Yes, I did....David Kahn doesn't know how to put a sports team together, but he's not a dumb man. Though he was joking around and keeping it light, there was definitely an intentional insinuation there and it does reflect poorly on Stern so yes, David Stern is going to view this as a challenge.
The chances of the worst team not getting the top pick 6 years in a row is about 18%. Not likely but not unrealistic.
I wouldn't be surprised if it is rigged. But not because of the widow or 14 yo, other reasons probably...why can't they just pick the ping pong balls live on tv?
Can't forget about this. <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/p/1E57E8242CEF3164?hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/p/1E57E8242CEF3164?hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="385" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> The chance of that Clippers pick being selected first...it's possible...the chance of the lottery being rigged? It's probable. <object width="320" height="280"><param name="movie" value="http://video.sbrforum.com/swf/sbrtv.swf?postId=2327&type=2"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="vmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://video.sbrforum.com/swf/sbrtv.swf?postId=2327&type=2" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent" width="320" height="280"></embed></object>
Oh and one more thing...who cares if it is? At least this year. I don't see a LeBron, Wade, or Durant. The Cavs fans were loyal. Now if they win a championship before the Heat....
The NBA also ran a huge advertising campaign with the theme of what Patrick Ewing would do for the Knicks and how wonderful that would be for the NBA, and aired the commercials BEFORE the envelopes were drawn. The first eight years of the draft I bet my friends I could predict the winner of the upcoming draft. I simply looked at it as though I were the commissioner with the power to choose who won the draft, and thought who would I choose and why? I was right seven out of the eight times. By that time my friends had long since lost interest, and then I did too. Now I know that doesn't prove anything, but it proved it to me.
The pick that won the 1st pick for the cavs had a 2.8% chance thats how the cavs were able to also have the #4 pick if it was the cavs very own pick that won then the Cavs would be selecting #1 and #8, not nearly as nice of course. if that is the case why does ESPN the last few years constantly point out the ONE guy that knows the actual draft results before they are announced live? In the past they had representatives in the ping pong ball room/numbers room but then they got rid of that. I dont recall hearing on the broadcast last night mention about representatives from other teams also knowing the outcome but the Ernest & Young guy being the only one out on the floor. I am not saying its 100% rigged but helping cleveland may not make sense since they are not a huge market but if they become a playoff team building off of Irving then the buzz/ratings for Cavs/Heat matchups will be huge even if the Heat are still the better team if the Cavs are competitive against the Heat in anyway they'll be on. I think the just the #1 overall pick is tampered with Its selectively spreading the talent if you look at the last few decade that had franchise players (no brainers #1 picks)out of the gate: 2003 - Lebron James goes to his hometown - great story and while NY would be huge it doesnt matter as much when you have a megastar like James where he goes he is going to sell BIG 2007 - Greg Oden/Kevin Durant - with Portland being revived after getting Roy and Alridge the year before given them a choice of either franchise player was a 'gift'. Oden was the better choice for the team but injuries have killed his career (this could not have been forseen that he would have THIS many injuries and play so few games) Had they gone with KD then even with Roy's injury they'd still be a top team in the west and Portland has been a huge basketball town. 2008 - Derrick Rose - some debate as to him or Beasley but his performance in the NCAA tournament solidified his #1 status and going back to his hometown Bulls a once proud franchise a huge market. The bulls instantly came back into the limelight - a great thing for the league 2009 - Blake Griffin - Kobe is declining as shown and there needs to be a good team in LA and thats what Griffin delivered. He has transformed the culture of that entire team and the city and fans. Now if only the owner goes the clippers will be very good nba team in the near future IMO those were the only true franchise players before the draft in the last 10 years 2002 - Yao excellent player and a franchise player whose injuries killed career but was a huge ? and was labelled a bust by many. That 2002 draft was one of the weakest drafts imo in a while Amare was the best player of the draft just a quick look and i believe 17 of the first round 28 picks total (twolves had no pick) are no longer in the league. 2004- Dwight was not considered a franchise player but a very very good one and there was a lot of debate that the Magic should pick between him or Okafor and the Magic made the right choice but he didnt solidify himself as someone to build around I woudl say until his 3rd year 2010 - John Wall - Was considered a franchise saving PG injuries slowed him but he brought back life into DC which has gone through a lot lately with the Arenas Saga So if you ask me the league tends to spread the talent for the top picks around to where it feels it would suit the league best. If Isiah didnt **** up by trading away so many first round draft picks for the knicks I am sure they would have had a #1 pick. It seemed like everytime they had a pick it was in a weak draft and it wouldnt have helped that team and by the time 2007 or so rolled around the plan to lure Lebron in 2010 was apparent.
Yes, just like how everyone knows that Obama wasn't born in the US, Elvis didn't do no drugs, Kennedy was killed by the gov't, Man didn't really walk on the moon and the men in black use Area 51 as their base of operations. What's really stupid about the consipiracy theories about the draft though is the facts don't even fit the story--the Spurs got TD when they weren't the worst team in the league, and the Celtics were the relevant franchise who needed a boost. In this case Stern is supposed to rigg the system in favor of the Cavaliers, one of the least glamorous teams in the L. According to Yahoo, Stern actually put in a good word for Kahn when he got the job, so apparently Stern likes the Gilbert's son so much he'd prioritize him over his bosom buddy Kahn. The whole story angle is BS, like the other poster said you can create a story out of every team that wins the lottery.
That's because this is a weak draft. If it was a stronger draft, I bet the Rockets would have been in the top 3 (largest market in the lottery).
Little did they know that Houston has a pretty sizeable Asian population and many Chinese investors, so Houston was acceptable by Yao's camp.
You know what's a better joke than the one about the widow and the kid with a neurological disorder? The fact that David Kahn has a job. That's a joke for you.
I'm generally not a conspiracy theorist, but this is a great point. ESPN does everything based on what would make the best television product, as they should. Would the NBA draft lottery not be a better product if you the balls drawn on the stage? There's no reason NOT to draw them live.
You should probably read through the thread to find the answer. Like a live lotto drawing, the 1st place winner would be declared 1st, none of this 14 to 1 countdown.
I don't know if it is rigged. But I don't find the countdown exciting at all. The only thing people care is the result of the top 3 drawing. BTW, it doesn't have to be the 1st place winner declared first. They could do the 3 to 1 count down.
