I have a feeling we will get shafted by the refs tomorrow

[kg is king]

David Stern wants the Heat to win

You are basing this on?

[kw10]

David Stern wants the Heat to win

You are basing this on?

Without reading the whole thread, but I would think Stern wants Heat to win because of the $$$$$$$$$ 'Bron and Wade brings in for NBA.

At the end of the day, it's business. David Stern doesn't appear to be the type of guy who's a basketball purist/lover, although I probably can't be more wrong.

[RGN07]

David Stern wants the Heat to win

Ah so we're back to the Al Capone days again, huh?. And the Celtics don't know this but you do!? BTW i heard that J. Edgar Hoover does not approve of DS.

[cdif911]

every fan of every team thinks the refs are out to get them - which means they probably aren't; the sport is just too difficult to properly officiate at the pro level and therefore even the supposed best in the business struggle to do a competent job

[ewp]

While I won't go down the conspiracy theory path (at least not very far down that path), I have felt for whatever reason since the beginning that for the Celtics to win, they would likely have to play 10-15 points "better" than the Heat to win due to free throws for the Heat.

[pjbigshow]

The one thing that would at least be nice and that has been lacking, especially the first half last game, is consistency. That's what the biggest complaint is about the refs. They are just so [dang] selective when they decide they are gonna call touch fouls, and then they just start letting anything go. I felt really bad for Ray last game. That guy was goin strong to the cup, getting absolutely hammered multiple times, and the refs just look the other way. On the flip I recall a play in game 1 in which lebron's FINGER grazed a Celtic and he was called for pushing. 

I'm just trying to see both sides here and the lack of consistency is taking away from the greatness that this series can be.

[twinbree]

I dunno. If the refs want to stop retaliation by the Celtics then they have to call ticky tacky on both sides. If they allow the Heat to get cheap shots and penalize the Celtics for every little thing that rather increases the chances of our players doing something in frustration.

I have no idea what to expect since the NBA refs either suffer from short-term amnesia or ADD. Betting on the Wade/Lebron team getting the benefit of the calls is usually a safe bet though.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Disagree. I think tomorrow'll be called fairly, if only because the rest of the series has had such an obvious free throw discrepancy. Plus, (knock on wood), how on Earth could we draw a worse ref combo than yesterday?

There's always the spectre of the most incompetent official in professional sports, Bennett Salvatore.

Ask Thibs about that one.

lol, I thought I was the only one who noticed him.  His calls remind me of a senile old man who thinks he sees something completely different than what is reality. 

[Spilling Green Dye]

As far as the officiating goes, I think we can make this work for us.  There's no doubt in my mind that Stern reminded the refs (after the Bynum/Odom cheapshots) to not let things escalate. 

If the Celtics play very aggressive but ignore the Heat players on a personal level, I think the Heat will get frustrated and the calls could go against them.  But man.. would I love to see someone lay Dwayne Wade out!

The refs aren't dumb (except for Salvatore), they'll be looking to prevent a fight.

[Greenbean]

When this team plays it's best ball, nobody can beat them ... Officials included. You have to bring your "A" game no matter what, and make the refs or any inbalance of calls a non-factor.

Bahku is right. We were the aggressors the other night. If we come out with anything less, then Miami will become the aggressors.

Any team can get the officials on their side simply by attacking first.

[SHAQATTACK]

The dirty play by wade and the lakers yesterday will spill over ,  the league officals reminding the refs to keep it super clean.

Still game is important as the last.  Boston show sany sign of backing off or lack of aggressiveness , the heat will jump on them like a pack of wolves and it will all she wrote..

I think the C's need not to worry about calls , and play their game, fouls withstanding, in order to prevail.

LBJ will play like a wild animal .  ALl we'll see is drive after /dive flying though the air toward the basket.

The question is can we survive physically and limit the success these banzi attempts ?

It would be nice to have the refs call AT LEAST an even game.

 

[BudweiserCeltic]

Pflanns Paul Flannery
Your Game 4 officials: Monty McCutchen, Tony Brothers and Derrick Stafford.
52 seconds ago

gwashburn14 gary washburn
The officials for tonight's Celtics-Heat game are Monty McCutchen, Tony Brothers and Derrick Stafford. The alt is Rodney Mott #celtics #heat

[Cman]

David Stern wants the Heat to win

You are basing this on?

Without reading the whole thread, but I would think Stern wants Heat to win because of the $$$$$$$$$ 'Bron and Wade brings in for NBA.

At the end of the day, it's business. David Stern doesn't appear to be the type of guy who's a basketball purist/lover, although I probably can't be more wrong.

By this logic, Stern would want the Celtics to win, in order to prolong the series, air more games on TV, get more ad dollars.

If we believe in conspiracy theories, then that means we'll get to a game 7 (which will be decided by the refs).

[snowball]

I'm not worried about the refs tonight,
this lineup is not bad. But when it goes
back to Miami, I will be worried. Look at
Game 1, an absolute nightmare in which the
refs sure played a major role.

[Chris]

Bill Kennedy working in game 3 went a long way to convince me there is no conspiracy by the league, there is just bad officiating.