Did the NBA rig the playoffs?

[betterREDthandead 58]

You all remember Tim Donaghy. Going to jail for betting on the games he reffed.

Take a gander at ze link:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Av3x...p&type=lgns

Donaghy claims the league ordered the refs in an unnamed playoff series in 2002 to fix the series so it would go seven games. He doesn't say which one, but only one series went the full seven, and it's the one that people already had their suspicions about: the Lakers shot 27 free throws in the fourth quarter alone against the Kings and eventually advanced in seven.

Donaghy also describes a 2005 series in which "Team 3" fell behind 2-0 in the series, then benefitted from favorable refereeing to come from behind and win the series. Only two series that year fit the bill, and as Donaghy refers to an owner bitching about the refereeing, the obvious choice is that year's Mavericks-Rockets series, which Dallas won in 6 after falling behind 2-0.

He has a few other, less specific accusations for the league.

I'm torn on whether to believe him. On the one hand, a lot of what he's saying fits right in with the conspiracy theories that float around. That '02 Kings-Lakers series is notorious. So fishy that Ralph Nader wrote a letter of protest to the league on behalf of all the "consumers" who were supposedly robbed of a competitive series.

On the other hand, it seems to fit too well. He could very easily be making stuff up that he knows jibe with the perception, so as to stir up fan and media trouble for the league. Donaghy doesn't name names (even though it's obvious what he means.) He also refers to "NBA Executive Y" and "Referee Supervisor Z" and such. Why not name names if it's the truth?

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

I agree if he wanted to make a big splash, and gain some support he would just spill the beans and call out some names.

I wouldn't doubt one second a lot of this stuff is true. I'm sure it meets someplace in the middle though. Till the day I die I will believe the NBA was rigged when the Pistons lost to the Heat in the Conference Finals. Heck, you could take this another level by questioning the lottery as well when a big time market in Chicago gets a miracle by getting the No. 1 pick. Now I wouldn't take it that far, but just throwing it out there.....

Edited June 11, 2008 by mannysBETTER3434

[BlakChamber 8]

^^^

Well, there's certainly plenty of people who think the draft lottery was rigged the year the Knicks got Ewing.

If what he's saying his true, it wouldn't surprise me at all.

[eva unit zero 271]

There have been many times I have felt that NBA games or series were called in such a way as to achieve a desired outcome.

Moreso than I have ever felt about the NHL, even in this past Finals series.

The NBA seems to walk the line between 'sports' and 'entertainment' and often ventures onto either side; it's part of the reason I can't ever take the NBA seriously. Because the league always seems to find ways for its big names to waltz into the championship series, even if their teams were vastly outplayed and some might say they 'lucked' into a championship berth.

There are also rumors that the KG trade to Boston was forced by Stern, given the fact that Minnesota was refusing to listen to offers and then suddenly shipped him East for what most considered less than his fair value. If that is true, it would stand to reason that the Celtics would be the beneficiaries of some ref love handed down from the league offices. The only motive I could see for such a series of events?

Boston has always been an NBA town because of the Celtics' success. But recently, the Celtics have been poor and the Patriots and Red Sox have won a couple championships...so the town is not so green anymore. But it is this year. If the NBA DID rig those things...it was to get back to the top spot in the hearts of Boston fans.

[kylee 727]

its amazing to me that the three most popular sports in the US all have severe problems in their game with the refs, players, substance abuse, or all three.

im not saying i dont watch basketball, baseball, or football because i do, but id be lying if i said that knowing about these scandals dont bother me - esepcially refs fixing games in basketball.

im so happy that hockey doesn't have this crap, but i forgot, its a ninche sport.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

There have been many times I have felt that NBA games or series were called in such a way as to achieve a desired outcome.

Moreso than I have ever felt about the NHL, even in this past Finals series.

The NBA seems to walk the line between 'sports' and 'entertainment' and often ventures onto either side; it's part of the reason I can't ever take the NBA seriously. Because the league always seems to find ways for its big names to waltz into the championship series, even if their teams were vastly outplayed and some might say they 'lucked' into a championship berth.

There are also rumors that the KG trade to Boston was forced by Stern, given the fact that Minnesota was refusing to listen to offers and then suddenly shipped him East for what most considered less than his fair value. If that is true, it would stand to reason that the Celtics would be the beneficiaries of some ref love handed down from the league offices. The only motive I could see for such a series of events?

Boston has always been an NBA town because of the Celtics' success. But recently, the Celtics have been poor and the Patriots and Red Sox have won a couple championships...so the town is not so green anymore. But it is this year. If the NBA DID rig those things...it was to get back to the top spot in the hearts of Boston fans.

You can also point out the Paul Gasol trade. I think I would have rather had a free meal from Applebees then receive the players the Grizzles got for Gasol. That trade was a total joke!

[timothy1997 0]

its amazing to me that the three most popular sports in the US all have severe problems in their game with the refs, players, substance abuse, or all three.

im not saying i dont watch basketball, baseball, or football because i do, but id be lying if i said that knowing about these scandals dont bother me - esepcially refs fixing games in basketball.

im so happy that hockey doesn't have this crap, but i forgot, its a ninche sport.

when did NASCAR have a problem??? NASCAR is in the top 3.

[katiephd 0]

Heck, you could take this another level by questioning the lottery as well when a big time market in Chicago gets a miracle by getting the No. 1 pick. Now I wouldn't take it that far, but just throwing it out there.....

Okay. I'll acknowledge that my absolute hatred for all things Chicago sports taints this, but... when they announced the Bulls had won the top pick, it was kinda like the straw that broke the camel's back for me. Irrational or not, I can't take it seriously anymore. Sorry, NBA, that was one suspicious moment too many.

[Cruiser008 37]

I wouldn't be surprized at all if this was true. That game 6 was the single most biased game I've ever seen in North American professional sports.