NBA, Donaghy, Conspiracies, Etc.

[Deleted]

sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3436401

Needless to say, this issue isn't going away any time soon. With Donaghy's newest allegations, things are about to get VERY interesting.

Whether he's a "desperate felon" (or whatever terms Stern used) or being completely truthful, this latest news CRUSHES any good vibes the NBA has created over the course of the season by giving more credence than ever to the conspiracy theorists who've come down on the NBA for years, telling anyone who'd listen that the NBA was more interested in certain marketing-favorable match-ups than good basketball.

All of this on the heels of the (according to Phil Jackson) "controversial" calls in Game 2 doesn't bode well for the NBA going forward. With the integrity of the games already in question via the original Donaghy revelations, the NBA is in for the fight of its life...

... and given the preconceived notions many ALREADY have regarding The Association, I'm not sure its a fight they can ever win or recover from.

[RDF]

I enjoy NBA ball--but I think Donaghy is telling the truth--especially if you follow how he says the series are fixed--it's not to determine the winner of the series--but the length of series. The Kings should've won Game 7 that year--they were up 9 points with 2 and some change left--and lost on the court. It's not that hard to fix a game as an official. For instance--you let Kevin Garnett get away with illegal screens and all of the sudden--decide to call it in last minute. Or you let Kobe Bryant change his pivot foot 2 times in a possession without calling it and then do it at a key time in game. It's technically the correct call--but you let it go, let it go, and then call it at a moment that influences game down stretch.

The NBA can deny it all they want--and Stern is so smug and arrogant--I'd love to see him exposed in this as the culprit--which I believe he is. All that needs to be changed--go to younger officials who are in better shape, don't have biases and make them enforce rules and call a game straight up--fouls are fouls, no matter who the player is. Enforce rules and one of the biggest things--if someone is called for a foul--we dont' need to see mini conferences with players and officials-if they talk to official--give a delay of game warning and then anything after results in a team technical foul.

One thing you notice in the "Classic" games being shown by ESPN with Celtics and Lakers-a foul was called--someone might not like it--but they'd give a look and run other way. Games had more pace and whistles didn't dominate--more free flowing game and more action. Too many whistles these days--and part of that is due to the fossils that officiate games and don't get punished for just awful officiating. Ken Mauer, Bennett Salvatore, Bob Delaney--who informed on the mob--takes a public job like being an NBA official and what way would be best for a person to make it up to the mob for ratting on them--make them money.

Changes can be made very easy if Stern wants to prove his game is clean--but they won't. I still enjoy seeing players talents and I don't believe who wins a series is pre-determined as much as the amount of games the series goe--but as the saying goes--longer a series/more games the better team wins.

[HoyaFanNY]

if true, this will make steroids in baseball and spygate seem like nothing.

[vcjack]

"... and given the preconceived notions many ALREADY have regarding The Association, I'm not sure its a fight they can ever win or recover from."

Baseball recovered from the Black Sox, college bball has had point shaving and players throwing games, hell even figgure skating seems fine even though it was obviously fixed.

Even if this spells the end for Stern and other administrative suits as long as there are talented basketball players who are making an entertaining product (and they are finally, this Finals nonewithsdanding) a change of wallpaper in the coroporate office imo means very little

[moe09]

I think everyone has been suspicious of Stern, myself included, ever since the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery, which, coincidentally, was Stern's second year in the league.

The whole New York Knicks thing as proof to the contrary of the cheating is just crap. Plausibly, you can only do so much, and turning them into a winning squad would take... well.. another 1985? Which at this time is impossible. You know why? 'Cuz Dave went from the envelopes to the balls. That's all he's gotta do now. Use some balls, Dave.

[kghoya]

if you asked me to name a series in the last 10 years that i felt was influenced....id go with lakers kings

big surprise

[RDF]

I understand the fans being upset about Game 6 as impartial viewers--but how does this explain the awful officiating in Game 5--as Phil Jackson mentioned--that helped Kings win and then the Kings blowing a 9pt lead with little over 2 minutes left in Sacramento in Game 7? Was the series extended for tv? I buy that 100%. Did the NBA decide who will win that series? No way--the Kings GAGGED that game and that is why I buy Donaghy's story--it's about the length of series--not who would win it and that is how I believe things are done.

[moe09]

C'mon, no one is going to give me credit for the balls witticism? I don't ask for much, but I thought that was pretty good.

[Boz]

I'm just glad I don't have to waste my time watching Game 4 tonight, since we know in advance that we'll be having a Game 5 with the series tied 2-2.

I can instead waste 3 hours watching US Open highlights, hoping in vain that Phil and Tiger get into a slap fight.

;D

Oh, and well done, moe. We like balls.

[RusskyHoya]

I think it's obvious that the NBA is fixing games to lengthen playoff series and get big-market teams in. I mean, just look at the NBA Finals this decade.

2000: Lakers over Pacers (small-market) in 6
2001: Lakers over Sixers in 5
2002: Lakers over Nets (big market, but relatively small fan-base) in 4
2003: Spurs (small-market) over Nets in 6
2004: Pistons over Lakers in 5
2005: Spurs (small-market) over Pistons in 7
2006: Heat (16th) biggest market over Mavericks in 6
2007: Spurs (small-market) over Cavs (17th biggest market) in 4

So we have one seven-game series, two sweeps, two 5-game series, and three 6-game series. I'm not going to claim that there isn't something very fishy going on, or that game 6 was the fishiest of all things that have ever smelled like fish (and I say that as a Lakers fan), but I'm skeptical as to how systematic or institutional this is.

[moe09]

Thanks, Boz, I've been losing sleep over that one. As I know you have nothing but good taste, I may now get some Z's tonight.