And speaking of the referees calling the Spurs/Lakers game fairly.
Shut up about it already. After watching the Kings' players practically stop play in San Antonio as they stared in disbelief at the refs, I sometimes wonder if pro players ever will understand how the games toward the end of the season indicate that the official are also getting geared up for the playoffs.
It is not that hard to fathom. Go strong to the basket and never, ever under any thought process that could possibly penetrate the dense skulls of today's NBA players think that the refs are going to bail you out if you end up in the third row behind the basket.
Moving screens are a key technique in the playoffs and are NOT going to be called frequently, so everyone should do them.
Knock your guy silly in the open court, but do not breathe on him once he becomes airborne near the basket. The refs will call phantom fouls if they see his jersey flop. So you might as well make the foul a hard one as not.
Elbows to the face to clear space for a shot will never be called if Kobe or Shaq does it, but Webber, Duncan, and Garnett had better keep their elbows to themselves. As for Malone, he will have to kill someone with his elbows before the refs even ackknowledge he is on the floor potentially fouling anyone at all. This is the one type of foul that does not exist in the eyes of the officials if Lakers do it, but will call it immediately on any player from any other city.
Otherwise, you can expect little help from the referees, as they seem to be of the mindset to let the players play the game without them deciding it. If Kobe gets a little nudge late in the game on a three pointer, he won't be going to the line if he misses it. If Bibby gets hacked midcourt and has to leave to get stitched up, just quietly substitute for him and go back on defense. If Malone or Webber moves laterally while screening for his shooter, just smile and say, "that's NBA playoff basketball".
And try, as everyone else will, to pick up the contact on Payton or Peja as they move into the key and hoist up a shot for a potential three point play. If only our technology was so advanced that they could digitally insert a third arm on the defender for the replay so it will look like he actually touched him.
Maybe someday. After all, there is always hope.
