FanHouse Ron Garretson

Let's face it, one of the reasons the NBA is trying to push out some of its older officials is because of the perception that some of those older officials tend to view themselves as bigger than the game or that they interject themselves too much into the action.

While there is no doubt most of the league's best officials don't lack for self-confidence, it's also true that this notion is overblown. Further, it's worth mentioning that the NBA always has had strong-minded and strong-willed officials ... and the league was better for it.

Great officials are just like great players in terms of confidence, competitiveness and wanting to be the best. To officiate at the highest level and for the world's greatest athletes, you have to have a presence and a tangible aura of authority.

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C'mon, man. Quit complaining about the refs.

Here we are, smack dab in the middle of the playoffs and instead of talking about Carmelo Anthony breaking through to the second round or the demise of the San Antonio Spurs, we're talking about officiating.

Hard foul here, flagrant foul there. That one is and that one isn't.

Should Rajon Rondo's last-second clubbing of Brad Miller have been a flagrant? Why was Dwyane Wade's virtually clean block on Maurice Evans' dunk attempt called a flagrant 1? Should Dwight Howard really have been suspended a game for his elbow on Samuel Dalembert?