Simple question. With all the bad officiating that has been recurrent throughout the playoffs, it doesn't help to wonder if the NBA is fixed. Just want to know at quick glance if anyone else here will not watch the NBA the rest of the way. And, no, it isn't about the Rocket's slim chance of getting out of the second round, it is moreso about how the NBA officiating has changed over the last several years. Having a rigged trade occur with Gasol and restoring a Lakers Boston rivalry (I know it is a year late) and the whole Donaghy situation. It is nearly impossible to not question the integrity of the game.
The NBA officiating is no worse than it ever was. Basketball is a difficult sport to officiate, and there will be missed calls. In a number of situations, no matter what the call is some side will be pissed off because its a 50/50 play. When you say the NBA "rigged" the Gasol trade, what are you talking about? They demanded that Memphis give Gasol away? Clarify that. As for BOS vs LA or this likely matchup of CLE vs LA, there's nothing there that suggests conspiracy. Best two regular season teams a year ago, and the best two regular season teams this year.
I still haven't forgotten how bad and flaky the officiating was at the Olympics. NBA refs look very good in comparison, though it doesn't excuse the mistakes, especially by that complete bonehead in Dallas. I've ripped the Gasol trade up and down but saying it was rigged is stupid. Grow up.
The NBA rigged the Denver-Dallas series to make it shorter and less exciting so fewer people would watch a game 4?
If the "conspiracy" is for the Lakers to get to the Finals, wouldn't the NBA want their WCF opponent to have gone through long, grueling second round? Denver's now in position to sweep the series or take it in 5 games. People need to calm down with this stuff. Too many fans wearing tin-foil hats.
I am going to wait 10 years for the Rockets to get out of the first round again and THEN boycott the NBA?? Uh, no....
I think they orchestrate rather than fix. For example, not suspending Kobe Bryant despite the elbow being above the shoulders, or the appointing of officials the day before.
The NBA ruled that Kobe's elbow hit Ron in the upper chest, not above the shoulders. And they did not give a flagrant-2 to Kendrick Perkins even though he did make throat-contact with his elbow.
I think it goes both ways.. if you write this possibility off completely, you are naive and ignorant. if you think everything about the nba and every series win and win is rigged, then you are too paranoid. I do think the NBA sends in particular refs to "get a game to lean a certain way" and makes different calls based on who you are.. i.e. Lebron gets 4-5 steps on layups and Kobe gets to take cheap shots.. but I don't think they completely rig it, no.. there is legitimacy in the game, but not entirely.
I was reading the Lakers MB earlier today and they were complaining about how bad the officiating was. They said they don't get calls. They even complained about Kobe not getting calls. Moral of the story every teams fanbase feels the refs cheat them win or lose even when the refs call a good game.
I agree, basketball is a tough sport to officiate, especially with all the flopping. However, I guess I meant to talk more about the reviews and decisions sent down by the front office more than the actual calls on the court (Rondo/Hinrich situation and the Ron Artest flagrant). For lack of a better term I guess rigged was a wrong choice of words. I should say influenced the trade. Realistically, Kobe would not be in the position he is without that trade occurring, and the Lakers would be an afterthought.
NBA officiating is not all that bad, it's actually the best in the world I would much rather watch NBA officiating than officiating in any other European league
I don't think the NBA fixes games or whatever. But I understand why the conspiracy theories are so rampant. The NBA has only itself to blame. I believe that their treatments of players/teams are influenced by reputation rather than pure objectivity. The way they market the games and players do make it look like they want to pamper players who are talented and all other players are just "supporting cast." In other words, the only purpose of the other players to be there is to set the stage, to prop up the stars. I hate that "supporting cast" notion. (I think it was coined by Jordan, IIRC.) It just reeks the smell of staged entertainment. BTW, this is a big reason why I hate the Lakers with a passion. The whole organization has the mentality that all the other teams are their "supporting cast." The other teams exist only to set the stage, to feed them their glory. When a sport is marketed as more like an entertainment than a genuine competition, it is moving towards the WWE territory. It might attract some casual fans. But it turns off real sports fans who care less about "personalities" than true competition.
Agreed. I think it's gotten out of control... I agree some frustrating and borderline shady stuff happens from time to time, but for some it has now become the reason for every call. Last year it was the NBA was putting the Celtics in the Finals... this year the Cavs (over the Celtics). In 2005 the Mavs over the Rockets... now the Nuggets over the Mavs? Why would the NBA have wanted the ratings-killing Spurs over the Suns a few years back? Why would the NBA not have wanted to hovercraft Yao Ming to the NBA Finals, given their primary goal is global expansion of their product? However, I do think the NBA has set themselves up for this type of talk. They have overprotected their referees, insisting nothing was improper... then Donaghy happened and they insist it was an exception.
I couldn't stop watching if I tried. I love the game too much. I do believe there are plenty of things going on behind the scenes that would anger the fans but I don't believe games are fixed by the league. The product simply does not reflect fixed games. I will say the officiating is bad enough where casual fans and older fans that I know have stopped watching the NBA completely but I don't think there is anything that can chase away the die-hard fans.
I love how the fact that the league would prefer certain markets to advance naturally devolves into "proof" that they are taking actions to ensure that outcome. Stop mistaking incompetence for some sort of hidden agenda. It's embarrassing, really. I hate sports fans.
Baseball needs to be boycotted not the NBA. I swear all their stars are on roids for the past 50 years.
I don't think its flat out rigged, but I think the "nobility" left would be salvaged by getting rid of Stern. But if you want to boycott the NBA move to Seattle.
I just believe the Vegas peoples are more influential than it looks or is portrayed. If plain marketing (Stern's duty) expands the size of the fanbase, then the biggest direct cash flow-in is not from the cliched jersey sales or even TV rights - i dont have the numbers but I would guess it's the online betting. I don't exactly know what's the difference it makes for them whether the money is put in Euro cup (soccer, sports with the largest fanbase in the world) or NBA, but nevertheless, bet money for the NBA goes up as the league gains bigger market share. We all know refs are fishy, they are great ponds to use in this set-up. NBA protects, rather than criticize the refs even after the proven case of Donaghy. I believe the league knows whatsup; even if not all the officials are part of it, they are not going to clean it up or mess with the mafia. I think the refs, or at least a significant number of them, work for these ppl more than they work for the league. Perhaps, Stern feels the best way to minimize attention towards this is by being authoritarian and just shut everybody up with fines..........
cosigned. even Lakers fans think there is a conspiracy, one against them and their great Savior to keep them from a Title.
