Honestly, yes...it is fair. At least more fair than Jordan getting away with breaking the rules for all those years. As a Bulls fan I would hate it, but almost every other fan in the league would probably be happy with it.
I don't know about the Mavs having an advantage, but I do agree that changing the way something is called in the middle of a series sucks. The problem is, it also sucks if the refs are not calling things correctly for an entire series. As far as notifying the teams, I will agree with you that is probably something that should be done. I don't think the NBA could announce publicly a specific player being the reason for the change in officiating, but they could have announced that moving screens are not being called correctly and they are going to crack down on them. Obviously everyone would know they're referring to Yao, but it would give the "conspiracists" less ammunition. Still, I feel like a moving screen is not something that is very difficult to adjust to after the first call. Are we saying that the refs started calling Yao more closely, and yet he continued to do the same thing over and over until we ended up losing the series? That actually doesn't reflect very well on Yao. Part of the game is adjusting to what a particular officiating crew is allowing or not allowing in a specific game.
But calling a travel on Michael Jordan does not cause him to have to go to the bench in foul trouble.
true. but the impact would be probably similar. it would not have impacted jordan's individual stats much, but a turnover is just as bad as one of your main offensive options sitting on the bench.
I dont see how. A turnover on Yao for offensive foul is the same as a traveling on Jordan. Other team's ball. But during the stoppage of play, how many times does that travel on Jordan put him on the bench in foul trouble or playing tentatively because the next foul puts him on the bench? BTW, only one moving pick was called on Yao during the first half of games 3, 4, and 5. All the rest were called in the 2nd half.
Well, we did adjust. Unfortunately, it took us 2 games. Spotting 2 games to a team is enough to change the outcome of almost every playoff series. The main problem is, even after a moving screen is called, it's really not obvious that you should ignore everything that was ok in the last 2 games. You can adjust if the refs explain it to you. But if they don't your mind can run wild... maybe a ref is pissed b/c he thinks you farted on him or something. Also, re: the "quit whining" kinds of comments -- I didn't bring up this thread. Of course we have to move on, and everybody has. It's not like I'm holding a strike outside the NBA office. But the actual facts are that we got f*ed by the league. I agree it would have been nice if our team was good enough that we overcame these biases.
That article you posted makes perfect sense. And the ending for them to say that Yao only fouled out game 1 is what makes it more plausible. Why would you foul the player out every game? That would make it way to obvious. ***** the refs!!!
The problem is I still feel like the "bias" you're speaking of did not exist, or at least hasn't been proven by anything offered in this thread. Therefore, claiming there was some bias comes across as grasping at straws to me (i.e. whining). I realize we're not going to agree on this, but you've definitely made a lot of good points.
I agree, the word "fix" probably overdoes it. However, my focus is solely on the NBA receiving enough annoyance from Cuban to directly state to the game officials to "watch" the illegal picks carefully by Yao. Like I stated earlier, when officials are directed to focus on a specific player (or play), it could avert their attention from other missed penalties. Now the rockets may have lost the series anyways (nobody knows), however allowing yao to be kept on the floor for his regulated minutes may have given the rockets the opportunity to get that 4th win before game 7.
Garnett sets illegal screens on almost every possession, care to explain why he never gets called for it? I'll agree that the refs weren't the sole reason we lost that series, but when the refs are instructed to target one player, that player WILL NEVER get the benefit of the doubt, which KG gets on almost every possession. The refs, without a doubt, were a huge reason we lost that series.
Its really sad to see so many people buy into this nonsense. Cuban simply did what all teams do when they feel thay are getting the short end of the stick. The Rockets used to send in video and complaints all the time about the way the Sonics used to zone defense Hakeem which was illegal. I mean come on, we lost that series basically because of the bench. When the bench showed up we won, when they didn't we lost. Ming scored 30+ in the game 7 blowout while the bench scored 6. This Donaghy con artist is using a bunch of wild inferences just to make a buck. This guy is congenital liar and too many of you guys are getting suckered into buying his book.
More BS. If ou knew anything about gambling, this is impossible. Even when games were fixed during the 60' scandal, nobody won at that clip.
Just started reading Donaghy's book, and early on he talks about the series for a couple of paragraphs. To summarize: -Rockets go up 2-0, Cuban complains about illegal screens by Yao -Before Game 3 and later games, refs are told to specifically focus on Yao's illegal screens, and make sure he isn't traveling in the post. -Mavs tie 2-2, I wonder why? (I dis -JVG complains because inside source (some guy named Vaden) told him the league was specifically targeting Yao -Cuban outraged refs are giving information to JVG -JVG Fined 100k -Rockets go on to lose in 7 There's also some other stuff on the Rockets, including back when Barkley was playing, he got a call right against Barkley, but Barkley disagreed so Rudy T b****ed Barkley out for complaining about a good call, Barkley proceeds to pour ice cold gatorade cooler all over Donaghy in the locker rooms. Donaghy didn't complain because he knew Barkley would get him worse next time so he let it go.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2008/06/donaghy-points-smoking-gun-at-rockets-series-misfires/ <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-ZJD7ijHUJY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I'm just upset because this portland series is bringing memories back to this series...
Saying NBA games are rigged is pretty bold considering how much money could potentially be at stake. If there isn't a clause that states certain entertainment specifications while simultaneously having a majority population believe they are watching something authentic and real then you wouldn't have a legitimate meeting of the minds (thus no mutual assent) when entering into a contractual agreement (such as the purchase of the ticket). If the public ever had hard evidence or admission from the league that it was predetermined or rigged than everyone who has ever purchased a ticket could claim fraud in the inducement and be legally entitled to a refund (and possible punitive damages) from their now void/void able contract.
