MSNBC: NBA fixing games? It's not that outlandish (article)

[grittyman20]

Link

[h1]NBA fixing games? It's not that outlandish[/h1] [h2]In post-Donaghy era, evidence just seems to pile up (see Brent Barry)[/h2]Well, it's good to see that the Tim Donaghy case hasn't forced NBA officials to make sure their officiating in the biggest games appears agenda-free.
With a majority of America drooling over the prospect of a Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals, the officiating crew of Joey Crawford, Joe Forte and Marc Wunderlich butchered the final half-minute of the fourth game in the Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Spurs on Tuesday night.
Coincidentally, all calls favored L.A.Hmmmmm. Or at least the appearance of Hmmmmmmmmmm.

First came the no-call on Kobe Bryant's three-step odyssey to the hoop that ended with a bad miss with 33 seconds left and the Lakers up 93-89. Then came Lamar Odom obliterating Tony Parker on a breakaway with 28 seconds left. Odom got called for the goaltend but not for driving Parker through the photographers and into the first row with contact after the layup (that's part of the play, folks, being able to maintain body control after the shot attempt). Then came Kobe with the amazing, changing pivot foot as he was harassed by Manu Ginobili near midcourt. Then came Brent Barry up-faking Derek Fisher, getting LANDED ON and not getting a call.

That's four calls in a half-minute in Game 4 of a conference finals all favoring a team that was on the road.

Pre-Donaghy, I'd have laughed at anyone who said games are fixed and the league orchestrates who advances in the playoffs. NBA officials don't have agendas, they just aren't any good, I'd have countered. But the Donaghy case pretty much blew reasonable doubt out of the water, didn't it.

In these playoffs, I've watched the Celtics pummel Josh Childress within an inch of his life as they advanced past Childress' Hawks. Then I watched LeBron James get away with ridiculously implausible transgressions when the Celtics played the Cavs - a charge call that went his way when he jumped in front of Paul Pierce at crunch time in Game 6 of the Eastern Semis; a jersey pull on Pierce in Game 7 that was in clear view of the planet in Game 7. And those are just a few of the ones that spring to mind immediately.

There are going to be misconceptions about what happened in San Antonio. Laker loyalists will counter that the Spurs had a healthy advantage in free throw attempts (19 for the Lakers, 26 for the Spurs at the end, but it was a greater differential earlier in the game). The fact is, when the game was on the line, the Joeys and Mr. Wunderlich swallowed their whistles when the Lakers were on defense. Another misconception: Barry wasn't fouled attempting a 3-pointer. He up-faked. He got landed on. He dribbled once. Then he shot and missed. He was fouled on the floor and deserved the two free throws that could have tied it.

My favorite part? Time and again, the camera will focus on the white chocolate Easter egg with eyes that is the head of Joey Crawford. "One of the best," the announcers will unfailingly blurt. When your "best" is a guy who was suspended indefinitely by the commissioner last year for being an overofficious jerk (and challenging Tim Duncan to a fight, which was the cherry on top), you might have an issue.


I hate conspiracy theories

 

[niketalker23]

It's all true.

Just look back at the Kings/Lakers WCF a few years ago when both Vlade and Pollard fouled out.

 

[msw1233]

it's hillarious that they neglected to mention the previous possession for the lakers. Fisher's shot went out of bounds off Horry's leg. The ballCLEARLY hit the rim on the replay, but wasn't ruled as such. So the Lakers had to force up a shot with 2 seconds on the shot clock. If the call wasCORRECT, the lakers would have been going to the line for 2 more free-throws before the spurs even got the ball back. Also Duncan's horrible walk in thefirst half, and the fact that the lakers didn't get many calls most of the night. (Kobe tried many times to get to the line, but never got one call.) On anormal day, he would have gotten a couple of those whistles. In the end, it played out like it should. Honestly - even earlier on ESPN radio they were talkingabout how the zebras HEAVILY favored the spurs for most of the game. I gotta say, this article is complete gibberish.

