Terrible Officiating

I had the privilege of being able to view the majority of Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals. As much as I love the game and as highly revered as David Stern is, I am really not liking the officiating in the NBA. Now, I didn't see Game 1, so I may be completely wrong and this may all be perfectly consistent. But, when Kobe Bryant's team is only attempting 10 free throws compared to 38 for the opposition, something is wrong. Kobe Bryant is the type of player that attacks and will pick up fouls. Phil Jackson is the type of coach that disciplines his players so that they won't commit 100 fouls a game.

One incident in particular comes to mind. 1st quarter. Close game. Lakers ball. Kobe Bryant comes off a screen to the right wing with Ray Allen hot on his tail. Kobe stops abrubtly. Ray bumps into him and starts trying to close the passing lane. Kobe tries to give himself a little room by giving Ray a forearm to the chest. (This is perfectly legal and happens ALL the time. Watch any NBA game and you'll see that it isn't a nasty or dirty thing to do.) Ray overreacts and the referee calls an offensive foul on Kobe Bryant. It was his 2nd foul, forcing Phil Jackson to take him out of the game. (The referee pictured is not the one that made the bad call just mentioned. I actually kind of like the one pictured.)

I hate to think that there is a conspiracy in the NBA. But, just because David Stern assigned Joey Crawford to officiate an elimination game for the San Antonio Spurs and Derek Fisher didn't get called for a foul on Brent Barry's last second shot, and because the Grizzlies agreed to just give away Pau Gasol, doesn't mean that the Lakers should be disliked. I shouldn't be judged by other people's poor decisions.

It's also very hard for me to not see a conspiracy in the NBA since I have been an avid Suns fan from the beginning of the '04-'05 season through February 5, 2008. (I now consider myself a very casual Suns fan. They are the easiest to follow being the hometown team and they are providing very good headlines right now.) The Phoenix Suns have had some undebatably terrible things come upon them because of the NBA officials and management.

Anyways, the moral of the story is that if the officiating is going to be horrendous in the NBA Finals, then the NBA is headed in the wrong direction. I propose making me Commissioner. However, I will settle with getting rid of David Stern and Stu Jackson. The grass isn't always greener on the other side, but sometimes that's a chance that you have to take.