Ben Q Rock of Third Quarter Collapse does a great frame by frame breakdown of referee Mike Callahan’s “cold feet” calling a blocking foul on Jason Maxiell in the final seconds of Saturday’s one-point win for the Pistons. I don’t know if anyone ever wants to see a playoff game decided on a blocking call, but still, the pictures don’t lie, and I can see why Stan Van Gundy has sour grapes:
“Let’s just say this _ (Maxiell) is in the restricted area, it’s a block at any other time of the season,” Van Gundy fumed following Orlando’s practice Monday morning. “(Referee) Mike Callahan raises his hand and you can see it on the tape _ his hand’s up and his hand’s down and I can’t explain that.”
By the letter of the law, a foul probably should have been (and almost was) called, just like by the letter of the law, Chauncey’s three-pointer to end the third quarter in Game 2 shouldn’t have counted.
Orlando knew coming into this series that they’d need every break to go their way if they were going to have a chance upsetting the Pistons. Instead, they’ve experienced the exact opposite, from shaky calls on the court to mechanical problems with their plane forcing them to spend the night in Cincinnati between Games 2 and 3. I still think the Pistons would be in the same position they are now without this luck, but I understand completely if Magic fans think they’ve gotten a raw deal.
Yet another reason why the restricted area is the worst rule in sports.
and tayshun’s first offensive foul near the end of the 4th was not even close and there were fouls on stuckey that were only called because he is a rookie
You cannot take one play and save a team was screwed
there were a lot of iffy calls against both sides
Howard elbows Afflalo right in the mouth and there is no call - if it was the reverse there would be suspensions
Orlando lost for lots of reasons but not because of the refs
I am also not sure if the rule means feet in the restricted zone or foot. I think the rule says feet and if that is the case then Maxiel could have drawn a charge and maybe the ref was going to call it that way and changed his mind
Anyone know the rule is it feet or foot in the restricted zone
Look at it this way. A few plays before - same no call. Dooling drives in and knocks down Lindsey (who is well out of the circle). Pass to Rashard - pop to Turkey-Doo and it’s a 3 pointer to take the lead.
I refuse to accept a frame by frame analysis of this no call without respecting the other. The no call is the right call here and the right call 1 min earlier.
Someone should give them a pacifier from the Sheed bashin…
“You cannot take one play and save a team was screwed”
I never really said that. All I was trying to convey was that this non-call had a much greater impact on the series than that three-pointer Chauncey made. I tried to make it clear that there are plenty of goats the Magic can blame for their loss. Mike Callahan was not a person I named.
“I refuse to accept a frame by frame analysis of this no call without respecting the other. The no call is the right call here and the right call 1 min earlier.”
I’d be happy to take a look at that play if I had it on video. Again, I’m not trying to blame the officials. I just think that play deserves a lot more attention than, say, Jameer Nelson doing what team captains are supposed to do.
Okay, quick lesson for Magic fans:
1) The “restricted area” restricts charging calls. That’s all. Players can have their feet in it all they want, subject to normal 3-second guidelines.
2) ThirdQuarterCollapse.com doesn’t indicate any belief that Maxiell was moving when Hedo hit him, or was camped in the lane for 3 seconds. In fact, the site provides photo evidence to the contrary.
3) Ergo, no charge on Hedo and no block on Max. WHICH IS WHAT WE GOT.
This means that the Magic faithful are once again devoting their energy to crying for a bail-out call, when they should be focused on improving their situational execution. It would be sad, really, if it wasn’t so irritating.
Thanks for the reply Ben, you seem reasonable. However look at the same link you posted to nba.com. Look at 1:16 -1:19 mark and you’ll see in crystal clear view, the offensive foul that was a no call which led to the 4 on 5 - 3 pointer from Turkey-doo. Freeze frame that one for objectivity…
“This means that the Magic faithful are once again devoting their energy to crying for a bail-out call, when they should be focused on improving their situational execution. It would be sad, really, if it wasn’t so irritating.”
I’m not crying for a bail-out call. I just thought this situation merited discussion. That’s it. Mike Callahan didn’t cost the Magic the game, and I tried — perhaps unsuccessfully — to indicate that in the original post.
“Freeze frame that one for objectivity…”
I’m trying to get the video to load now.
“Geez, we were really owed a bad call there. And we almost got it, but the league screwed us again!”
Ben seems like a real fan and a level-headed guy … but isn’t the faux quote above pretty much where this leaves us? No one’s posting video stills of the Magic’s lousy sets and anemic defensive rebounding, so clearly the refs are being designated as Why We Lost.
