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The San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns, 111-106, at US Airways Center in Arizona, with a lot of help from referee Bob Delaney.

Normally, the team with the home court gets the better end of the calls, but it was a totally different scenario in this one. Coach Mike D’Antoni and all Suns fans, including myself, are utterly disappointed with how the calls turned out. What could have been two non-calls were whistled in favor of the Spurs. Both were crucial ones.

The Suns were riding a what-should-have-been-break-away momentum that had them leading 50-44 before halftime, their biggest lead. But that lead was wiped out in an instant, when Delaney called a lose ball foul on Amare Stoudemire, his third just before halftime, and when the ball was already at the Suns home front. Replays showed that both Stoudemire and Tim Duncan had their arms locked while battling for rebounding position, and it was Duncan who initiated the pull down. It should have been a non-call or Duncan should have been whistled for the foul. Instead, Duncan made two free-throws, since Phoenix was in penalty, and the mighty six-point edge was sliced down to one in just a few seconds. That was a big momentum breaker!

And in the end game, with the Suns just down one, 106-107, and 26 seconds to go, Leandro Barbosa was called for a foul before the inbound was made. The Spurs got one free-throw, which Michael Finley made, and had the crucial ball possession. Replays again showed that both Barbosa and Spurs guard Tony Parker were battling for position, and Parker sold a disgusting and cowardly flop to Delaney (once again!).

Despite not having two-time MVP Steve Nash in the final 54 seconds, the Suns never gave up and tried to battle the Spurs in a highly-contested game. Nash incurred a cut with a little over two minutes remaining after a head collision with Parker. His nose did not stop bleeding so he was forced to leave the game, and Phoenix appeared lost without their best player on the floor, during the important dying seconds.

Shouldn’t the home team be favored more regarding calls? Delaney should have not blown his whistle. Both instances were “let-goes.” And in a highly important and heated game such as this, he should not have been trigger-happy. He caused the Suns downfall in Game One all by his lonesome. Such a despicable act for an NBA official! (photos courtesy of yahoonba.com)