Too many similarities. Nba wants warriors for ratings, they wanted lakers for ratings back then. We were really similar team to kings. Almost beating a super team
Yes it was. First thing I thought. We were on our way to changing HISTORY BOOKS and the league said "not on our watch'. The whole NARRATIVE of the media would've changed. We would've not only shifted the power of the NBA, but think about all the endorsement dollars that go into the Rocket organization (that wouldn't be going into Golden State) had we beat them. This is all about money. The media benefits more from Golden State winning than it does from Houston. Now we get to hear how "great Golden State is" and how we should "feel sorry for Lebron James" for getting his azz kicked in another finals. It's all about narratives!!
Both are similar in that the refs had to go into overdrive to help out the team the NBA wanted to win. In Game 6 in 2002, it was tied 75-75 after 3 quarters. So the refs had to immediately get the Kings into foul trouble in order to allow the Lakers to shoot enough free throws(especially with Shaq's propensity for missing) to eek out a close victory. Which they did as they barely won 106-102. In Games 6 and 7, the Rockets got off to huge early leads against the Warriors and were threatening to run away with it, so the refs swallowed the whistles in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of both games in order to keep Golden State within striking distance. Like you said, the NBA got what it wanted in the end. The irony is what they got were horrible, one-sided Finals. The Lakers easily swept the Nets in 2002. And the Warriors will easily dispatch the Cavs in 4-5 games this year.
I remember in 2002, at a point in that Game 6, Adelman and the Kings players started to laugh. They knew the refs weren't going to let the Lakers lose that game. The Rockets reacted a little differently in this year's Game 6. They didn't laugh. They just mentally checked out.
