Survey: The NBA's best and worst referees

Every play can result in a foul call, a technical or even an ejection. The momentum of a game and sometimes the outcome can depend on the skill of the referees

Every play can result in a foul call, a technical or even an ejection. The momentum of a game and sometimes the outcome can depend on the skill of the referees blowing, or not blowing, the whistles.

This season there are 64 NBA referees, ranging from rookies Gediminas Petraitis, Tyler Ford and Mitchell Ervin, to veterans Joey Crawford (in his 39th season) and Danny Crawford (31st season), who were making calls when Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan were in their prime.

Given the importance of referees, The Times conducted an anonymous survey with nearly three dozen NBA players, head coaches and assistants to see who they consider the three best referees in the league.

"Are there any out there?" one longtime assistant coach asked incredulously.

The players and coaches were also asked to list the three worst referees in the association.

Click here for full article from the Los Angeles Times.