Celtics-Heat Game 5 Ref Assignments: Monty McCutchen, Ron Garretson, Derrick Stafford
BOSTON (CBS) -- LeBron James fouled out of Game 4 in Boston, and he made it very, very clear that he didn't like that. On Tuesday night in Miami, he'll be hoping for some more favorable treatment on his home court from the officiating crew.
That crew will be led by Monty McCutchen and will include Ron Garretson and Derrick Stafford.
That crew brings a bit of bad news for Boston. McCutchen has been the head referee 11 times this postseason, and the home team has won nine of them for an .818 winning percentage, according to NBAstuffer.com. Foul calls have been pretty even under McCutchen, with 51.9 percent going against the road team and 48 percent going against the home team. And in a breath of fresh air to basketball fans everywhere, McCutchen's crews have handed out just 0.5 technicals per game to the road team and 0.8 techs per game to the home team.
The home winning trend is consistent with Garretson, too, as home teams have an .875 winning percentage in the eight playoff games he's worked, with the road team getting whistled for 54.6 percent of fouls. Stafford's worked just one game as a member of the crew (the home team won), and home teams won seven of the eight games for which he's been the main referee this postseason.
Stafford has a bit of a bad history with the Heat, as he was suspended for two games by the NBA for his conduct in a 2003 game when he told Pat Riley, "It's not about you. Go on TV crying."
Garretson was in the crew for Game 6 of the Celtics-Sixers series in Philadelphia, when the Celtics were whistled for 25 penalties while the Sixers were called for 16.
McCutchen was in the crew for Game 7 between the Celtics and Sixers this year, when Paul Pierce fouled out but the Sixers were called for just one more foul than Boston.
