Its not the refs, its the rules.

[Boss_]

I don't want to see games where guys are going to the line 20+ times.

How about 20+ times in 1 quarter? Enjoy!

edit - I think spurs just took 19 ft's just in the third quarter

Announcer-Parker isnt trying to make shots anymore he is just driving only to draw fouls

Game 1's
Atlanta and Orlando
Atlanta=29 ft's
Orlando=30 ft's
Orlando averaged 25.6 ft per game in regular season.
Atlanta averaged 21 ft per.

Blazers and Dallas
Blazers=13 ft's
Dallas=29 ft's
Dallas averaged 22.6 per.
Blazers at 22.4 per.

Philly and Heat
Philly= 15 ft's
Miami=39 ft's
Miami averaged 28 ft per game in regular season
Philly averaged 22.5 ft's per.

Indy and Chigago
Indy-17 ft's
Chicago-32 ft's
Indy averaged 24.8 per game
Chicago with 24.5 per.

Spurs and Grizzlies
Spurs-47 ft's w/out ginobili
Griz-33
Spurs averaged 24.2 per game in regular season
Grizz with the same pretty much at 24.2

Griz wound up winning the game but them, indy, philly and the blazers pretty much got shafted compared to their regular averages and they all played well enough to win game one. (Well, indy's gameplan for the last 5 minutes of the game when they had a decent lead was to walk the ball up the court and try to dribble away time with a rushed contested jumper so their offense really tanked the final few minutes, but anyway)

[Pharmcat]

chi, mia, and dal all got the more FT attempts

the common thread between them 3? all considered big market/name teams compared to who they playing

[Tubal]

chi, mia, and dal all got the more FT attempts

the common thread between them 3? all considered big market/name teams compared to who they playing

Bigger markets, better ad revenue on TV.

If you go to a sponsor and say "hey will you sponsor me for a race i'm running in Billings Montana" or "hey will you sponsor me for a race I'm running in Miami?"

Which one will they pay more for?

It's all business. The competition is 2nd priority.

[panthermark]

chi, mia, and dal all got the more FT attempts

the common thread between them 3? all considered big market/name teams compared to who they playing

Yeah....it is the market...not the players who might be on those teams......
Chi, Mia, and Dal have five All-Stars between them...with two different MVP's, and a 3rd guy that will most likely be the MVP this year. Orlando isn't a huge market....and Howard went to the FT line quite a bit.

[Allan Houston]

2nd half free throw attempts in games with the top 3 seeds:

Chicago 13, Indiana 5
Miami 20, Philadelphia 10
Dallas 21, Portland 3
San Antonio 33, Memphis 19

The games are evenly called in the 1st half, but the refs are putting their foot down in the 2nd half at one end of the floor..