Between the Tim Donaghy scandal and the Joey Crawford suspension, the betting public has been exposed to the sadder side of NBA officiating. ESPN’s Ric Bucher cited “as many as nine” veteran referees this past August who were unhappy with their jobs and the way the league is treating them. “With every whistle, guys think, ‘Will the tape justify the call?’” said one official.

The anticipated response from the zebras is one of zero tolerance around the rim, something the head office has advocated for several years. We may also see a rise in borderline flagrant fouls as the refs err on the side of caution. This march to the free-throw line would lead to higher scores (think Dwyane Wade) while further disrupting the flow of the game.

Ironically, Donaghy was believed to have increased his whistle-blowing in order to drive the “over” to the pay window. Now everyone will be able to profit at the charity stripe.

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