Hello Celebritys

The NBA is about a week into the preseason with replacement officials and I guess you could say they aren’t afraid to blow their whistle. I think a lot of fans thought that replacements couldn’t be much worse than the originals, but I think they were wrong.

Im not sure if all the fouls and free throws are due to the new guys trying to get acclimated with everything that is going on, or because bench players are getting more minutes, or if that is really how they think the game should be called. Either way, I don’t think the NBA wants the regular season to go how the preseason has been so far.

On Sunday, the 4^th, Minnesota defeated Milwaukee 117-103. The replacement refs called 73 fouls which resulted in 94 total free throws.

Also on Sunday, the Knicks took down the Nets 115-107. There were 63 fouls in this game resulting in 91 free throws total.

On Monday, the Mavs hosted the Magic for their preseason opener. There were 64 fouls called in that game resulting in 92 free throws total. I was in attendance for this game and it seemed like it took forever!

Then, last night, the Rockets beat the Celtics 96-90. There were a total of 75 fouls resulting in 102 free throw attempts. 102!!! That is incredible.

From the Houston Chronicle:

We just watched 75 fouls and 102 free throws in one basketball game. OK, it's preseason. If you pay full price to watch these games, you're not too picky, anyway. But just as the teams learn all that must be corrected in time for the season, so must the league.

'Replacement refs' should become a euphemism for "preseason refs."

The league cannot go through real games like this.

I think it might be time for David Stern and his buddies to call back the normal referees and try and work out a deal. Nobody wants to sit through a basketball game that is stop and go and never gets a good rhythm to it. I understand the replacements are just trying to do their job, but it is getting a little ridiculous. I love the NBA season and do not want to see it ruined with terrible foul calls.