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The Replacements Are Out!
With all the free agent transactions and trades during the Summer, we failed to realize that the referees too were free agents and looking for a new deal. Who would have thought that the negotations between the league and the refs would take such an unpleasant road? One assumed the talks would last a few days and a deal would be in place. Wrong! The negotiations went so badly that talks broke down completely between the two sides and the NBA had to use replacement refs during the preseason.
Those who watched these games soon came to realize how important the REAL referees are to the quality of play. As we all know, bad referees making bad calls can really have an impact on games and change the flow completely. It was so very evident during the preseason. When Ray Allen, who’s known to be always cool and collected in his interaction with the refs, starts complaining and gets thrown out of a game, then you know that something must be wrong. Reporters asked Phil Jackson what he thought about the new kids on the block. His response: “They are certainly very interesting to watch”. A very smart man, the Zen Master knows how to get his point across without getting fined.
The league and the referees have recently come to an agreement for 2 years. What a relief! Coaches will still complain as they always have, no doubt, but there is no question that players as well as coaches are happy to have the old guys back.
–am
