Originally Posted by
Dark Horse
Refs can decide any game. Happens all the time. Does it matter from a betting perspective? No. Why not? Because in the long run it all evens out. Does it matter to fans? Hell yes.
Basketball has more calls than any other sport I'm aware of, and the make up call (right after a questionable call) is almost an integral part of the sport.
Injuries are usually known before the game. Depending on who is injured, their impact tends to even out less on a team by team basis over the course of a season. Therefore, injuries have a greater influence over a team's season.
From a betting perspective, injuries are part of the tangibles that can be capped rather easily from game to game. Unlike refs.
So, summarizing, in the longterm refs even out, where injuries cause imbalances between teams. And in the short term injuries can be capped, while refs are much harder to factor in.