Here's the situation. Last night we played the Lakers and were leading by one in overtime. Robert Horry took a shot and missed. Shaq got the putback but AFTER the clock ran down. The shot should not have counted, giving the Grizzlies the win. The refs counted the shot, giving the Lakers the win. It is very clear on replay that the shot came after the clock ran down. Even in live time, you can tell that the shot came after the game was over. Everybody knew it. The Grizzlies knew it, the fans knew it, the Lakers knew it and the refs probably knew it too. So why did they count the shot?
The lady ref don't like the Grizz. This fact should be clear to anybody who has ever seen her call a game for Vancouver. She is reluctant to call fouls on Grizzlie opponents, but whenever a Vancouver player gets anywhere near an opponent, TWEET! So, there's one reason. Number two, the Grizz almost always get the short end of the stick in terms of officiating, no matter who they play against, and no matter who is calling the game. And number three, the Lakers are the defending league champions. And Shaq is like one of the marquee players in the league. What does that mean? He's gonna get the calls. But when they are as ridiculous as this....well, things like this should not even be an issue.
The bottom line is, the refs blew it. And the whole world knows it. And the question is, what is the league going to do about it. What they probably will do: fine Shareef for calling the refs "three heartless cowards", pretend nothing happened, and give the damn refs a promotion or something. What they probably SHOULD do: award the game to the Grizzlies, discipline the refs for blowing the call, and take steps to eliminate the gross favouritism shown towards certain teams.
Ah, the inner angst having dissipated, I feel much better.