Anybody feels like this WCF is solely dependent on the way Refs decide to ref a certain game?
Don’t get me wrong, there are some truly exceptional plays in this WCF, and Game 1 was maybe one of the best Game 1s I have seen in ages…
But since it feels like the games are somewhat premeditated based on the how the refs decide to ref the games…
G3: The refs took a really lush stance on how physical players were allowed to get, and the Thunders took complete advantage of this, clobbering Wemby, pulling hair, etc - we have all seen the clips of this…
G4: it seemed the decision was made to not allow this any longer, Hartenstein was hit with 2 early fouls, Chet as well, and a couple of players had 3 fouls quite early on, forcing the Thunders to back off somewhat form their initial strategy of being extremely physical and it resulted in the blowout we have seen… On the other end,.it seemed as if SGA was just not getting his typical free throws from some of the dubious fouls… It’s not like the Spurs were defending any different, just that they did not get called for it…
Now G5: The pendulum swung the other way again… Barely any fouls called down low on the Thunders, allowing them to stay aggressive throughout - and SGA got his fouls shots again as we (and he) have grown accustomed too… Again, easy win for the Thunders…
And for G6, I don’t expect the actual play and strategy of the teams to be the deciding factor, but what the game plan is for the referees… If they establish early on, they are not going to allow all how holding, and scratching and stuff down low, but also not give cheap free throws on purposely drawn fouls… It’s going to be an easy Spurs win… If they ref the same as in G5, OKC will close out this series…
I’m not even saying there is an underlying agenda with the refs (that’s for conspiracy theorists) - but it still seems completely arbitrary which line the refs decide to follow in a specific game that ultimately has such a deciding impact on the outcome if the game…
Prediction: We will see the same ref approach as in G4 and have the WCF decided in game 7…
It just takes the fun out of an otherwise extremely high level series…
EDIT: Just a quick addendum: I don’t even really care whether they decide to allow or disallow all that holding/fighting down low (somewhat 90s style of Basketball)… But please decide whether this is part of the current rules or not… Don’t switch back and forth from game to game (for whatever reason they are doing so)…