 

[nnarum]

Word to the 2004 Western Conference Finals

 

[chikickz]

Well, coaches care about the referees. That's why they cut video tapes of certain referees and send the tapes/dvd/clips to the NBA in NYC PRIOR to gettinga certain crew assigned to their games.

Donaghy's lawyer says he provided the NBA and the legal stooges they paid to investigate him a slew of evidence implicating other NBA referees and mostspecifically current and former NBA head and assistant coaches. The NBA legal counsel has framed this as a desperate attempt by Donaghy to decrease hissentence.

 

[grittyman20]

Author contradicts himself and ruins his own argument...

With a majority of America drooling over the prospect of a Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals....
Then he goes on to talk about how perhaps the game being rigged in favor of both those teams, then you get this..

Then I watched LeBron James get away with ridiculously implausible transgressions when the Celtics played the Cavs - a charge call that went his way when he jumped in front of Paul Pierce at crunch time in Game 6 of the Eastern Semis; a jersey pull on Pierce in Game 7 that was in clear view of the planet in Game 7.
Which would have you believe that the officiating is trying to influence a Cleveland win AGAINST the same Celtics that he just said wherebenefiting from a hidden referee agenda.

I know NobleKane and others have "theories" about how the NBA is rigged, so bring em out and let's get to the bottom of this once and for all

 

[b1lly hoyle]

Then I watched LeBron James get away with ridiculously implausible transgressions when the Celtics played the Cavs - a charge call that went his way when he jumped in front of Paul Pierce at crunch time in Game 6 of the Eastern Semis; a jersey pull on Pierce in Game 7 that was in clear view of the planet in Game 7. And those are just a few of the ones that spring to mind immediately.
NICE.

Idiot.

 

[noblekane]

anybody with half a brain could see that stern wanted the celtics to win the title this year since the begining of the year. putting the lakers in the equationmade it that much sweeter for stern and the nba...

there is no doubt in my mind that the boston celtics will be world champs this year.

it makes too much sense not to happen

nobody thought that it was fishy when boston, after being HORRENDOUS last year, became the number one team defensively in the nba this year? i mean comeon....open your eyes...

that non call on barry just made things sweeter for stern because now people are gonna say "well its rigged because stern wants the lakers to win it allthis year" when in fact he wanted the celtics to win it all along. Stern is a G. he got all of you...

 

[nnarum]

Originally Posted by NobleKane

anybody with half a brain could see that stern wanted the celtics to win the title this year since the begining of the year. putting the lakers in the equation made it that much sweeter for stern and the nba...

there is no doubt in my mind that the boston celtics will be world champs this year.

it makes too much sense not to happen

nobody thought that it was fishy when boston, after being HORRENDOUS last year, became the number one team defensively in the nba this year? i mean come on....open your eyes...

that non call on barry just made things sweeter for stern because now people are gonna say "well its rigged because stern wants the lakers to win it all this year" when in fact he wanted the celtics to win it all along. Stern is a G. he got all of you...

I'm still salty about 2004. T-Wolves were way better than the Lakers... Refs blew that series... I hope KG gets his ring this year, even if it'srigged

 

[darthska]

As soon as I read the title, I was ready to come in and say 'Kane, you're not allowed to post in this thread.'

Dammit, you beat me to the punch.

 

[swizzc]

See: 2002 Western Conference Finals. Game 6. The NBA is fixed.

 

[iminchucks5]

hmm...

-fishers shot hit rim, they should reset the clock instead of 2 second on the shot clock forcing kobe to take a quick shot
-tim duncan clearly traveled on the dunk
-brent barry traveled on the last shot...he traveled before there was even any contact..

u be the judge

fixed?

 

[slow motion g35]

Theres no conspiracy....honestly ask yourself....are the 4 remaining teams the best in the L ???



