The Miami Heat's Big Three could not get the job done. No we are not talking about the media's pretend Big Three of Dwyane Wade, Lebron James and Chris Bosh.
The Big Three does not include Bosh. Is that what you thought? Please! At times we hardly even remember Bosh is on the court! At best, Bosh is an x-factor.
No, we meant the big three of Dywane Wade, Lebron James and top company man, Joey Crawford. That big three did not pull the Heat to a Game 5 win. Although, Game 7 could be a different story.
With seven minutes left (give or take some seconds) in a close Game 5, the Disney Sports Network affiliate showed the Big Three gathered together. We only wish we had the picture to show you! Go back and watch the game and you'll see it.
It was perfect! No words needed to even be spoken. Wade and James just leered at Crawford as to say, 'we can't take this game over by ourselves. We're going to need ya big guy.'
Perhaps Crawford gave them a silly call or two from there. But he did not make any especially outlandish calls with regularity. One might even say he called it straight up (but Shots Heard would never pretend that Crawford is ever on the up and up).
Shots Heard called that Crawford would be the Game 5 and Game 7 referee. We know David Stern's game. Stern is an a-hole. We have no need to even sugarcoat that fact.
Despite Crawford predictably being chosen to officiate, it was clear taht Crawford would be saving his best game rigging stuff for Game 7. Frankly, a Heat win in Game 5 would likely only build momentum for a Game 6 series clinching win at home in Miami.
Neither Stern nor Crawford want a six game series.
Stern's pockets get lined by Game 7 earnings and that reality is reflected by Stern handsomely paying Crawford by the playoff game.
Crawford did his best to keep the game close by rewarding Wade with 12 free throws in 34 minutes. But he was not going to go so far as to absolutely throw this game for the Heat (2006 WWE Basketball Finals style) by putting Wade on the line every time a Mav breathed on him.
If there is a Game 7, Crawford knows who Stern wants win: THE HEAT. That is when the figurative heat will really be on him to make bogus calls or conveniently miss calls just like he did in last year's Game 7 WWE Finals in which he did Stern's bidding of ensuring a Lakers championship victory against the Celtics.
To win, James or Wade had to have a great game or Crawford needed to interficiate and throw the balance of the game. None of those things happened. But might it be a different story in Game 7. One thing is for sure, Stern's best company man, Joey Crawford will be officiating a Game 7 if there is a Game 7. It's sad that we know that (without actually knowing it). Sad.
