and ejected him. Fisher made the free throw and the Jazz's rally was officially dead.
My final observation, after double-checking the replay:
-- During a 90-second span, the Jazz took the ball to the basket on six straight possessions.
-- They missed uncontested two layups (Williams and Millsap).
-- They were possibly fouled once (Okur).
-- They appeared to be clearly fouled three times (Price), although they did not get the the free-throw line.
Game, set, match, season.
-- Steve Luhm
In particular, I wanted to take another look at the work of officials Steve Javie, James Capers and Gary Zielinski, so I could be fair and accurate when discussing the turn of events.
Here's what happened, with the benefit of slow-motion and replays:
With about 2:30 remaining, the Jazz had rallied from a 20-point deficit. They trailed 95-89 when Memo Okur missed a jump shot.
Ronnie Price outworked everyone for the rebound, took the ball back to the basket and collided with Derek Fisher. His shot missed and Zielinski, who was the official stationed under the basket, did not make a fairly obvious call. Fisher stepped into Price and fouled him.
Next possession: It was still 95-89 when Deron Williams blew an uncontested layup.
After a free throw by Trevor Ariza made it 96-89 with 2:04 remaining, Okur put the ball on the floor and got into the lane, where he was bumped by Fisher as he shot. It could have been a foul, and it could have been a no-call. No foul was called.
Millsap kept the Jazz alive, however, when he rebounded Okur's miss and got the ball to Price, who went to the basket again. He drew enough contact so a foul probably should have been called by Zielinski. But it was not.
On the other end, Lamar Odom scored to give the Lakers a 98-89 lead with 1:30 to go.
The Jazz hurried up the floor and Millsap blew another uncontested layup. Price took the rebound away from Odom and tried to go back up with the ball. Again, it looked like a fairly obviously foul. But Javie, who was positioned under the basket this time, shrugged his shoulders and threw a backhanded wave at the Jazz bench, as if to tell the players and coaches, 'Sit down and shut up.'"
After Price's attempted shot, the ball squirted out of bounds just beyond the Jazz bench. That's when Javie hit coach Jerry Sloan with a technical and ejected him. Fisher made the free throw and the Jazz's rally was officially dead.
My final observation, after double-checking the replay:
-- During a 90-second span, the Jazz took the ball to the basket on six straight possessions.
-- They missed uncontested two layups (Williams and Millsap).
-- They were possibly fouled once (Okur).
-- They appeared to be clearly fouled three times (Price), although they did not get the the free-throw line.
Game, set, match, season.
-- Steve Luhm
10:14 AM
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7 Comments:
and the NBA wonders why attendance and revenue are decreasing . . .
This post has been removed by the author.
... and we're left to wonder what a team this collectively talented might have accomplished had it played with that glimmer of urgency and aggression all season.
Deron Williams was also clearly fouled on his drive. It was 4 consecutive possessions with the Jazz down 6. Kobe hacked his arm, it showed pretty clearly from 2 angles.
I think that Javie is generally a decent referee, but shouldn't be allowed to officiate Jazz games, just as Crawford shouldn't be allowed in San Antonio games. Clearly some refs seem to have vendettas against certain coaches or players, and Sloan has been ejected by Javie more than every other ref combined, it seems. Remember, Javie was the referee in the fateful Game 4 against San Antonio two years ago...
The thing is, this works perfectly for the NBA. Yes, there is subjective evidence that the league was trying to get this series over quickly so that LA could rest. The schedule, the officials, the calls. One of those things can be explained away, but everything taken as a whole looks very very dirty.
Here's the thing. This discourages fans in UTAH from attending games and watching them. And now that LHM (RIP) is gone, I guarantee there are suitors out there (Las Vegas? Seattle?) looking to buy the team. This is perfect for the NBA. A bigger market, more viewers, more money.
We shouldn't be surprised if there is collusion. We should be surprised if there isn't.
Look at Lamar Odom's feet. They are flat on the floor, his arms up, and Ronnie Price initiates all the contact. As defender, you are allowed to stand there, arm up in the air. Price should have just shot a jumper.
Lamar's feet are planted, his arms up AND draped over Price so he couldn't get a shot off. Foul.
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