HONESTLY.....are they not?




the only conspiracy that is remotely plausible is

 

[RyGuy45]

It's always concerned me when I read interviews with presidents of NBC, ABC, ESPN, etc where whenever discussing ratings they openly admit they are hopingfor huge markets to make it to the Finals. TV contracts are the biggest chunk of change in sports these days, and what TV wants the leagues always have tolisten. It benefits everyone involved when LA, Chicago, etc are there at the very end and while I would never say the league(s) straight "fix" gamesIve always realized that at the end of the day certain markets are preferred, and certain things could be done to at least "help" make that happen orincrease the odds.

 

[rolla808]

Yup just love how conspiracy theorist only point to the evidence that backs up their theory. This is just as stupid as Jemele Hill's article calling for"real" basketball fans to cheer for the Spurs and Pistons.

 

[acidicality]

I try to refuse to believe it, but of course it's a possibility. At the end of the day, these professional sports leagues are out there to maximize theirprofit and that by itself is probably a much higher priority than the game itself (even if they deny it)

Sometimes games definitely seem fixed at times (before anyone tries, I'm not referring to any certain game, this is generally speaking) in the NBA. The waythe game is officiated is so inconsistent and it's just not really a "fair" game to me. A good example is Dallas in the 06 Finals. I agree therewere plenty of other reasons as to why they lost, but it's undeniable that they were definitely playing 5 on 8 for a good portion of that series.

And with the Donaghy scandal, it's been kind of swept under the rug a little, but it's not impossible that there are many more refs involved in stufflike this, but just haven't been caught. The NBA is a very good product and I enjoy watching, but I definitely question the integrity of the gamessometimes.

 

[nnarum]

Originally Posted by RyGuy45

It's always concerned me when I read interviews with presidents of NBC, ABC, ESPN, etc where whenever discussing ratings they openly admit they are hoping for huge markets to make it to the Finals. TV contracts are the biggest chunk of change in sports these days, and what TV wants the leagues always have to listen. It benefits everyone involved when LA, Chicago, etc are there at the very end and while I would never say the league(s) straight "fix" games Ive always realized that at the end of the day certain markets are preferred, and certain things could be done to at least "help" make that happen or increase the odds.

Word to the 85' draft... New Yorkers, you know what I'm talking about

 

[grittyman20]

Originally Posted by NobleKane

anybody with half a brain could see that stern wanted the celtics to win the title this year since the begining of the year. putting the lakers in the equation made it that much sweeter for stern and the nba...

there is no doubt in my mind that the boston celtics will be world champs this year.

it makes too much sense not to happen

nobody thought that it was fishy when boston, after being HORRENDOUS last year, became the number one team defensively in the nba this year? i mean come on....open your eyes...

that non call on barry just made things sweeter for stern because now people are gonna say "well its rigged because stern wants the lakers to win it all this year" when in fact he wanted the celtics to win it all along. Stern is a G. he got all of you...

Anyone with half a brain and a keyboard can post on a message board....doesn't mean that person will make sense

 

[sohi 23]

As a Lakers fan, I will admit Game 6 vs. the Kings was 100% rigged a couple of years back, it was disgusting

OF course D-Wade vs. the Mavs...

BUT in today's NBA, especially after the Tim D. scandel, I don't think there is anyway Stern is even thinking of fixing games.
If ANYONE slips up the NBA will be done, too many conspiracy theories at it is.
I feel that officiating has been bias to the home teams in the playoffs, it's been pretty consistent to me.

 

[xcautionx]

Originally Posted by grittyman20

Link

[h1]NBA fixing games? It's not that outlandish[/h1] [h2]In post-Donaghy era, evidence just seems to pile up (see Brent Barry)[/h2]Well, it's good to see that the Tim Donaghy case hasn't forced NBA officials to make sure their officiating in the biggest games appears agenda-free.
With a majority of America drooling over the prospect of a Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals, the officiating crew of Joey Crawford, Joe Forte and Marc Wunderlich butchered the final half-minute of the fourth game in the Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Spurs on Tuesday night.
Coincidentally, all calls favored L.A.Hmmmmm. Or at least the appearance of Hmmmmmmmmmm.

