The NBA can make the Spurs’ loss worth something by addressing the rules it claims it fixed

This is going to sound like sour grapes to some since it comes on the heels of San Antonio's loss to Oklahoma City, but that's not true. The Spurs have themselves to blame for much of what ailed them on opening night.

I speak for the masses in the way that the Lorax speaks for the trees when I say the NBA needs to enforce its own rules. Not because it helps one team over another, but because basketball lovers everywhere are tired of the rule manipulation and favoritism toward offense.

The missed calls are too obvious

The biggest issue is the comparison of what gets called and how much versus what doesn't. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LaMelo Ball, and nobody else, for that matter, should be able to Electric Slide their way to open spots on the floor for an open shot without dribbling the basketball. Just look at this insane violation that went uncalled.

Ignored travels are the most complained-about aspect of the game. Just take a look at social media every single night, and you'll see more than a handful of clear no-calls being exposed by fans. Meanwhile, they hand out fouls like candy canes on Christmas Eve for imaginary contact when viewers would much rather see the players in a physical competition.

Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell are just a couple of the players penalized for good defense

It's one thing when a guy is driving to the basket, and there's a crowd. Those are bang-bang plays that can be hard to see clearly. But the referees award offensive players for creating contact constantly, despite the league's claim years ago that they'd crack down on some of those acts.

It wasn't just Spurs fans up in arms when SGA got a whistle for throwing a shoulder into Dylan Harper after the scrappy sophomore forced him to pick up his dribble with the shot clock winding down. Hoops lovers from fan clubs all over the league complained about it.

The shooting foul on Devin Vassell was another fan-unifying play. Jaylin Williams pump-fakes, Dev goes for it and flies across his face, but not close enough to make contact, until Williams leans forward to create it. This specific tactic was supposed to be taken out of the game years ago, when the NBA faked like they understood how unfair those calls are to defenders.

For a short time, refs called offensive fouls for that, but it didn't last long.

They're doing it already with push-offs, too. The league announced that offensive players would be under more scrutiny for their off-arm usage. There have been a couple of calls, but through the first two days, guys are still shoving to create space without penalty.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but if you're not going to officiate the game right and in a way that fans are begging for, just go to street rules. Players make their own calls. At least then, any perceived bias will make sense. Right now, it's just BS.

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