How do you stand on the refs after tonight?

[Thruthelookingglass]

I'll admit all the talk about the Donaghy allegations had me pretty down.  It dovetailed with the sort of give and take from the refs I'd been seeing.  Didn't want to believe the officials deliberately altered games.  But it was nagging me.

And I got angry in the first quarter.  The calls were rough on the Celts and our team reacted very negatively. But except for that, I thought the calls were fairly honest if still imperfect.  My belief is that they let the teams play and the superior team came back and won.

I feel a lot better now, but wanted to ask around and see what other people saw.

[Chris]

I think that was about as evenly officiated a game as you will see in the NBA.  They let the teams play (like they should in the finals), and certainly had some bad calls...but they made mistakes for both teams.  I don't think either team can argue that the refs had an influence on the game.

[Thruthelookingglass]

I'll admit all the talk about the Donaghy allegations had me pretty down.  It dovetailed with the sort of give and take I'd been seeing from the refs.  Didn't want to believe they'd deliberately alter a game.  But it was nagging me.

And I got angry in the first quarter.  The calls were rough on the Celts and our team reacted very negatively. But except for that, I thought the calls were fairly honest if still imperfect.  My belief is that they let the teams play and the superior team came back and won.

I feel a lot better now, but wanted to ask around and see what other people saw.

[EJPLAYA]

Towards the first part of the game when we were getting clobbered they had us 15-2 free throws. I think much of it boils down to who is going to the basket and who is shooting jumpers. In the first part we were shooting jumpers and they were going to the rim. Just like game 3. We can joke about it, but I don't buy into much of a conspiracy theory. I would believe individual refs have agendas, but not coming from Stern.

[DannyZ]

It was solid and fair officiating, even when we are losing.  Very few calls to complain about either way.  The Zen master only harped on the refs once in his post game comments so you know it was good.

[Chris]

Towards the first part of the game when we were getting clobbered they had us 15-2 free throws. I think much of it boils down to who is going to the basket and who is shooting jumpers. In the first part we were shooting jumpers and they were going to the rim. Just like game 3. We can joke about it, but I don't buy into much of a conspiracy theory. I would believe individual refs have agendas, but not coming from Stern.

Well, we will see what happens next game, since the NBA would certainly want to extend the series to 6 games.

[Fan from VT]

In the wake of all the allegations, it seems like everyone has been begging for fouls not to determine the game. The lakers were very aggressive in the 1st half and the C's were very aggressive in the second half. The totals for the game:

Boston 24 fouls, 28 free throws
Lakers 23 fouls, 29 free throws

well, the fouls were even and the teams played it out, and Boston won on the road.

[lurky]

I think I have it all figured out now. I just watched Kobe's post-game presser again, and before the video loaded I was treated to a commercial from "official automotive partner of the NBA", Kia Motors. That got me thinking, and I think I figured out the real NBA refereeing conspiracy: Kia Motors, in an attempt to boost sales of their new-to-North America mini-SUV, the Kia Rondo, are pressuring the NBA to call the games in favor of the Celtics to boost Rajon Rondo's profile and thereby nurture a positive brand association with their product. After all, wouldn't people be more likely to buy a Hyundai Telfair or a Volkswagen Durant if the Wolves or the Sonics, respectively, won an NBA title?