Leave it to the NBA to take a regulation length game and stretch it over 3 hours. And I thought college football was bad about the extended game.

Last night I watched the Rockets at the Lakers on TNT. Great match-up to kick off the season. I wasn't happy about it being a west coast game that started so late, but what-the-hey, it's the first game of the year and I have Yao on my fantasy team.

However, my viewing experience was turned sour after I had to watch the refs basically control the momentum of the game, and stretch this marathon into 3 hours worth of free throw shooting. For the first 15 minutes, the foul calls were relatively light, and both teams were busy knocking the rust off. The 2nd and 3rd quarters were dominated by the Rockets, and they were definitely showing they are by far the better and more talented of the two teams. However, lo and behold, just like they always do, the NBA directed refs decided to take control of the outcome and momentum of the game. In the final 15 minutes, Kobe Bryant basically went to the foul line every time he got the ball. On the other end of the court, it was a mauling, and the Rockets committed a ton of non-call turnovers. The Lakers turned a 12 point deficit into a last second lead, all within a several minute period. If it wasn't for Shane Battier's last second 3 pointer, the Rockets would have went down.

Now let's analyze this for a second... 1) It's opening night at the Staples Center, and the NBA wants L.A. to be an excited and lucrative market this year. 2) Kobe is disgruntled, L.A. fans are unhappy with Kobe, and Phil is tired. But wait! Winning cures all ills. Let's take an otherwise mediocre team, and slant the calls to give them at least an entertaining chance of winning. 3) Stern has never liked Houston, especially when Van Gundy was still the coach. 4) No matter who is playing on TNT for the night, the game needs to be exciting and competitive in order to get viewers to come back thursday night.

When the final buzzer went off, and there was actually a foul NOT called, it was 1am central time. A 3 hour basketball game. I understand TNT needing to get in it's advertising, especially taking advantage of opening night. However, 3 hours for a regulation game is ridiculous. This is the same thing we saw last year, and it's getting sickening. I don't think I'll be staying up for anymore TNT west coast games this year. I like many central and east coast time zone Americans have to get up early for work the next morning. And even for west coasters, 11pm is late for a game to end. Come on NBA and TNT, cut down on the timeouts, fouls, freethrows, and advertising. I much prefer a local FOX Sports SW broadcast of the Rockets, because at least then I know I'll get my game down to around 2 hours.

However, my biggest gripe still lies with refs who control a game's momentum. The Rockets could have really blown the Lakers off the court if the refs had kept calling the game evenly. However, that would mean T-Mac, Yao, and Kobe would be sat on the bench during the last 30 minutes of the broadcast as the scrubs cleaned up in garbage time. Not the way TNT or the NBA wants to kick off it's season with a match-up of stars. When will Mr. Stern stop acting like he doesn't control the refs from the league office? What was that "allowable gambling" deal all about? Was that your bone to the ref's union to keep them from blowing the horn on your puppet strings? I can't believe the bookies and mafia haven't laid into you yet, unless of course they have their puppet strings into YOU. Clean up your league, Mr. Stern, and let your players play ball.