We’ve said it before here at SoCal Sports Hub.com that there are certain ways, players should act following tragic defeats or emotional victories. Complaining about the referees or taunting the opposing team, are two practices that clearly should not be practiced by professionals at any point.

Well, the Orlando Magic doesn’t seem to understand that concept at all. During the post-game press conference, point guard Rafer Alston had this to say about the perceived superstar treatment afforded for Kobe Bryant.

“There were times he was out there cursing the refs out and they weren’t calling technical fouls,” Alston said of Kobe. “I would get ejected [for that], but they won’t eject Kobe.”

Michael Pietrus also shared some thoughts on the officiating as well. When asked about perceived non-calls on Kobe Bryant, Pietrus merely said:

“He’s Kobe Bryant.”

While whining about the officiating should never be tolerated, I don’t even see where Orlando has a legitimate gripe in this case. If anything the Lakers should be the ones complaining about preferential treatment – not the other way around. During the 4th Quarter, there was a 17-0 free throw discrepancy in favor of the Magic. Until Pietrus’s flagrant foul on Pau Gasol at the end of overtime, the discrepancy had increased to 20-0 in favor of the Magic. When the final stats were totaled, Orlando had shot fifteen more free throws than the Lakers did. So, I am obviously a little baffled as to why Alston and Pietrus would be blaming the loss on the referees. Even notorious Lakers basher and diehard Boston Celtics fan Bill Simmons of ESPN.com agrees with me:

1:14: Kobe waves his teammates away, goes one-on-five, drives into the lane and draws a block on Nelson. No free throws because Orlando isn’t even in the penalty yet. Why? Because the Magic have been getting every call for four quarters. (See Laker fans? And you thought I wouldn’t mention this.) In fact, over a 16:53 stretch from the fourth quarter until the last three seconds of overtime, Orlando attempted 18 free throws and L.A. attempted zero. Zero!!!! How is that possible? That stat alone makes me wonder if Game 4 was more of a “greatest comeback” than a “greatest choke.” But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

After being revived from total shock following Simmons’s comments, I still can not fathom why Orlando would be quick to point figures at the officials. There were many aspects of the game that the Magic executed poorly and they really only have themselves to blame for it. If they don’t, it’s about time to start questioning whether they have the maturity necessary to even become a championship-caliber team. It’s time they look into the mirror and recognize their own problems. Their free-throw shooting was abysmal (59.5%), their ballhandling was horrid (17 turnovers compared to LA’s 7), and their mental errors at the end of regulation were certainly ill-timed. These mistakes are what cost the Magic the game, not preferential treatment toward Kobe. It would just be nice if Orlando had the maturity to accept that.

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