I always figured that the Knicks were supposed to win in 1994, and Hakeem foiled the mobs best laid plans. Anyone remember Drexler gettings tossed from game two against Phoenix in 1995? How about Karl Malone being allowed to mug Drexler and free Stockton for a game winning shot in 1997? The Rockets managed to survive in spite of the stacked odds in 1994 and 1995. Jordan returns and immediately Houston's two championships are given astericks by the media.
This is looking very very bad for the NBA and David Stern. If more people (potentially players & coaches) are involved this could be disastrous. God knows how many games were fixed during those 2 year periods (maybe longer). I just hope and pray that no one from the Rox organization is apart of this.
Here's a question: What's the ethical difference between throwing games for gambling purposes and throwing games to gain a higher pick?
The 1983-84 Houston Rockets are generally attributed with the honor of being the reason why the Draft Lottery was invented. They went 5-17 over their last 22 games, supposedly for the prime purpose of getting the top pick in the 1984 draft and the chance at Akeem Abdul-Olajuwon, right in their own backyard at Phi Slamma Jamma (aka the University of Houston). Then-new NBA commissioner David Stern set out to make sure that NBA teams didn't tank the rest of their regular season again.
To me those are totally different scenarios. If a team (organization - management, coaches, players, etc.) wants to tank the season in order to improve their chances at a higher pick that's their perogative. They're hurting themselves. What's the difference between tanking and having a terrible year? Atlanta and Boston among others have been doing it for the past couple of years. But when an outside factor determines the outcome of a game there's a problem. The integrity of the game becomes questioned. The team that won the playoff series may not have been the better team. One call can change the outcome of a game. One game can change the outcome of the series.
There is an ethical difference between tanking a season and having a bad season, thereby acquiring a higher draft-pick. The former is unethical. Also, when a team tanks a season, it potentially affects picks of other teams. The probabilities of lottery balls bouncing for certain teams can be shifted. They are not only affecting themselves, they are affecting others.
But tanking for a higher draft pick is done for the long-term good of the team, whereas throwing games is done for money. If the system rewards teams that lose games at the end of the season, it's hardly surprising that they do so, even at the expense of the ticket-buying public.
The latter is gaining advantage WITHIN the system. The former is gaining advantage using outside means to beat the system. It's like the difference between tax evasion and tax sheltering.
You're "throwing" games to get a pick to help your franchise. In gambling purposes you're hurting your team, franchise, and those around you for cash.
If Donaghy names more officials, the NBA is screwed. If Donaghy names any coaches and/or players, the NBA might as well fold.
Tanking isn't something for the regular season for losers. Game fixing affects the playoffs. You won't see tankers in the post-season, but game fixing absolutely ruins the playoffs.
press conference is going on right now. Man Stern is taking some time picking out his words very, very, carefully.
Stern seems pretty fazed...usually a much more fluid speaker. Not really instilling much confidence with his speech. I feel like theres going to be more coming out pretty soon.
