Hardaway Says Refs Are Unfair

By TIM KAWAKAMI

March 6, 2000 12 AM PT

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Miami point guard Tim Hardaway scored only eight quiet points in the Laker victory Sunday, but registered a lot louder after it was over.

“I think the referees are scared to call fouls against them,” Hardaway said. “I think they’re afraid of the Lakers and Phil Jackson.

“As a team, we feel we don’t get calls as an elite team. We feel that the referees hate us and don’t like us and we have to overcome [that] every game. . . .

“I’m not saying they’re not a good team, but . . . give us a chance.”

Miami was called for 29 fouls to the Lakers’ 22, and the Lakers shot 36 free throws (making 27) to the Heat’s 16-for-24 outing.

Shaquille O’Neal, who was the main Laker absorbing the Heat fouls (P.J. Brown fouled out in only 19 minutes), conceded that he might have gotten a few borderline calls when he went to the hoop.

But he said that since he gets fouled on practically every play, he deserves the calls, especially at home.

Ron Harper continued his pattern of playing his best games against the best opponents, scoring 14 points and grabbing five rebounds while also hounding Hardaway defensively.

“I hate to say you can rely on Harp in big games, but he’s more than likely going to come through and play a good game in a big matchup, in a tough game,” Jackson said.

Said Harper, who had gone the previous five games in single-digits: “I just came out and I just played my game. Tim is one guard that can do things some guards in the league just can’t do. I saw him a lot and I know what he does well.

“We have two guys who for sure take the load off of [the rest of the team]. . . . so it’s time for us guys to play our role, I think. I just came out today, I was just trying to find easy scores.”

John Salley, a former Miami player, came off the bench to give the Lakers nine solid minutes when O’Neal got in foul trouble and gave Mourning some serious problems on the post.

“He understands defensively some of the things that are going on with Miami and how to play some of the players that are older, experienced players in the league,” Jackson said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

TRIPLE PLAYS / The Big 3

Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice have been the driving force behind the Lakers’ success. How they fared:

O’NEAL

*--*

Sun. Season 17 Points 27.6 11 Rebounds 14.2 7 Assists 3.8

*--*

BRYANT

*--*

Sun. Season 15 Points 22.2 7 Rebounds 6.0 3 Assists 4.5

*--*

RICE