What do you know, another NBA playoff game where one of the top stories the next morning is in regards to questionable officiating. We should be reveling in the bench breaking performance of Leon Powe, or how the Lakers who scored 31 points in the final eight minutes ought to show up for Game 3, but Phil Jackson has appropriately directed our focus to NBA officials and I think he has legit beef.
"I've never seen a game like that in all these years I've coached the Finals. Unbelievable.I have no idea what he said there at the end, but the fact Boston attempted 38 free throws to Los Angeles' 10 can't be attributed solely to the style of play. Sure, the Celtics may have attacked more frequently but the physical play was on both ends of the court. The free throw shooting was not.
I'm more struck at the fact that Leon Powe gets more foul shots than our whole team does in 14 minutes of play. That's ridiculous.
I have no question about the fact that my players got fouled but didn't get to the line. It's the illusion that's created. The referees referee an illusion."
Leon Powe, who Jackson pretended to not know the correct pronunciation, took more shots from the line than his entire team. Ridiculous, indeed.
A lot of factors could have changed the outcome of the game: Sasha Vujacic passing to an open Kobe Bryant instead of forcing the final shot, the Lakers could have tried out some defense in the third quarter, but a team just isn't going to win an NBA playoff game when taking 28 less free throws.
No need to worry, and the Zen Master never worries, for the Lakers will be at home for three straight. And with the way NBA officiating currently operates, the Celtics will now be on the opposite end of things. It's the only trend that's consistent among officials: an overwhelming tendency to give the home team a huge advantage.
This series is far from over.
Something foul in Boston [Plaschke]
to the Celtics!!
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