Is the LeBron "star treatment" becoming too obvious?

by Rook6980 on May 9, 2009 12:30 AM EDT Comment 8 comments

I watched the Cavs latest mugging of the Hawks in Game 2 of their second round Playoff series.

First, I'd like to say that Cleveland is clearly the better team. Better talent. More poised. Better prepared, and looking like they're on a mission.

But......... the "star treatment" being given to LeBron James is getting almost comical. During the game, I counted 6 fouls on LeBron that were not called; including two charges, 3 hacks, and a bump. When King James "bumps" you, it's more like being hit by a Semi-Truck.

During this video, you should be able to clearly see 3 of the fouls I'm talking about. The charge against Josh Smith (that was called a blocking foul on Smith). One of LeBron's hacks; against Mike Bibby.. And lastly, the "bump" on Smith as he went for a dunk.

I cannot just brush these off as poor officiating.... or just one bad game. There is a very obvious difference in the way Officials call fouls against LeBron James, and for LeBron James. He is getting more than just "star" treatment. He's getting calls that Kobe, D-Wade and Dwight Howard are NOT.

This would normally be where most people turn off, and write this article off as just another "conspiracy theory" blogger with a LeBron hate complex. Sure, I hate to see LeBron getting those calls......But, I think it speaks more to me about something that Major League Baseball keeps alluding to: the integrity of the game.

If LeBron does not get called for the occasional 4-step travel.... or at least one of the 4 or 5 hacks he has each game - - - - If he is allowed to get away with lowering his shoulder into the opponent's chest to be awarded a blocking foul every time - The National Basketball Association may as well start calling themselves the World Wide Federation (WWF) of Basketball and script the games.

Come on David (Stern), you're making it too obvious!

0 recs | Comment 8 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Ridiculous.

That’s all I can say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on May 9, 2009 12:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One of the few times I’ve cheered for the Spurs was when they brought him down in 2007 with equally underhanded plays. Lebron is amazing but the league needs to stop sucking up to him so much.

by Fundefined on May 9, 2009 1:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sad

by joshp on May 9, 2009 2:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We knew this, and it’s too bad that it’s getting this bad in the playoffs. Perhaps more fan awareness will help fix the blatant issue.

by se7en on May 9, 2009 4:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this is why i didn't follow the league as much this year

with the wizards being so injured and noncompetitive. without a strong rooting interest, it is very hard to get past the way the league makes every attempt to orchestrate the outcome.

hopefully it comes back with gil’s return and the draft pick… but my love for the nba is waning.

'he nails an open three from the corner....just like you and me, this one was made by penetration' - Truthaboutit - Round 1 Game 5 Recap

by KDP on May 9, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Star treatment

My biggest problem with the NBA is the star treatment given certain players. Lebron and company simply play with a different set of rules. The fact of the matter is that Darius Songaila and Andre Blatche will never get a call versus Lebron. My own impression is the Lebron and Wade are the 2 biggest beneficiaries of this system. I attended the Wizards game against the Heat and it seemed as if a foul were called on every missed shot by Wade. There were at least 3 calls where the Wizard never touched him. I was curious as to how they would call a foul when Wade missed a free throw.
Of course, I have the usual “Lebron hate” that most Wizards fans do, but I think most objective fans see the disparity.

by hotplate on May 9, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I think a lot of it is the way the rules benefit perimeter players who charge headfirst into the paint. It makes the game ugly, and it makes it almost impossible for teams to avoid fouling penetrators in late game situations.

by pantslessyoda1 on May 9, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is a @#$#@$#@ joke!

And David Stern doesn’t realize how much it hurts the product in this country (that video is what gives the conspiracy theorists who have talked about the NBA rigging games power). There are a lot of people who won’t watch until the end or at all because of this.
Or David Stern doesn’t care because his calculus is so many fans want to see LeBron who cares how it happens. While I for one do. Again it is crap like this that prevents the NBA from being a sport that a lot of people like. The refereeing in this sport is by far the worst of the major sports and at times resembles refereeing in Europe (where the big teams get most of the decisions in their favor).
The Donaghy situation was the perfect time to address this. Get rid of the crap refs, hire new ones and tell the ones that are left that you call the game by the rules and with no regards to who is on the floor or you are out. David Stern could’ve put an end to the star system, but I guess he doesn’t want to put an end to it. David Stern is an utter disgrace.

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on May 10, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs