While contemplating what ever happened to a basketball violation we used to call double-dribble, let's consider how rough it is getting for the men with striped shirts and whistles.

This all started in Boston on Wednesday, continued at Miami on Friday and ended Saturday night in Salt Lake City with officials being showered with water bottles and other choice garbage.

Paul Pierce took one in the mouth, but no foul was called.(AP)

No whistles blew until Celtics coach Jim O'Brien went ballistic and was ejected before he could accost an official.

Celtics forward Antoine Walker also was slapped with a technical. But nobody was violated more than Pierce, who did not return to the game and now sports two false teeth. Throughout the game, former Celtics player, coach and now television analyst Tom Heinsohn was heard screaming, "This is ridiculous."

And at the end of the game, in rare form, Heinsohn pulled off his headset as the trio of Ken Maurer, Sean Corbin and Scott Wall came by and screamed at Maurer he had better go home and get some love from his wife because there was none for him in the FleetCenter, to which Maurer uttered, "Merry Christmas."

But that was nothing compared to Pat Riley's eruption following the Heat's five-point loss to the New York Knicks on Friday in Miami.

A horrible call was made in the closing seconds of the game. Replays showed a ball went off Knicks forward Kurt Thomas, but it was given back to New York and Charlie Ward put the game away for the Knicks with a 3-pointer.

That, Riley said, was just symptomatic of what had been going on all game and, evidently, for a couple of years. Friday, the Heat attempted 21 fewer free throws than the Knicks and through Sunday's games have shot 418 foul shots compared to 635 for their opposition ... the biggest differential in the NBA.

Riley is taking it all personally, claiming last year veteran referee Steve Javie told him the officials are thoroughly enjoying the troubles the Heat are having.

Consequently, Riley says he is headed to the NBA offices in New York for a presentation to the director of officials Ed Rush, vice president of operations Stu Jackson, and we're sure he'd like the audience to include David Stern and Russ Granik, too, if possible.

In the postgame press conference after the loss to the Knicks, Riley said: "I think a lot of it is simply their dislike for me over the years, whatever. They're just happy as hell that we're getting our ass kicked. I'm tired of it, I'm absolutely tired of it."

And then he quoted Javie as saying last season, "It's giving us absolute delight to watch you and your team die."

If that is true, Javie should be suspended.

And finally, we had Saturday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The Jazz and Kings were tied with 2 seconds left and Jazz guard John Stockton missed a free throw.

Kings forward Chris Webber grabbed the rebound and although nothing but incidental contact -- at most by looking at the replays -- occurred with Jazz forward John Amaechi, a foul was whistled on Amaechi. Webber made the two free throws and the Kings won the game 98-96. On their way off the floor, the officiating crew of Bennett Salvatore, Tony Brothers and Marc Davis were ducking flying debris. Although not injured, Brothers was hit in the head with a bottle of water.

Anyone following the NBA in recent years has noticed the deterioration in officiating and there are a number of reasons.

Many veteran officials who simply had better judgment have retired; attitude problems between coaches, players and officials continue to fester; and, quite frankly, it is becoming more difficult to handle games where the players keep getting bigger, stronger and faster.

The NBA, in an unprecedented move, invited the media, players and coaches to a day during training camp to discuss the manner in which calls were made and to go over specific rules.

Officials are becoming more accessible, too, after years in an ivory tower. But it has been slow in coming and many problems between teams in general, and players and coaches in particular, are well known and almost legendary in particular arenas.

The problem is simply this: Officiating an NBA game is an extraordinarily difficult task and it's becoming more difficult to find qualified referees and even more difficult to keep them.

Maybe the league should start to give players financial incentives in their first NBA contract to officiate after their playing days are over. It would help a lot of athletes who have problems making the transition away from basketball.

Then again, you think they would want that job?

Deep-76ing it

If you blinked, you missed the Philadelphia 76ers taking control of the Atlantic Division just two weeks ago. Since then, they have lost five in a row and fallen into third place. Making matters worse, two of those losses have come at home, where they had won their first 10 games.

Until breaking out Sunday with 32 points on 12 of 26 shooting, Sixers guard Allen Iverson had been struggling with his shot. He went through a four-game span during which his scoring average dipped from 29.5 to 28.0, thanks to 30 of 96 shooting ... a paltry .306 from the field.

Never one to back down, Iverson blamed himself for the team's tailspin following a 99-91 home loss to the Phoenix Suns.

"I think I'm 99 percent of the problem right now," Iverson said. "I'm not playing well. I'm not playing like I'm capable of playing. My decision-making is not there. I think I'm forcing the issue a lot. I'm just making a lot of mistakes that a guy who's been playing for seven years shouldn't be making. It's inexcusable.

"I am the leader of this team, and as I go we go. Sometimes you just have to accept the responsibility and point the finger at yourself. Right now, I'm just thinking of the gym. I don't think I should even be getting paid for the way I've been playing the last couple games, but it won't last. I promise you that."

Think he'll give the money back?

