The NBA has released the names of the officials for Game 2 of the NBA Finals Thursday night, and it's an interesting bunch. Joey Crawford, Ed Malloy and Ken Mauer are scheduled to officiate, with Bill Spooner once again serving as the alternate official.
Crawford is notorious for taking over games with whistles, so this will be a storyline for tonight's game. Malloy has a quick double-technical whistle. With Tyson Chandler sitting on four playoff techs and needing just three more to receive a one-game suspension ... and also needing a much more aggressive game than his Game 1 performance, Mavericks fans will be concerned that Malloy could blow a quick double-tech.
Mauer is regarded as pro-Rick Carlisle by Tim Donaghy, who said on the radio recently that the pair "go way back" and have corresponded. Mauer called Game 1 of the Mavericks' first round series with Portland. Dallas shot 29 free throws to Portland's 13 in that game, and Blazers coach Nate McMillan was fined after the game for complaining about the officiating.
Dallas has thus far avoided their nemeses, Danny Crawford and Bennett Salvatore.