database_666 wrote:
officiating mistakes are always easy to commit against Toronto and get away with it. It is not only about the refs throwing 'jump ball' towards Utah players twice last night or not calling any fouls to protect Toronto players. There is so much more:
1. Players do not complain, scream even before contact, and follow refs around demanding explanations. Example - Lakers. Bryant constantly moans "e-e-eey" each time he even gets close to the basket, or opponent. This scream is rehearsed and practiced as a dribbling or a jump shot. Serves dual purposes, firstly, to alert the refs that they need to react and protect him, and secondly, he mobilizes coaching staff to erupt in protest and yell out their opinions and protests, thus, creating an environment of the entitlement.
2. Team coach, staff and management are overly complacent, meek, and emotionally disengaged. Examples - blown clock management in Atlanta that cost us a game a couple of years ago, or a severe foul on tj ford which ended up his season. Toronto never protested any of these or any other officiating campaigns that hurt our team. Casey, last night, dejectedly complained with an "oh man..." instead of yelling and protesting and demanding balanced approach to calling fouls, and, heck, even earning a technical foul or two to make the point.
3. Toronto crowd is soft too. Idiots feel comfortable coming to our floor making dunks and jeering the crowd, or, kneeing our player to the stomach and then standing on top of him gloating and pumping elbows. Many years ago, I saw a guy in Detroit throw a drink on a woman in raps jersey because she cheered on too much. Opposing teams and players feel ok to come here and disrespect, there is no backlash (hell I hated each time Sacramento played here, it felt we moved to serbia). Refs feel and treat Toronto the same way.