Shots from the perimeter

• A lot of debate is going on in Washington these days as Michael Jordan is back playing as many minutes as he wants, evidently, and the team has lost the confidence it had early in the year. Some of it comes from the rest of the league getting a handle on how to play youngsters Kwame Brown, Brendan Haywood and Jared Jeffries, so they have been relegated to the bench lately. But Sunday, after losing seven of 10 and two straight, they had the good fortune of playing a team that looked like the Toronto Raptors ( Vince Carter, Antonio Davis and Alvin Williams are out with injuries) and came away with a 95-82 victory. Jerry Stackhouse emerged from his stated problem with the team's motion offense and had 28 points, but what was more interesting was Jordan's line: 1 for 9 shooting, two points, nine assists and eight rebounds. The streak of five consecutive double-doubles for Wizards guard Larry Hughes ended Sunday, however. He had averaged 18 points and 10.8 rebounds in the previous four games, but still contributed 14 points and five rebounds.
• You might have missed the four-game winning streak of the Memphis Grizzlies, but yes, it really did happen. Then just as abruptly, it ended as the Grizz lost in Dallas on Saturday night. Still, it's the second-longest winning streak in franchise history and increased their record to 6-10 with coach Hubie Brown -- before the 17-point loss at Dallas. Even though Dirk Nowitzki was in street clothes with an ankle sprain, the Mavs aren't going to lose when Shawn Bradley has 12 points, 18 rebounds and eight blocks. They are 24-0 over the past three seasons when the 7-6 enigma has a double-double.
• The Suns have very quietly improved dramatically, with healthy and focused point guard Stephon Marbury returning to All-Star form and Stoudemire, the 20-year-old rookie sensation, becoming more confident by the game. The Suns won their third in a row on the road Saturday night, beating Atlanta by 14 with Marbury scoring 21 and doling out 10 assists. Stoudemire added 17 points and 14 rebounds as the Suns slipped passed the Sonics into second place in the Pacific Division and fourth in the Western Conference. Even though veteran starting forward Tom Gugliotta is on the injured list (when isn't he?) with a foot problem, it appears Stoudemire is officially a starter. Gee, and to think a year ago his senior season of high school ball had just begun.
• The Detroit Pistons took a circuitous route to ending a four-game losing streak. Playing four games in five nights, the Pistons defied logic by winning all four by double-figures, averaging 92.1 points and allowing just 81.3. The run was highlighted by a come-from-behind victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday afternoon. In case you haven't seen the Pistons play, they are in your face constantly on defense, with the key to their offense from the bench ... a group better known as the Alternatorz. During the winning streak, the group led by Corliss Williamson, Jon Barry and Chuckie Atkins has averaged 38 points a game compared to 23.5 for their opponents.
• Seattle SuperSonics majority owner Howard Schultz might be a rookie when it comes to handling players like Gary Payton, but as chairman of the Starbucks empire, his marketing genius never rests. With expansion by the hundreds planned for Starbucks in the Far East, Schultz has had meeting with both Chinese center Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners to be spokesmen for his product.
• While rookie Dajuan Wagner is garnering a lot of attention for the Cleveland Cavaliers, consider Ricky Davis. Over the past four games -- two of which they've won and a third was an overtime loss -- the 6-5 guard has averaged 34 points (including games of 45 and 42), 6.3 assists and six rebounds.
• The best matchup billing of the weekend was Yow vs. Pow, uh, Yao vs. Pau, as in a pair of 7-footers: Yao and Spanish forward Pau Gasol. Gasol and the Grizzlies got the best of Yao's Rockets, with Gasol's 29 points and 12 rebounds leading a 114-109 victory. But Yao still contributed 18 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.
• The Hornets continued to prove they are clearly one of the top teams in the East, beginning a seven-game road trip with victories at Utah, then stomping the Lakers by 16 in the Staples Center. But their four-game road winning streak ended Sunday night in Sacramento against the buzzsaw Kings by 15 points. This comes after the Hornets finally took it on the chin at home Monday by the Clippers after winning their first 11 games in their new digs in the Big Easy. But they continue to impress with Elden Campbell healthy again, Jamaal Magloire developing in his absence and Jamal Mashburn regaining his health and sharpness. The key will be how point guard Baron Davis handles the herniated disc in his back. Remember, Seattle's Payton only missed five games in 10 years after he was diagnosed with a similar injury, but others have had their career's change dramatically.
• Meanwhile, the Kings extended their record to 20-6 and a perfect 12-0 at home. The 107-92 victory marked the 22nd time the Kings have held an opponent under 100 points. They accomplished that feat 45 times last season. Chris Webber filled out the box score in his typical fashion with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Perhaps more important, it was the third game in a row for Peja Stojakovic, who had missed nine games with plantar fasciitis in his right heel. After struggling in his first game back at Houston with five points on 1 of 7 shooting, Stojakovic scored 18 points Saturday in a two-point victory at Utah and 17 in Sunday's victory.
• The three-time defending champion Lakers, incensed with each other following the loss to the Hornets and claiming they had hit rock bottom by dropping to 9-15 Friday night, took it out on the Orlando Magic on Sunday night. The 107-84 victory held the high-scoring Magic to 15 points below their average and just .349 from the field, including a shutout of the fine-shooting Mike Miller, who was 0-for-8. Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant concluded their two-game matchup for the season with a complete standoff. They each scored 21 points Sunday night, just as both players had 38 points Nov. 27 in Orlando when the Magic won 112-102. This time around Shaq led both teams with 30 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks, raising their record to 7-6 since Shaq's return from Sept. 11 foot surgery. One interesting note is the Lakers suffered their 15th defeat last season Feb. 17 and lost only 15 games the entire 1999-2000 season, Phil Jackson's first as their coach.