Three big missed calls with under a minute left, in a 2-point game. I blame Dick Bavetta and his longass balls (courtesy of Larry David):
Missed call #1 - 40 seconds left - Kobe loses the ball on a pick 'n roll at the top of the key, when it bounces off of Nene's foot. Um, yeah, bounced off his foot. Ahem - kickball. Just like when it was a kick ball 15 minutes earlier, when it bounced off of Pau Gasol's foot, and they called it a kick ball. (If you watched the game, remember Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy arguing about whether that was the right call or not?)
Missed call #2 - So, the kick ball turns into a jump ball, even though Pau tried to call time out before Chauncey and Nene got near him. On the jump, J.R. Smith is clearly halfway across the jump area (illegally) before the ball is tipped, Van Gundy and Mark Jackson point out it's a huge jump ball. Quote from Sportscenter - "They did not call the violation as they should."- Missed call #3 - Well, fuck J.R. Smith's missed call, cuz Trevor Ariza got the ball anyway, right? Wrong. Ariza takes one step, tries to dribble, and immediately falls down. No, he didn't feel tired and lie down just for the fuck of it - he falls because KMart's foot trips him.
So, even though those three are somewhat borderline, they all happen with under 40 seconds left. It simply doesn't help, and it's the Lakers' fault for letting it get that close. The Lakers also could've done a better job of trying to get a better shot in the final seconds.Still, the officials were all over the fuckin' place, and because of that, so were the players, especially in the 3rd quarter.
After the Nuggets get a defensive rebound and take the ball downcourt, Kenyon Martin and Pau Gasol are going the opposite direction they should be (away from the basket where the action is), and Pau goes into the 2nd row. No mention of that by the announcers.
Kobe picks up on the ref's new non-calls, and about a minute later, as Dahntay Jones is trying for a rebound, Kobe utilizes the good ole' Tim Duncan rebounding method - shove your opponent in the lower back, sending him outta bounds. Well, Kobe knocks his ass to the floor, and turns the play into a fast break. Denver calls a TO, and Kobe is laughing his ass off.
