Kleeman's Last Word

A Not So "Meaningless" Game

I knew Avery Johnson was lying through his teeth when he vowed to play no starter more than 26 minutes.
That's the competitive, authoritative and crafty mind Johnson has, the one I learned so much about when he was in a Spurs uniform. When the Spurs decided to rumble with a playoff intensity, I'm sure the reigning coach-of-the-year had a slight change of heart.
In the final six minutes, the Mavs returned to playoff-ready form, while the Spurs took a mental vacation. The Spurs had done all they needed to do for three quarters to seal the game, and then like they have done all too much this season, they dropped all their momentum out of the bag and stepped on it. They smothered it. They extinguished it.
For the Mavs, winning a 66th game seemed like more of a procedural goal. The Spurs needed this game much more, to keep their toe to toe battle with the Phoenix Suns for the second seed alive. Also, to tie the season series and gather confidence should these two teams meet again in the postseason.
But, without the lanky and monstrous arms of Tim Duncan at their services, the Spurs turned a once "meaningless" game into a meaningful loss.
The Spurs don't lose games like this because they're outmatched or inferior, they lose these because their air-tight focus starts leaking profusely.
If Johnson can be inspired to steal a victory based on such a mediocre effort from the crowd, imagine what could happen the next time these two teams tango in San Antonio.

DUNCAN EJECTION
I will contend again that officiating does not decide games. It most certainly did not decide the one this afternoon. However, Joey Crawford will not escape this blog post without a grand reaming.
You deserve to be accosted when you eject a player for possibly laughing at a call that should never have been whistled in the first place.
Duncan says he kept his mouth shut during the ordeal. Crawford said Duncan called him a "piece of shit."
Since Duncan has only been ejected one other time in his 10 years as a professional player--and the only other ejection also came at the hands of Crawford--I'm giving Timmy the benefit of the doubt.
More players than just Rasheed Wallace feel this geezer has it out for them. As much as I respect Joey Crawford's seniority and experience, he made three bone-head calls. They were bad enough that David Stern and Stu Jackson need to evaluate which games, if any, Crawford should officiate in the post season.

Timmy didn't receive a whistle that should have gone his way. The contact on the play would have warranted a foul in most situations, but Duncan has to know that sometimes you don't get calls. He sat down, still upset that Crawford missed the contact.
Ginobili then was called for a bogus reach-in foul. The replay clearly showed Gino had a CLEAN steal. When Terry missed his first free throw, Duncan let out a laugh. He said nothing and every replay I saw supports that claim. Crawford T'd him up for laughing. Apparently, he thought Duncan was pulling a Rasheed Wallace "ball don't lie" insult.
Of course, he didn't say "ball don't lie." He just laughed, something that is perfectly legal in all 51 states in the Union.

Then Fabricio Oberto was called for a blocking foul on Howard. At first, the call seemed fairly legit, but after a replay, I saw what the Spurs should have been complaining about.
Oberto was standing outside the paint, just standing. Then Howard runs at him full speed like Joe Nameth or some other fucking football star and it's a blocking foul??!!
Next time I play a pick up game, I'll just ram into somebody and when they try to call a foul on me, I'll reference this call by the great Joey Crawford.

Duncan laughed briefly again, but from what I could see, said nothing. Crawford T'd him up a second time.

I doubt Tim Duncan called Crawford a "piece of shit" to his face, but he should have. My dog could crap out a better foul call than that.

Teams don't lose because of poor officiating, there's always some other reason. But when the calls are this bad, what the fuck are fair-minded people supposed to do? Should I send Crawford some flowers and a fruit basket?
I think not.

SPURS WILL REMEMBER NEEDLESS DEFEATS
When the Spurs sulk about not catching the Phoenix Suns for the second seed, they won't be thanking Steve Nash or Dirk Nowitzki for such a denial.
Instead, they'll be mailing thank you cards to Charlotte, Indiana, Boston, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Minessota, Orlando and the other teams that had no business beating them.

Until losing to Dallas, the Spurs' only losses had come to teams with mere lottery hopes that they had no chance of facing in the postseason. These pitiful performances kept the Spurs from taking some of Dallas' glory. If the Spurs had won at least six more games, nobody would be whining about what a great season the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks have had.

The Spurs have no one to blame for this but themselves.

posted by Robert Kleeman @ 9:05 PM