Spurs continue to dazzle NBA in 2007

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- The San Antonio Spurs continued their spirited rise to dynasty status in 2007 but once again scandal reared its head as a prominent NBA referee was linked to gambling and organized crime.

Led by Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, the Spurs captured their fourth National Basketball Association title in nine years.

The Spurs made it look easy in the finals, rolling over the Cleveland Cavaliers in four straight games.

The Cavaliers were making their first ever appearance in the finals thanks to a four-year veteran LeBron James.

James magical season included leading Cleveland to a win in the semifinals over the heavily-favored Detroit Pistons.

In game five against the Pistons, James finished with 48 points in a double overtime victory. James carried the Cavs on his shoulders late in the game, scoring his team's final 25 points.

Commissioner David Stern faced the biggest challenge of his career when one of his senior referees was linked to gambling and organized crime.

In June, the FBI announced it was investigating referee Tim Donaghy for betting on NBA games.

The 13-year veteran official eventually pleaded guilty to selling inside information to professional gamblers.

And reports later that summer suggest Donaghy's case might not have been an isolated one. He apparently gave the league information on 20 referees who may have violated their NBA contracts by allegedly taking part in other forms of gambling.

""This is the most serious situation and worst situation that I have ever experienced either as a fan of the NBA, lawyer for the NBA or a commissioner of the NBA,"" Stern said.

Some are also wondering whether Donaghy, who officiated the third game of a second round San Antonio-Phoenix Suns series, affected the outcome of the NBA playoffs.

Suns star Amare Stoudemire played just 21 minutes in game three after being given an unusually high number of fouls as Phoenix lost 108-101. Donaghy also called a highly-questionable foul on Phoenix late in the contest as San Antonio went on to win the series in six games.

In July, Kevin Garnett finally escaped from perennial underdog Minnesota for Boston where he is resurrecting one of the NBA's most storied franchises. The Celtics also acquired Ray Allen in the off-season and along with Garnett and Paul Pierce they form one of the most feared trios in the league.

Allen Iverson, who was the face of Philadelphia 76ers for years, started the year in a new uniform. Iverson was traded to Denver where he joined forces with Carmelo Anthony and led the Nuggets into the postseason.

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