The NBA does NOT want Toronto in the Finals. They also would prefer Golden State in the Finals, and they most certainly do NOT want Golden State/Okc to only go five games. I know it. You know it. The refs working the games know it. The NBA won't put out a memo to the refs, or have a phone call with them, they don't have to
Any 'company man' ref knows all of this. Given this, he is NOT going to go out there and blatantly referee any game, deliberately miscalling the action. However, I FIRMLY believe that he WILL be display a 'good employee' bias where any calls that could go either way WILL go to the home teams tonight. To think otherwise is naive. If I was referee in Cleveland tonight, I could see my wife reminding me before the game "WHATEVER you do, DO NOT make a bad call against LeBron tonight that costs them the game.........if you do you might be working nothing but Sacramento and Philly games all next year, and not in the playoffs".
We all all had jobs where we had the responsibility to make certain "calls" one way or another. Should I terminate a gifted but problematic employee? Should I change providers for a certain product? Often these calls are extremely difficult and could go either way. In situations like that, the tiebreaker is to ask yourself "What do my bosses want me to do?" I firmly believe 90% plus of refs are aware of this, and that is what they do!
Given this, I lean to both the Favorite Game 5 Clev and Golden State. However, I likely will pass the sides in both games. I DO think the money on the under tonight so far is sharp, if the total goes back up I likely will play UNDER.
In the WNBA I FIRE on a best bet tonight, putting my 7-2 YTD record ON THE LINE! I have watched EVERY WNBA game this year, and I am LOCKED IN on this league!
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