just make sure Bavetta is calling the game, and you guys are good to go.
Bavetta's a home team frontrunner / series extender ref. He works against the current LA team being that it's talented enough usually to be ahead. It's not 2002 where Sac had more spread out talent. The Lakers winning on the road was the difference last year. They snatched back HCA in the first shot against HOU and DEN.
Joey is naturally combative and Javie takes no guff. Neither give a rat's azz about the home crowd. Advantage: road team, especially against teams w/ wild crowds or coaches who play the media hard all series (eg Rick). Another aspect is that the Lakers have a number of soft players. If a team tries to goon another as a defensive strategy, Joey will grind the game to a halt with fouls more often than not. Advantage: Lakers. Disadvantage: Thuggets.
I was gloating like a mofo after winning Gm 4 of the Finals w/ the Salvatore, Callahan, Foster (Donaghy's bud) crew. It was like 2 wins, one over an extender crew, the other over Orlando.
PS: Am I saying the league is rigged? Not necessarily. Am I saying that refs have varied tendencies? Yep. Is it a new phenomenon? Nope. Earl Strom was like Javie, but more competent. Ronnie Nunn and Hugh Hollins were "creative foul" refs. Jake O'Donnell had an ego approaching Joey's, both being suspended over tiffs with players, with Jake choosing to retire over the incident instead of taking the suspension.