First came the no-call on Kobe Bryant's three-step odyssey to the hoop that ended with a bad miss with 33 seconds left and the Lakers up 93-89. Then came Lamar Odom obliterating Tony Parker on a breakaway with 28 seconds left. Odom got called for the goaltend but not for driving Parker through the photographers and into the first row with contact after the layup (that's part of the play, folks, being able to maintain body control after the shot attempt). Then came Kobe with the amazing, changing pivot foot as he was harassed by Manu Ginobili near midcourt. Then came Brent Barry up-faking Derek Fisher, getting LANDED ON and not getting a call.

That's four calls in a half-minute in Game 4 of a conference finals all favoring a team that was on the road.

Pre-Donaghy, I'd have laughed at anyone who said games are fixed and the league orchestrates who advances in the playoffs. NBA officials don't have agendas, they just aren't any good, I'd have countered. But the Donaghy case pretty much blew reasonable doubt out of the water, didn't it.

In these playoffs, I've watched the Celtics pummel Josh Childress within an inch of his life as they advanced past Childress' Hawks. Then I watched LeBron James get away with ridiculously implausible transgressions when the Celtics played the Cavs - a charge call that went his way when he jumped in front of Paul Pierce at crunch time in Game 6 of the Eastern Semis; a jersey pull on Pierce in Game 7 that was in clear view of the planet in Game 7. And those are just a few of the ones that spring to mind immediately.

There are going to be misconceptions about what happened in San Antonio. Laker loyalists will counter that the Spurs had a healthy advantage in free throw attempts (19 for the Lakers, 26 for the Spurs at the end, but it was a greater differential earlier in the game). The fact is, when the game was on the line, the Joeys and Mr. Wunderlich swallowed their whistles when the Lakers were on defense. Another misconception: Barry wasn't fouled attempting a 3-pointer. He up-faked. He got landed on. He dribbled once. Then he shot and missed. He was fouled on the floor and deserved the two free throws that could have tied it.

My favorite part? Time and again, the camera will focus on the white chocolate Easter egg with eyes that is the head of Joey Crawford. "One of the best," the announcers will unfailingly blurt. When your "best" is a guy who was suspended indefinitely by the commissioner last year for being an overofficious jerk (and challenging Tim Duncan to a fight, which was the cherry on top), you might have an issue.

I hate conspiracy theories

why hate conspiracies? every time someone brings up something about a conspiracy everyone wants to write it off as untrue with the quickness. The factis they do exist in this not so perfect world we live in. Live with the wool over your eyes if you want, but some people open up their minds and do not followblindly. I would not be surprised at all if David Stern was making sure we see a Laker vs Boston Championship.

 

[Truth]

Originally Posted by nnarum

Word to the 2004 Western Conference Finals

 

[e3lal]

at the author for bringing up the last play. It was a good nocall. There are plenty of other calls that have been questionable and could have risen this argument.

 

[big j 33]

My problem with this, and conspiracy theories in general, is they come to their conclusion prior to any research or consistent evidence. They proclaim theirconclusion, come up with only the evidence that supports their claim, and completely disregard any and all evidence that goes against what they believe.

They have their biased conclusion already in mind, and will point to only a few examples that prove their point. It's the reverse scientific method.

 

[grittyman20]

why hate conspiracies? every time someone brings up something about a conspiracy everyone wants to write it off as untrue with the quickness. The fact is they do exist in this not so perfect world we live in. Live with the wool over your eyes if you want, but some people open up their minds and do not follow blindly. I would not be surprised at all if David Stern was making sure we see a Laker vs Boston Championship
Maybe I should have said I hate accusations without proof....something more than "Oh Stern would love to see a Lakers v Celtics" final.
I'm sure he's smart enough to realize that, and even smarter to know that now is not the time to pull any wool over the publics eyes.

Just because a bad call or two is made doesn't mean a game is rigged. I've noticed 2 consistencies this playoffs: Home team will get the majority ofthe calls and the refs are consistently inconsistently (if that makes sense)

 

[dmbrhs]

Any conspiracy theory can be countered with the fact Kobe Bryant has attempted six free throws in four games. Also, the Spurs were getting every call in Game 4and still couldn't pull it out.