NBA Playoff & Griping About Calls

It has become an annual rite: the first round of the NBA Playoff means mostly boring match-ups and coaches and players whining about how they’re treated by officials. This year is no different Except for two things: Some interesting match-ups (Bulls-Cavs & Lakers-Thunder) and some stern talk from Commissioner Davis Stern on the official-bashing. It started in the final week of the regular season when Laker coach Phil Jackson, in preparation for the Lakers’ first round series with Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, publicly pointed out the surprisingly high number of calls and free throws Durant got this season. He was fined each $35,000 for that and another jab at official Bennett Salvatore. But seeing lopsided free throw counts is nothing new for the NBA Playoffs. In fact, when the Thunder earned a 34-12 free throw advantage, the officials were just ensuring what we already know from listening to Tim Donaghy: that Stern and the NBA want these first rounder series to last at least 5 games, preferably 6 if possible, and the easiest way to accomplish that is to give the home team the home calls. Thunder wins and the series goes 2-1. The Bulls – Cavs series went the same way, only the free throw distribution was more equitable (31-25 Cavs) but they still got they wanted, which was a Bulls win and a 2-1 series. But LaBron and Kobe fans should not despair, odds are still very good that the Cavs & Lakers meet in the Finals. And if they don’t, we can all blame the officials for that.