I thought Ben did a good job explaining his point: everyone talked about the clock thing for days, and yet no one is mentioning this, even this happened on the final shot of the game.
And while you, me and every other Pistons fan might think that a non-call was the best call, it’s worth talking about because the ref was obviously on the verge of making a call before changing his mind.
Plenty of people — myself included — who watched the game noted how poorly the Magic played and how they didn’t deserve to win. That stuff doesn’t need freeze-framing because it’s obvious. Britt Robson pretty much nailed it at The Rake, especially when he ripped SVG for keeping Keyon Dooling on Richard Hamilton:
http://www.rakemag.com/blogs/ball/2008/05/nba-second-round-update-thread
If I seem overly defensive, it’s because I pride myself on my objectivity. Obviously, there’s a bias on any team-centered site, but I try to minimize it as much as possible. I apologize if this post damages my credibility (if I ever had any) with you.
Well, you’ve watched it now…same opinion you was robbed? Or are you on the “it’s a good no call” bandwagon we refer to as the NBA playoffs. I know it’s unfamiliar territory, but stick with us… we’ve got way more experience in Detroit with this than you.
In fact:
0:27 - 0:30 - phantom foul on Stuck - 3 pt play to the best “in the paint play ever” Bogans (MF Bogans ?!?)
0:36 - 0:37 - Travelling on Rashard no call (both feet jump to get set)
1:07 -1:09 - Terrible (with capital T) call for an and one for Turkey-Doo. THat was with less than 5:00min in the game and brough me a mofo’in DWade flashback.
“And while you, me and every other Pistons fan might think that a non-call was the best call, it’s worth talking about because the ref was obviously on the verge of making a call before changing his mind.”
That’s exactly it. If Callahan never raised his hand, I never would have made that post.
It’s also interesting that there was a sitution early in the game (I think the first quarter), in which the Magic missed a shot and the ball really looked as if it went out of bounds off the Magic. The officials ruled otherwise, and off the inbound Nelson hit a three. Now, I don’t know for sure if the ball went off the Magic or not, but if it did, that’s a shot they shouldn’t have had.
These types of situations happen all the time, which is why to blame one iffy call or bad break for losing a game is just not reasonable. That would be the same result that happened with the clock malfunction, and yet nobody thinks anything of it afterwards. I am more than willing to criticize the referees, but I do admit that bad calls usually even out. Some are just more obvious than others.
When I was watching it, I thought that what Callahan was doing was preparing to call a charge HAD the shot dropped. When the shot rimmed out, Callahan had no reason to make that call to prolong an already decided game. That’s the theory my friends and I have come up with.
That’s a solid theory, LB. Watching the replay, it’s clear that Callahan lowers his hand after the shot missed. Were he planning to call a block on Maxiell he would have kept his hand up. To his eyes, though, the foul was on Turkoglu, and — as you mentioned — there was no reason to let the Pistons shoot free-throws. Mystery (probably) solved.
For the record, Turkoglu said after the game that he thought a foul should have been called, and even admitted it could have been on him:
“I thought there should have been a call, either a block [on Maxiell] or a charge [on me],” he said. “There was nothing.”
(source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-mside1108may11,0,2343497.story)
Ben Q.: I mean, when I saw it in real time, that’s immediately what I thought. You did a good job pointing out that Maxiell’s left foot was in the restricted area (though it was awfully close, especially with the grainy stills), but if Callahan isn’t focusing on Maxiell’s left foot specifically, it’s an obvious charge if there’s going to be any call. I think we all agree that Maxiell was planted well ahead of the contact. Refs calling a charge when the defender has one foot in the restricted area may be an incorrect call and I’m sure officials know that, but the mistake isn’t wholly uncommon in the NBA.
Ben Q.: In the interest of full disclosure/fairness, in real time, I did NOT see Maxiell’s foot in the restricted area, so I was thinking charge myself. I can honestly say that if involved some other team’s player, charge is the call I would’ve made on the spot in real time had the shot dropped and no call if it hadn’t. Of course, had I seen the left foot, I might’ve called a block, though I might’ve called a no-call as well.
*if it involved … sorry for the triple post.
Right. I wish I had the technology that sites like Odenized, Need4Sheed, and PickaxeAndRoll have to take clearer video, but I work with what I have: Firefox and Apple GrabIt (or whatever their version of PrintScreen is called).
And as I mentioned in the post, it was hard for me to see the play in real time because of where I was in the arena: upper bowl, on the opposite side of the floor (think the old NBA Live videogame corner angle).
The right team won the game, there’s no question about that.
“I’d be happy to take a look at that play if I had it on video.”
