I Don't Give A Damn 'Bout Our Reputation

GREAT song from Joan Jett.

The Suns actually took heed last night and for the most part matched the physical play of the Pistons. Unfortunately, the officials saw it differently and gave the benefit of the doubt to the Pistons on most calls/non-calls.

The point I'm failing miserably at trying to make here is the Pistons' reputation helped them immensely last night. They're a rugged, Eastern Conference team known for their tough, on the ball defense and overall physical play.

The Suns, on the other hand, have a reputation as for lack of a better term, a finesse team. The team likes to get out and run and play a brand of defense that would make a great matador proud.

At least that's what the referees seem to think.

We can only hope that come playoff time, reputation will either no longer matter or this team will have changed the view others have of them enough to be allowed to participate in a game marked by physical play.

I honestly don't think it's too much to ask from officials. Listen, they have arguably the toughest job in sports. They really do. Basketball is an incredibly fast-paced game played by extremely large men with out of this world verticals, uncommon strength and bad tempers. I don't envy what the referees go through every night.

But it can be better. It has to be better.

to read me cry some more and ignore the Suns simply not executing down the stretch, see here