as far as the claim that the NBA is “fixed”… well I wouldnt doubt it to some degree. I could definitely see refs (not players losing on purpose) extending a series here and there to make more money for the teams, league and themselves. Its not really that far fetched but I’m DEFINITELY NOT saying that is what’s happening here.
.greg.
[quote]gregron wrote:
as far as the claim that the NBA is “fixed”… well I wouldnt doubt it to some degree. I could definitely see refs (not players losing on purpose) extending a series here and there to make more money for the teams, league and themselves. Its not really that far fetched but I’m DEFINITELY NOT saying that is what’s happening here.
.greg.[/quote]
there have been 4 sweeps in these playoffs.
Greg its fact that the NBA has fixed games before, non more evident than that Kings-lakers series back in '02. It was so blatantly obvious the refs were pushing the Lakers. However I think its only in those scenarios where its so obvious that the officiating is affecting the outcome of the game that you can cry foul. Definitely not whats going on here in the suns-lakers series. Suns outplayed LA plain and simple.
Goran Dragic is special.
[quote]nomorewar wrote:
[quote]gregron wrote:
as far as the claim that the NBA is “fixed”… well I wouldnt doubt it to some degree. I could definitely see refs (not players losing on purpose) extending a series here and there to make more money for the teams, league and themselves. Its not really that far fetched but I’m DEFINITELY NOT saying that is what’s happening here.
.greg.[/quote]
there have been 4 sweeps in these playoffs. [/quote]
exactly! 4 sweeps has lost this league, teams and tv/radio networks a lot of potential money. I wouldnt doubt “they” (whoever that is) decided to extend these conference finals series a bit to prevent that from happening again.
I’m not saying thats whats happening but if I found out it was then I wouldnt be mad and couldnt really blame “them” for it.
.greg.
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Greg its fact that the NBA has fixed games before, non more evident than that Kings-lakers series back in '02. It was so blatantly obvious the refs were pushing the Lakers. However I think its only in those scenarios where its so obvious that the officiating is affecting the outcome of the game that you can cry foul. Definitely not whats going on here in the suns-lakers series. Suns outplayed LA plain and simple.
Goran Dragic is special.[/quote]
If you read my post I said that I DONT think thats whats happening here but if I found out that it was I wouldn’t be surprised. Also its not really a fact cause cause there hasn’t been tangible proof but it seems completely possible (especially in that series)
.greg.
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Greg its fact that the NBA has fixed games before, non more evident than that Kings-lakers series back in '02. It was so blatantly obvious the refs were pushing the Lakers. However I think its only in those scenarios where its so obvious that the officiating is affecting the outcome of the game that you can cry foul. Definitely not whats going on here in the suns-lakers series. Suns outplayed LA plain and simple.
Goran Dragic is special.[/quote]
The only “fact,” even according to Donaghy himself is that certain referees have enough “human bias” that knowledge of said bias could make ones betting on the game much more likely to succeed. That still requires the bias to come out in those individual games. This would also require you to believe Tim Donaghy is telling the truth.
After seeing some Jow Crawford ref’d games of the San Antonio Spurs, and the way he referees the play of Tim Duncan in particular, I believe that part of his statement to be completely true. I’m not sure if I believe that NBA execs(including Stern himself, who I hold in high regard as far as commissioners of sports are concerned) are using instances like this to purposefully attempt to alter game outcomes however, which is something Donaghy alluded to but never came outright and said(I think, someone else correct this if it’s wrong).
Don’t fret Laker fans. They’ll win it in six.
This series is just like the Lakers - Thunder series.
It’s funny. Lakers fans expectations are so high. They can’t just win the series. They have to sweep the team, or beat em in 5. And if they don’t? Oh man. The other team can win now!
Ummm…no. Like it was said. Game 3 - Stoudemire and Nash have unbelievable games. Game 4 - The bench goes off. This series may end up going 7 games but it will be the Lakers that will prevail.
