THE APPRECIATIVE

Tom,
It certainly makes you wonder. I don't understand why Crawford is allowed to call Spurs games. What referee is allowed to shove his finger into a coaches chest (Popovich/ New Orleans Game)) and not get severely reprimanded or suspended. David Stern clearly wants an LA Boston matchup, to what extreme the referees "help" out is a legitimate question. 
Gabriel Pena

Tom,
You’re so right on the NBA officiating. And you didn't even have to mention Suns/Spurs last year. which was a series of bad-call dominos, way before the alleged "bench emptying." Or the Detroit/Celts game 4. which was the same thing as the west game you wrote so cogently about....Detroit got no calls (Flip Saunders said as much in that
tiny tv interview before Q4) while Boston got away w/ greater nastiness and then
benefitted from several dubious calls that helped them retain possession. and even then, after like 3 or 4 of those, the celts couldn't win. very sad for the sport. Thanks for writing this.
Tom Moon

Tom,

I just want to tell you that this was a great article.  First, I have to admit that I'm a huge Spurs fan, so I may be biased, but I've thought about this for a while.  After the pathetically low ratings of the 2004 Finals against New Jersey, I thought there may have been something to the fact that Fisher's shot was allowed to count in Game 6 of the 2005 Conference Semis.  I've often wondered if perhaps everyone just wanted to see the Lakers in the Finals in 2005.  Could the same thing be happening again?  It just seems like too many calls are being blown, especially at the most important time of year.
Again, great article.
Oscar Sarinana

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