I don't know about the lottery, but I have no doubt the dunk contest is rigged. Not that it matters: it's just entertainment, like professional wrestling. Let's just hope that kind of attitude never infects the regular season or playoff games.
Wow so instead of how rigged the lottery is, all you people are doing are insulting Kahn? Ridiculous.
i felt the same way before they revealed the top 3...there should be a rule that u have to put a Muppet in your position to avoid any controversy.
Because it's not rigged. Like I said, the NBA is not going to risk losing its entire rep to prop up stinking Cleveland, and there are team representatives actually watching the lotto. The NBA doesn't give two **** about what a whiny fool on the Internet thinks of the lotto process. And if you're whining about them going after some Cleveland vs. Lebron moneymaker, it's the standard conspiracy shill of everything being proof of the conspiracy. Regardless of which team won, you could complain. If Minny won? Stern's trying to prop up a pathetic team and is helping out his protege. If Golden State won? Stern's trying to promote San Francisco. If Washington won? Wall. If Sacramento won? The whole moving stuff. If Houston won? CHINA. And it goes on and on. People like you would whine regardless of what happened, as it's proof of the conspiracy.
The NBA can quell the rumors that its rigged by physically removing the 3 lottery balls and place them on a table on camera. Then when they get down to announcing the final three, they can just pick up each of the selected balls and show the team logo that's on them.
It makes me cringe that people have taken this story and run with it. Kahn was obviously joking, but people will find any way to make fun of the guy.
The story, to me, isn't so much that Kahn thinks the lottery is rigged, but rather that he'd stick his foot in his mouth (again) by publicly suggesting it even if its in jest. That hurts the credibility of the league in the public eye, and I'd be surprised if he doesn't get a hefty fine for it.
Did you not watch the first lottery? You can, it is on Youtube. It was quite clear that Stern gave it to New York to get Ewing. It was hilarious! The NY envelope had a slight fold on the corner. There was even one moment where Stern felt the NY envelope, set it aside and picked the other ones to give NY the top pick. The pick which ended up being #1 had the odds for the 8th overall pick. Why prop Cleveland up? Why not? No major markets in the lottery (LAC and NJ both traded out) and the potential ratings for a Cavs/Heat playoff series down the line could pay off huge. You are telling me that almost every year, the team with the best odds to win does not win is what is supposed to happen if it is not rigged? Get real.
maybe he meant to say Rose and chicago? not saying its rigged but when a team with a 2.8% chance gets the top pick i dont know how to really say it but I think a lot of people do agree with Kahn that the NBA does have a habit of making 'feel good' stories they just cant come out and say it. trying to think when was the last time the team with the best chance to land the #1 pick did? statistically yes that doesnt need to be the case but at least in the last 5-6 years I cant think of a single time when the team that should have gotten the #1 pick, did not...that seems a bit off to me. personally I think they should have the ping pong balls and do it live so everyone can see and there is total transparency.
IIRC, they did show the ping balls drawing for 2 years, 2003 and 2004. And the teams with the best odds to win (Cleveland and Orlando) won. Since then, I believe that everything has been done in a back room. Here is the article about 2003- http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1477759
