I'm currently watching the (final) game of the NBA Finals. Pistons up by 24.

And it occurs to me that there is one more thing about basketball that is driving my a little crazy right now.

OK, it's the middle of the third quarter. The referee calls a foul. The commentators are in the midst of talking about something else (how the Lakers are going to have to rebuild during the off season). The camera pans away to show some happy fan, or the owner, or a pretty girl, or something. When the camera returns to the court, Shaq is in the midst of missing yet another free throw. The commentators are still talking about things other than the game in progress. And play continues.

What the heck? The commentators didn't even mention the foul. The TV didn't show a replay so that I could understand what about that play meritted a foul call. The TV didn't display relevant stats such as the number of personal fouls that player has left. It's as if the play didn't happen.

What's a person like me - someone still trying to understand the nuances of the game - to think? Every other sport that I watch (football and hockey in particular) show replays, and allow commentators to give their opinion on the penalty called. Basketball seems to be a sport of distractions. Show and talk about anything but the game in progress...