Posted by stinenavy on 6/21/2012 2:01:00 AM (view original):
I'm usually not one to ***** and moan about the refs, but holy **** have the refs screwed over OKC this series.
I'll put on my eternal optimist hat and say that the Thunder can still pull this out. If LeBron is a little gimpy that'd be great, and if James Harden stops guarding him that'd be even better. No team has come back from down 3-1 in the Finals, but this team is as well positioned as anyone.
You know, it's interesting when you look at the dynamics of the NBA, that certain things seemed destined to happen. For example, stepping outside of my own preferences, of the following situations below, which is better for NBA and its appeal nationally:
1. Chicago or Utah?
2. Phoenix (and Barkley) vs. Chicago (and Jordan), or Seattle (with Payton and Kemp as youngsters) vs. Chicago.
3. LaBron, Wade, and Glitzy Miami or small market OKC. (Look at todays nba.com headline: "LeBron James is near his first title after years of paying his dues -- both on the court and off it.")
When it's better for the NBA as a whole, the calls seem to be mysteriously a certain direction. Or more subtly, the game is called in a manner which may be even, but favors a certain style.
Haven't watched every minute of every game, but it certainly appears to me that one team has been favored, while the other gets to "pay their dues".