This is the End

> It’s the final day of the regular season and an amazing eight playoff spots are still up for grabs. People love to say how the regular season is boring and means nothing, but from where I sit there’s been playoff level intensity in at least one game a night for the past six weeks. If you have ‘League Pass’ it makes for some entertaining TV. Alright, enough with the umpteenth sales pitch and on to business.

> Games of note tonight…

EAST

#2 & #5

- Milwaukee at Cleveland – if the Cavaliers don’t roll the Bucks something is wrong.

- Chicago at New Jersey on ESPN – the only game of the night pitting two clubs with something to play for against each other.

#6, #7 & #8

- Miami at Orlando – don’t look for the Heat to play their regulars much, if at all.

- Chicago at New Jersey on ESPN

- Washington at Indiana – if there’s a team that’s floundering more than the Wizards, it’s the Pacers.

WEST

#7 & #8

- Golden State at Portland – a win by the Warriors and the NBA’s longest playoff-less streak comes to an end.

- Lakers at Sacramento – LA not only needs a win to avoid Dallas in round one, but the Lakers need to get some positive momentum going as well.

- New Orleans/Oklahoma City at Clippers on ESPN – Elton Brand has been a monster lately, but it may be too little too late for LA’s other squad.

> Much has been made about long time referee Joey Crawford tossing Tim Duncan for laughing on the bench during a nationally televised game on 4/15. The only thing that surprised me, including Tim’s ejection and the subsequent suspension of Crawford, was how public Commissioner David Stern went with the whole deal.

Said Stern, “Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted. Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities.” He went on to say that Crawford’s actions “failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees.”

Joey’s response in an email after meeting with NBA Executive Director for Basketball Operations Stu Jackson, “I told him [Stu] I would throw Duncan out again if he did what he did. So if my employer does not think that was acceptable, then I have a problem.”

Crawford also likened his situation to that of longtime ref Jake O'Donnell, who was barred by the league from working the 1995 Finals after refusing to shake hands with Houston's Clyde Drexler before a '95 playoff game and later ejecting Drexler. O'Donnell never refereed in the league again.

My take on all this is that there’s no way Joey is ever going to be contrite enough to get his job back. So I say good riddance to another referee that thinks he’s bigger than the game. I can only hope that Steve Javie does something stupid enough to lose his job in the near future too.

Guys like O’Donnell, Crawford & Javie *do* hold personal grudges against certain players, and there’s just no room for that in the game. I’d much rather see the NBA hire some fresh faces that are solely interested in doing the best possible job and aren’t jaded by years of dealing with day-to-day grind of the association.