The Celtics definitely got the calls tonight, just like the Lakers are going to get them in Game 3. The referees are instructed to preserve home court advantage and help the series go as long as possible, IMO. Sucks, but that's how it is.

Aren't they complaining about the rims anymore?

Yeah bad refs - you mean like that lack of traveling call on Vlad? Oh yeah you don't count that right? <g>

What a shock!! The Lakers making excuses?!? Who would have "thunk" it?

Sure we had some charity, but there is a difference when calls are made and it stops momentum and when they don't. YOu guys were never realy in it after the first quarter. If these "bad" calls were made while you were making a run, then I would have a little moure sympathy. But the fact is that we played more under the rim and thats why it happend the way it did. Sur Kobe had a cheap one on him, but that was one call. It didn't change the game. We had games wher KG gets 2 quick ones and still win the game.

I have to say there were a few dodgy calls, but both ways, maybe lakers a couple more than celtics, but that didn't alter the game results.
But I do think the league would want the refs to keep this series long, so someone tell Doc, beware of refs in game 3.

As a Lakers fan, I'll say here what I said in Jeff's post-game thread. Do I think the officiating was totally level? No, not really - but not so terribly biased as to be an enormous surprise, given the huge level of home court advantage that pretty much every team has enjoyed throughout the playoffs. Just as I don't think the game would have been such a blowout for the majority of the second half if called more evenly, I also don't think the Lakers go on that huge run in the 4th if the teams are closer in score. Boston noticeably let up, and the Lakers just started bombing from 3 - both of these are unlikely events in a 10-point game as opposed to a 24-point game.

Do keep in mind that, a) it's likely to swing fairly far in the Lakers' favor at Staples, and b) the Celtics enjoyed a seventeen-to-three disparity in shooting foul calls. The latter point can't entirely be explained solely by home court and aggression, considering that the Celtics were one of the more commonly-whistled teams in the league all season (top 10 in fouls committed). Even so, I think this game goes to the Cs with or without some of the more questionable calls - it just likely would have been a game with less wild swings in the lead.