Our annual reminder to fans: The referees are not deciding the finals

Every year it is part of the narrative of the NBA finals fans the team coming out on the bottom are convinced that their heroes would win if it were not for the referees clearly having it in for their team and David Stern trying to determine the outcome. You can count on it like rain showers on a humid day on Maui, like you can count on coming across an interesting smell walking the streets of New York.

The last few days its the Thunder fans Kevin Durant keeps getting in foul trouble, LeBron James isnt getting in trouble, the Heat took 11 more free throws in Game 3 and clearly this is all being controlled by Stern and the Illuminati. And Jay-Z.

Stop it. Just stop it. The referees are not deciding the finals.

Their calls are not perfect, and we can all agree that some of the calls in the last game on Kevin Durant were borderline.

But the refs had been calling it tight on the perimeter all game and Durant didnt adjust. Plus, Brooks has him often guarding one of the strongest and most aggressive players the league has ever seen, and LeBron James happens to be on a hot streak, too. Thats your problem.

Let me break it down.

The Thunder didnt lose Game 2 because of a no call on Durants last shot, they lost because they were down 18-2 to start the game. The Heat only won one quarter of that game, the first quarter, but it turns out that counts as much as the other three. Who knew?

The free throw disparity in Game 3 is because the Heat were aggressive and getting into the paint. Plus you stupidly fouled three point shooters twice. In Game 3 the Heat had 35 shots right at the rim and took 35 free throws, the Thunder took 27 shots at the rim and had 24 free throws. Thats called correlation folks.

LeBron isnt getting in foul trouble because hes a good defender that really never gets in foul trouble. He fouled out in the playoffs last round and it was the first time ever he fouled out in the post season. For a guy drawing tough defensive assignments every night its a testament to the fact hes good. Thats not a conspiracy.

You lost Game 3 because Scott Brooks kept Durant on LeBron then when Durant was in foul trouble sat Russell Westbrook at the same time, so Miami went on a 15-3 run. But it was still close late and you lost because James Harden was a hot mess. Plus you missed nine free throws.

See original here:
Our annual reminder to fans: The referees are not deciding the finals