Thoughts on a bruising NBA Finals, the broadcast crew and Pacers losing their way

And if it's commonplace to ignore fouls and violations, it's easier to manipulate outcomes

Photo by Amit Lahav on Unsplash

The NBA Finals are alternately entertaining and maddening. So many things please me and annoy me about what I’ve seen this season. Just a few things that have been on my mind, mostly from the annoying side:

• The level of physicality pleases a great many people, but I've been down this road before with the Pat Riley Knicks and Chuck Daly Pistons. Inevitably, it destroys the flow and beauty of the game and the officiating tightens up. But in today’s world, with legal gambling constantly in our face, it’s dangerous. Referees are letting so many fouls and violations go, it becomes almost impossible to determine what is a foul or violation. The consequence of that is officials now have the ability to pick and choose what they call — making it easier to manipulate the outcome of games. Fans are more suspicious about game-fixing than ever before and giving them a reason to suspect it is not wise.

• Scott Foster. The most well-known official in sports, seemingly for all the wrong reasons.