The check is in the mail Joey Crawford - David Stern gets his way

The refereeing in the 2010 NBA Finals was putrid. I almost felt silly having to come up with terms like 'points in the taint and 'interficials' to explain the officials' impact on games. But they were accurate terms and they were terms that reciprocated David Stern's lack of respect for serious basketball fans.

Joey Crawford had a history of bad calls (and in pivotal games). He has faced intense scrutiny from disgruntled fans and media members. But that was not going to stop David Stern from plugging him in as the lead referee for Game 1 (opening game), Game 5 (pivotal game) and Game 7 (the deciding game). Is he really that much better than the other referees?

The interficials took their warm-ups off and got into the game in the fourth quarter of Game 7. And that was the difference with all due respect to the crucial three that Ron Artest made late in the fourth quarter.

The first two quarters were about as fairly officiated as the Celtics were going to get this series. The Celtics had a few calls not go their way and perhaps that helped the Lakers to still be in the game at halftime, despite the Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant shooting a combined 6 for 26. But the officiating was not attrocious even through the first three quarters and I was willing to call it a fair (enough) game had the officiating continued to hold up. At least the interficials were not calling silly fouls and putting people in needless foul trouble in a deciding game. There was at least two bailouts where Kobe just missed and the refs gave him free throws. But again, I was just happy that the officiating was not as atrocious as the first six games.

But the interficials stepped up big for the Lakers in the fourth quarter. On the very first play of the quarter, Pau Gasol went across the lane and made a shot. There was no foul and the refs gave him the and one (which he missed).

Late in the game, up 74-70 with a minute and a half left, Gasol went up for a shot and the defense was great and forced him not to shoot until his foot came down. But there was no travel called despite the obvious nature of the call.

The Celtics defense was great all night long. Down 76-79 late, they forced Bryant into a long three. Gasol was allowed to push off of Rondo's face as they both went for the ball. The play was big. Kobe got the ball back, took it to the rim. I have not seen a replay but I suspect that a fake foul was called on Rasheed Wallace. In any event it beats the time tested philosophy of not allowing the officials to decide the outcome. But Joey Crawford was more than happy to decide it!

The play was huge. It gave LA two points and it took away a possession for the Celtics to tie the game and force overtime.

But the Celtics still came back. Rajon Rondo hit a three after hustling to get an offensive rebound on what would have been Ray Allen's second three in a row. And it looked like they would have a chance to tie or win Game 7 when Rondo hit the ball away from Kobe! But Kobe was allowed to push off on Rondo as he went for the ball! There were two interficials standing there looking at the play. Joey Crawford looked at the play from straight down the line and refused to call the foul! That is literally two plays in the final seconds that the interficials helped the Lakers! Like I said all series long, the Celtics were playing five on eight. The Celtics would have likely won it in five game with fair officiating!

Most pundits will call the game 'classic.' But trust me, that is the equivalent of calling a rusted out 55 Chevy that no longer runs, classic. Sure it was the Celtics and Lakers. Sure the players put forth great effort. And sure it was Game 7 (though the league had to rig that). But there is nothing classic about David Stern handpicking officials each game of the playoffs to make sure he gets the results he wants. That is not classic where I come from.

Mark my words. Some day there will be a big scandal involving David Stern and/or Joey Crawford. Until then I'll have to settle for being called a conspiracy theorist or what have you. But like I said before, I have two eyes and a brain. I see what is going on. I see the smoke. When will we see the fire? How many untold victims are there in the meantime?

Joey Crawford ran off the court as soon as the finals ended. Cowards always run. Besides, why would he risk cracking a smile for the camera? Stern got what he wanted. The league is richer when his Lakers win and even richer when they do it in seven games over the Celtics.