Why I Think the Integrity of the Game Should be Questioned

The Boston Celtics played against the best teams in the East, and the two teams with the best record in regular season.

The Lakers won OKC, for a lucky tipoff of Gasol, Utah sucked and didnt have an answer for Gasol/Odom, Phoenix cant play defense, and Boston just becuase one player different stepped in a game (Fisher or Artest or Gasol, or Kobe).

 

delonte west screwed that one up :grin:

 

Who should have called the game...

 

In accounting, there is what they call actual independence and apparent independence. I think what the author is trying to point out is that the NBA should exert efforts to maintain apparent independence to prevent the negative perception of the public.

 

Exactly, and it's a point worth applauding in this thread. I do not believe in an NBA conspiracy*, but it's stupid to choose only one ref to get three games and to make that ref Crawford. WTF? Or maybe I'm missing in the OP list where someone else got three games.

If there's any conspiracy, it's probably that whacky calls make for more league interest and media attention, but that's a stretch.

* = if anyone really believes Stern wants LA to win, please say why. Dude is all about the money, so you have to come up with a reason why a highly-rated game 7 makes more money when Kobe whens versus all the nice story-lines of Boston winning. Larger market? More international players? Hmmm... Wait a minute.

 

Crawford has a history of contraversial decisions and for that reason he wouldn't be anywhere near the NBA Finals.