Officiating in the NBA has gotten so poor, when players intentionally foul the refs aren't even picking up on it. Yet another black eye.

(Spurs fans, this isn't about your team ... don't worry. Nothing to see here)

The missed foul call on Lebron James does not have an overall effect on the series. Even if Lebron makes all three free-throws, the Spurs are still winning the series. That's not solely what's agitating. This is just the latest of many blunders, and representative of an overall inconsistent NBA we watch today. Fans of the game deserve to watch the sport as defined by the rules and at the highest level of competition that shouldn't be too much to ask.

I'm disgusted. Not because the Spurs are going to win another title (that doesn't help), but because I desperately want to love the NBA. It could and should be on par with the NFL.

(Sidenote here real quick - In postgame interviews, Lebron James didn't speak a word about the officiating. Even the entire Spurs team admitted to trying to foul. James nothing. Mature move. James gets it. He'll have his time.)

I thought we were headed in the right direction this past offseason when David Stern spoke convincingly of cutting down on player complaining and carrying the basketball. His words were put into action for all of 7 days. For all the fine work Mr. Stern has done to reach the label as "Best Commish in Sports," he'd better seriously address these issues with more results next season.

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but judging by ratings that's doubtful. The NBA is nearly unwatched right now and the officials have to take a significant responsibility for the blame. Basketball is the most difficult sport to officiating, but that doesn't mean we can't get a sports the resembles the rules.