Statistically, it is very unusual to get twice the number of free throws as the other team, e.g., 36 for Philly to 19 for us, kinda how LA got 42 free throws to OKC's 12. Stern hates the Celtics, which is why Bill Kennedy was out there is the first place. Stern loves LA, which is why they were able to eke out a win at home.
The refs are a big part of why the game was lost yesterday. You can't overlook the fact that the Celtics weren't even allowed to set a pick after the 2nd quarter without getting whistled for a foul, while Philly was given and 1's every time someone breathed on them. Pierce gets whacked driving to the hole for a pivotal bucket, no call...
Even a small bias over a long game will integrate into a very significant advantage for the team who is getting the calls. When there is a big bias, you get things that if fair, should be statistically impossible - like the Celtics not losing a game (44-0 before last night) when leading by 18.
Remember, these refs are professionals. They are professional cheats too. They know how to make calls that are "defensible," so that haters (and the league) can claim that the refs had no impact on the game. For instance, there was contact when Rondo brushed Lou WIlliams ever so slightly, but in no way did he gain an advantage from the contact. It's not like Bass gained a real competitive advantage on the picks he was called for. That pick Garnett set at the top of the key? Totally legal, even the announcers during replay were like, "Wow..."
By contrast, you look at what the 76ers were allowed to get away with on the other end, and it becomes pretty clear that the calls were horribly biased.
The last time this happened, Game 7 2010 finals LA shot 37 free throws, Boston just 17, which was one of the most blatant examples of referee bias you'll ever see, where LA was given 21 free throws in the 4th quarter. Another comparison was 2002 Game 6 LA vs. Sacramento where LA shot 40 free throws to Sacramento's 25, but got 27 in the final quarter.
