The Officials Playing to The Crowd in Utah

[Alleyhoops]

Don't know if anyone else has noticed, but when the officials work games in Utah, they make overly exaggerated gestures when the call goes in the Jazz's favor. They play to the crowd and that's not a good thing. When there's an offensive foul against the Lakers, they really get into the gesture, with a skip and thrusting their arm out, pointing in the opposite direction, signalling a charge. Same thing for balls touched last by the Lakers, blocking fouls against L.A., etc.

This happens to some extent in other arenas, including ours at times, but the officials really seem to get caught up in the fan frenzy in Utah and almost seem to enjoy making exaggerated gestures when calls go in the Jazz's favor.

It's hard to believe that they aren't influenced by the Jazz crowd, and enjoy getting a monstrous cheer when they make calls against opposing teams. I believe they do their best to officiate a fair game, but they succumb to human nature and enjoy playing to the crowd. That can pose problems in critical situations.
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[Helljumper]

I don't know if that's really why but I definitely noticed it in one possession this game.

The Lakers had the ball and the ref called out of bounds on the baseline and he basically crouched down and started touching the line where the Laker (I forgot who it was) stepped on the line.

At the time, I was thinking why he was doing that. Perhaps it is to play to the crowd a little bit, but I think it's more of just trying to make it a bit clearer for all the viewers why the call was made. Honestly, they aren't really playing to the crowd when they exaggerate calls like that because IMO, they just make a fool out of themselves when they do things like that.
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[The LeBrons]

There's reasons why Utah has the best home record. Playing 5 on 8 is one of them.
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“That was a trip. It felt great, though. I don’t got to worry about nobody poisoning my burger now. I can eat in peace.”

- Kobe, the NBA MVP

[4Rings]

I was actually shocked one of the refs had the balls to give Okur a T on that one play.
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If we are all thinking alike, then nobody is thinking!

[Chicano]

^ My thoughts exactly. I couldn't help but expect the worse almost every time a call was made.

[png247]

[JSM]

Definitely noticed it today.

Had they not been as intimidating, I'm not 100% sure that Ronny would have been ejected with a flagrant 2.
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[4Rings]

I just can't see how Ronny's foul was a Flagrant 2. Having Harpring jump in the ref's face like he was a defense lineman going after the QB and all those fans screaming and yelling at him is what prompted the ejection.
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If we are all thinking alike, then nobody is thinking!

[Alleyhoops]

[TIME]

They are human.

We have a running joke at my house. When the officials blow a call I have a one word explanation... "Mafia."
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ClubLakers' Resident "scumbag"

[Kobe's Empire]

DIDN'T I POST UP A TOPIC ABOU THIS EARLIER?

http://www.clublakers.com/forums/the-pressure-the-officials-feel-regarding-the-lakers-t95070.html
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Can't mess with a squad that got screwed out of 1 game in the finals and was 2 games away (technically should have been 1 game away) from an NBA title THAT ADDS THIS in 08-09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9efsJwJxYEk

owned

[Chicano]

^ Haha, good call. MERGE please.

[purple_and_gold_fever]

B.S. officiating today.. but what can we do right?