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NBA referee Danny Crawford has been officiating games since 1984. The 57-year old has regulated over 1,600 NBA games, appearing in nearly 200 playoff games and 18 NBA Finals series.
Going into a game with a bias toward one competing team is extremely frowned upon when it comes to officiating. Going in objectively is not only the right thing to do, but it’s the reason why officials are paid in the first place.
When looking at each NBA team’s record while Crawford has been officiating, the numbers look about even — which they logistically should be — but there’s one statistic that stands out among all others.
The Dallas Mavericks are an atrocious 2-16 in the playoffs when Crawford is behind the whistle.
Can you call it a coincidence?
Probably not.
This statistic has to say something. In the past 17 playoff games Crawford has officiated, Dallas has lost 16, and since the 2006 NBA Finals, the Mavericks have lost their past six postseason series. There is no way, no matter how poor Dallas has played within the past couple of decades, that winning only two out of 18 playoff games in a referee’s career has nothing to do with the way the officiating was carried out.
Crawford played quite a role in that 2006 Finals, officiating game three and game six, where Finals MVP Dwayne Wade shot a combined 39 free throws.
Crawford’s reputation took another hit when estranged referee and convicted felon Tim Donaghy made statements that Crawford would brag about his distaste for the Mavericks and more specifically, Mavs owner Mark Cuban.
“It’s no secret that when Ed Rush was supervisor of officials, he had a hatred for Mark Cuban,” Donaghy said. “Danny Crawford was one of Rush’s right-hand guys … Some guys enjoy sticking it to Mark.”
If Crawford truly does hold a grudge toward Dallas, there’s no real explanation as to why he should. He was born in Chicago in 1953, geographically opposite of Dallas, and if we assumed he grew up as a Chicago Bulls fan, the two teams are in two separate conferences.
Chicago also has won six championships compared to Dallas’ zero — considering the Mavericks’ organization was founded in 1980, 14 years after the Bulls entered the league. There is absolutely no excuse for Crawford to feel envy or rancor toward an organization that has yet to show any brilliance, especially in contrast to Chicago’s success.
On Tuesday, Dallas fans were furious to find out Game 2 of their 2011 opening first-round series against the Portland Trail Blaziers would feature Crawford as the head referee. Fortunately for them, the game resulted in a win, ending a streak that Cuban will be happy to forget about.
The 52-year-old billionaire has been fined millions within the past decade for complaining about the league’s officiating — but it seems it was for good reason.
Bangor Daily News