And these fouls not only resulted in free throws, they helped disqualify Sacramento's two low-post defenders. They weren't subjective or borderline or debatable. And Divac, on his fifth foul, didn't foul Shaq. It wasn't a foul in any league in the world. You could see it on TV, see it at courtside. Scot Pollard, on his sixth and final foul, didn't as much as touch Shaq. It was bad in Game 5 in Sacramento, when the Kings got the benefit of some very questionable calls, then unforgivably rotten on Friday night in Game 6. Having said that, I have never seen officiating in a game of consequence as bad as that in Game 6. And I have zero tolerance for "conspiracy" stories, that the NBA and NBC conspire to influence if not straight-up arrange the outcome. Let me start by declaring I have no ties to Los Angeles or to Sacramento, and have no rooting interest in the series other than that I did pick the Lakers to win in six games. Yes, Vlade Divac has a flair for the dramatic, but he spoke for any number of people when he said late Friday night, "Why don't they just let us know in advance? We come here, we go back to Sacramento, back here. The players themselves sometimes believe it. And not addressing it would leave unexamined the swelling chorus of concern among everyday basketball fans that the league and/or its TV partner, NBC, has an interest in either helping the league's most glamorous and marketable team, the Lakers, or at the very least prolonging an already dramatic series. And the three men assigned to call Friday's Game 6 - Dick Bavetta, Bob Delaney and Ted Bernhardt - are three of the best in the game.īut to ignore the role officiating played in Game 6 of the NBA's showcase playoff series would essentially be to ignore the primary story line in the Lakers' 106-102 victory. Overwhelmingly, these guys are terrific at a next-to- impossible job. Hardly ever in 12 years of writing commentary have I devoted an entire column to the issue of refereeing. Statistical evidence is usually circumstantial, but consider this anyway: the Lakers had shot an average of 22 foul shots through the first five games of this series, but on Friday night here at home they shot 27 - in the fourth quarter. The Kings and Lakers didn't decide this series would be extended until Sunday three referees did. If you care about basketball, Friday night's Game 6 of the Western Conference finals was a rip-off. But not if it had to come about like this. The Kings were involved in the following transactions from June 14, 2002, the day after the deciding game of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 9, 2003, the day of the deciding game of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals.All along, I've wanted to see a seventh game. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.Īwards and records Awards Type ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season.† = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season.Position abbreviations: C = Center D = Defense G = Goaltender LW = Left wing RW = Right wing.Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point) Overtime loss (1 point) January 22, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim ( 2002–03) November 14, Vancouver Canucks ( 2002–03) November 9, Montreal Canadiens ( 2002–03) Schedule and results 2002–03 regular season Z – Clinched Conference Y – Clinched Division X – Clinched Playoff spot Western Conference Rĭivisions: PA – Pacific, CE – Central, NW – Northwest Note: CR = Conference rank GP = Games played W = Wins L = Losses T = Ties OTL = Overtime loss GF = Goals for GA = Goals against Pts = Pointsīolded teams qualified for the playoffs. The Kings tied the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals for the fewest short-handed goals allowed, with just four.
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