Yo Ben, has the video of the no-call in the Magic favor loaded yet?
1:16 -1:19 mark of the linked video on your blog…
Still missing your frame by frame on that one in the interest of objectivity…
Can you at least admit that’s the same play, but out of the circle. No call in Magic’s favor, seems even to me.
Jason,
I’m editing the screengrabs now. Shouldn’t be too much longer.
I must say that considering what you had to work with that was a good breakdown of the play. I will also say that this has got to be on of the worst reffed series I have watched in awhile! This series could be in favor of either team if a call here or a call there went in favor of the other team. But I will also say that I would have been shocked if we lost this series (No doubt Orlando is a quality team to lose to though). But all in all this was a horribly reffed series and I am glad that it is almost over. Though I will say that I would rather know that we won this series fair and square with equal officiating on both sides of the ball, but I am also glad to see that we are most likely (unless for a freak injury or something) going to our SIXTH STRAIGHT CONFERENCE FINALS!!!!!
Jason (and others):
I posted LB’s explanation of Callahan’s no-call and a frame-by-frame look at the offensive foul that should have been called on Keyon Dooling, but wasn’t.
http://www.thirdquartercollapse.com/2008/5/12/508427/another-theory-on-that-no
I disagree, the Pistons have been screwed by non-calls at any time of the season over the last 2 years, within those final seconds. Cry Stan a river. He’s a good coach, he’s just doing this to save his team some bit of a place for improvement next year, which they should do.
Refs don’t want to decide a game on the line. It’s incredulous to many fans when that happens. They scream for the players to decide the game, not the refs. Then in instances like this, they want the refs to get the call right.
I hate the referees, but this is a waste of time. Here’s my charity . . . TL;DR. Sorry, Magic.
Kudos to Ben Q. Rock. That’s some great original reporting.
Ben,
Good stuff. I’m sure you would never find any such complaining round here (umm last year Bron Bron Whistle, or 2 years ago DWade whistle).
On second review that may have been Stuckey instead of Hunter, but the point stands; it’s a better game w/o the whistle on those plays.
Good recovery, I think you’ve earned a little respect round here.
great defensive call on that last play by the staff. Artwork in motion, nothing less.
I’m sorry, all of this “deal” is for nothing.
Ridiculous amounts of time are spent why this guy raised him arm, when on previous trips down the floor Orlando Magic players run over a guy in the paint, or Dwight Howard gets away from a push off for a rebound and an easy thunderdunk.
Same goes for Detroit.
Instead of spending time counting 5.22 instead of 5.1 seconds, and asking ourselves why a guy raised his arm on that one play but didn’t on all the other questionable calls, let’s just admit that Orlando is the 2007 Toronto Raptors which means:
The most counterfeit 3 seed in either conference.
I appreciate Matt’s kind words on the title “Pistons caught (another) break”. It’s all peaches and roses here you know, we like Ben Q. Rock you know but, it’s the playoffs. Man up, grab your sack, and take a flagrant foul to make a statement. Playoff highlights don’t involve footage of Hedo Turkeyloo brushing his hair and Rashard Lewis polishing his shoes before going out to bomb 30 3 pointers per game with a orange and white panel basketball. Playoff basketball is bruises, missed calls, hard fouls, bodies falling on the ground…
Sorry for those of you that are not experienced in how the playoffs work, but calls get missed. Piston fans experienced it last year when every time LeBron threw his head back on a drive, a foul was called. When Billups did that, not only did he turn over the ball but he didn’t get back on D.
if we REALLY want to get into semantics, what about the flop by Rashard Lewis on the sideline in the 2nd quarter, which gave Rasheed his 3rd foul? going for a loose ball, Sheed raises his arm up and Rashard falls on the fans in the front row and a whistle is blown.
sure, all the calls are going against “the good guys”. Again, I appreciate the time you’ve taken but to take the other part of your time defending Jameer Nelson when this is not the first time he’s opened up his mouth and wrote a check that will inevitably bounce. Remember, he wanted Detroit in the 1st round last year because he felt that they matched up with Detroit better than any other team in the East?
yeah well, we know what happened then. No matter how you shine it up, a turd is still a turd.
oh and I’m not trying to rack up my comment count here, but I saw the highlight again.
Maxey had his foot in the restricted area, but when contact is made his heel is in the air so “technically” the ref could argue he was out of the circle.
Mike Callahan arm up non-call is something the powers to be in the NBA should be looking at closely. It was a no brainer blocking foul that turned this game around. Refs should be suspended just like regular employess when they fail to do their job. Remember they work 2 hours 3 nights a week. Get it right, Mike!!