Star Treatment

by Tommy Dee on March 31st, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Just an add on to that last Harrington post.

I feel Al wants star treatment, in fact, Al DEMANDS star treatment and I think that’s his problem. He’s frustrated the team is losing and he’s not a star in the eyes of the officials.

Think back to the post game interview Shaq had after the Suns squeaked past the Knicks in Phoenix. In case you missed it, Diesel said, “this team is better and Al Harrington is playing at an All-Star level.”

If Al can’t be an All-Star here, he won’t be anywhere. And he won’t be one unless they are winning.

I get that frustration. I can remember countless times when the Knicks were good and a good player on the other team (Rex Chapman anyone?) would make a play, think he got fouled and look for a foul call. All I remember saying is:

“You’re not good enough to get that call.”

And let’s be fair, Al went to the line 8 times and expected to get more calls in Salt Lake?

Come on…
  • BiggieSmalls

    Thats a major problems with NBA Hoops.

    The refs make calls based on the stature of the player. Every call should be made based on the action and not whether the culprit or “victim” is a star.

    that statements such as
    “You’re not good enough to get that call”
    even exists point to the problem brought to light by the point shaving scandals.

    Has to be a better way.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Too much discretion to the officials and it is understood that the stars get certain calls that the not so good dont get.

    wrong on soooo many levels. Almost brought down the game.

  • killerkill718

    Its funny because the ref (Zach Zorba) in the pic was my high school American history teacher and I have found myself screaming at him because of the favoritism clearly shown to some superstars.

  • spieldy

    I had never payed much attention to Al until last in Utah. His ridiculous temper tantrum cost me money. what is wrong with him?

  • Mucha

    Maybe Al Harrington believes that he should get the star treatment because the Knicks would be behind the Wizards in the standings if he wasn’t here. Al’s clearly our best player. But he has to calm down, even though I respect the fact that he plays hard everynight.

    The star treatment is disgusting though, I love Dwyane Wade but he always gets the calls (remember the Finals against the Mavericks?). Always. It’s like the highlights, you’ll always see James, Bryant and Wade making uncontested layups – ahead of real highlights like Rudy Gay’s layup in the 4th quarter yesterday. I understand that the NBA has to build an image around the star players in order to make money but it’s going too far.

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    LOL I like that….

  • erincotter

    @Biggie: Well said! I’ve said for a long time that the reason NBA officials are the worst of all major sports is that they call games accoding to who the players involved are, instead of the play itself. In football, if it’s an illegal forward pass, it’s an illegal forward pass, regardless of whether it was Peyton Manning or Joe Schmoe who threw it. In baseball, you’re safe or out. Only in basketball can Shaq do one thing but Joe Schmoe can’t. It’s ridiculous, and maddening.

  • George From Scottsdale

    Coach, don’t know if you intended this, but your comment implies that the referees are determining the outcome of NBA games. As Biggie noted earlier, there cannot be a more serious indictment of any league!

    Is it just me, or is MD losing this team? The Harrington/Robinson tantrums are getting out of control, the defense has shown NO improvement, and No leader has yet emerged? this team is going backwards!!!

  • Mucha

    The problem regarding Robinson’s tantrums is the fact that he becomes disrespectful. He never recognizes his mistakes which is irritating and that’s why he’ll be shipped this summer IMO.

    When Al got the tech at the Garden the first thing he did was go talk to D’Antoni like “Coach I have to tell you that it wasn’t my fault this time”. There’s a dialogue. They seem to have a better relationship (than Robinson). He needed to calm down yesterday though, but I like the fact that we’re not hurting our draft position.

    This team REALLY lacks leadership, I agree with you.

  • George From Scottsdale

    Mucha, enjoy your posts! my point is this team is not making any improvement and N8 is just sympthamatic of the essential decline! Teams continue to shoot over 50% and walk into the lane without impunity! and they’ve shown no indication of change!

  • George From Scottsdale

    Oops, it should read “with” impunity, sorry!!

  • Mucha

    I agree with that, and I agreed with your previous post. I just had something to say (to add) regarding Harrington and Robinson’s tantrums. Peace.

  • aknickted

    I agree fully, star treatment regarding calls is ridiculous,takes away from the purity of the game. although i must say in baseball it does exist to,big time pitchers will get a border line strike calls quicker than a not so good pitcher. OR the batter with a great eye will get a ball called quicker.
    i may be wrong but the whole star treatment in the nba was blown out of proportions by jordan, e.g the final shot-where he pushed off clearly. in the nba the calls become much more difficult because of star treatment.where it becomes the decision of the ref to make the call or not not based on the actual play parses,which is wrong.