Here are several examples:

• Boston Celtics versus Chicago Bulls
  • Rajon Rondo nearly takes off Brad Miller’s head yet its not called a flagrant foul.
  • Rajon Rondo throws an elbow at Kirk Hinrich yet no punishment is taken from the league.
• Los Angeles Lakers versus Denver Nuggets
  • Dahntay Jones purposely trips Kobe Bryant; flagrant is assessed after the game yet the outcome is Lakers lost that game.
  • Andrew Bynum gives hard foul on Chris Andersen and is given flagrant foul.
• Orlando Magic versus Cleveland Cavs
  • Dwight Howard cleanly blocks Lebron James yet a foul is given sending King James to the foul line.

These are just several notable ones I mention because I don’t have time to watch every game.  However, when I did, these are the ones I saw.  Now NBA referees have been prone to make bad calls here and there and given the nature of professional basketball, its a fast paced game.  But there are times when referees get to review a play and still get it wrong.  Either that or they just do not have the balls to make the right call.

Phil Jackson called out the referees last week and was fined $25,000.  What a bunch of crock of shit!  By my estimate, these referees should be fired already.

So yes, this has been a great post season because of the intensity of the games and match ups seen so far in each round.  But then, I came to the conclusion that I may just stop watching NBA altogether because at times, the game feels so dictated by the way referees call the game.  Instead of seeing a smooth flowing game, I game long I see players going to the foul line to shoot free throws.  That is boring!

There was an article on ESPN that mentioned that the referees have called the number of fouls fairly because at the end of the night, both teams would shoot roughly the same amount of free throws.  That is ludicrous!  It is all about the timing of the fouls, not amount of fouls given when it does not count.  Say, Lakers are down 20 at the end of the third quarter and make a 10 point run and then suddenly assessed a technical and then a flagrant, that kills the flow and momentum.  They could have potentially gone on 20 point run.

Regardless, I sincerely hope the league can get their act together and re-evaluate how these referees should be held accountable for their calls… PUBLICLY.  In other words, may be they should go on the podium for a post game interview because after all, it seems like they play such a huge role in outcomes of games.