And we may want to thank the Phoenix Suns for this test. Sometimes getting tested is what you need to develop the steely resolve and battle-tested will to take it to the opponent in the finals.
This article captures last night (and game 3 perfectly); the Suns simply wanted it more. The frustrating habits of the Lakers to not give it their all every night is infuriating.
Suns simply wanted Game 4 more than Lakers
Phoenix fought for their lives, defending champs looked too complacent
And of course when I mention just yesterday on this thread about how much better the Lakers are defensively this year I should have thrown in the caveat “When the Lakers are focused and want to win the game bad enough their defense is one of the best in the league, otherwise, it’s mediocre at best”
This snippet sums up game 4 nicely:
â??He was carrying us offensively, and then in the second half they started sending two guys on him even when they were in the zone,â?? teammate Pau Gasol said.
The Lakersâ?? offense didnâ??t go through Bryant early in the fourth â?? there were back-to-back possessions where he didnâ??t touch the ball â?? and he attempted only four shots in the quarter.
But Bryant was adamant after the game that wasnâ??t the reason his team lost.
â??We lost the game because our defense sucked,â?? said a clearly upset and irritated Bryant.
[quote]nomorewar wrote:
[quote]AndrewG909 wrote:
[quote]nomorewar wrote:
drewh,start thinking avatar for the fellas.[/quote]
Lmao don’t get ahead of yourself… u really think the suns are gunna beat the lakers at home??[/quote]
no. The only way that will happen is if the nba is fixed. Right?[/quote]
Actually if the suns win then that DEFINITELY means the nba is NOT fixed. THe powers at be would prefer to see lakers vs celtics I’m sure because it will generate more revenue then celtics vs suns. Yawn…
LMAO at everyone all up in arms because I said “this is why some people think it’s fixed”. I never said it was fixed and was being over dramatizing my teams loss, I apologize, I will only post rationally from now on. lol
On a side not, I agree with greg in that I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out that players threw games for the powers at be for the revenue. I don’t REALLY think thats what’s happening but I would be surprised and like I said, I can see why people would think that.
[quote]nomorewar wrote:
[quote]AndrewG909 wrote:
Its games like this that really make people question whether teams throw games just to make the series last and extend the series for the additional revenue. Lakers were basically beat by the suns bench, not their bench outscored ours. But their bench BEAT our starters. Wow… then the suns known for their garbage defense stepped it up soo much that kobe and pau basically could not even touch the ball in the 4th?
Somebody please explain this to me before my faith in the nba completely diminishes.[/quote]
I’ll explain it to you, The suns beat the lakers cause they are not on the lakers balls like you are. [/quote]
Amazing analysis, your basketball IQ is thru the roof!! Thank you for such an enlightening post, I actually feel like more brain is more effecient after reading that.
Edit: oops, i meant “my brain” not “more brain”. See I’m catching my own mistakes already!
[quote]Dustin wrote:
Don’t fret Laker fans. They’ll win it in six.
This series is just like the Lakers - Thunder series.[/quote]
This is probably the case, and this is what I’m afraid of. Still hoping for the Suns to upset, but if not that than at least the Lakers can beat the Celtics.
Orlando looks to have this game locked up, their 3 point shooting has been on tonight mixed with some home cooking from the refs; Perkins 2nd tech was dumb as hell. Davis and Daniels could both be out for game 6 with concussions too. These conference finals have gone from afterthought to exciting really quickly.
wow!! two competitive series… This is what im fucking talking about!!!
Wow the Magic looked like… well the Magic! We have a series now.
Things are definitely NOT looking good for Boston. This one day off between games isn’t helping out the older Celtic players and now they get two guys down with concussions and another who’s facing a suspension cause of too many T’s.
I would not be too surprised if Orlando wins this series now especially if one or Perkins T’s arent rescinded.
.greg.
[quote]gregron wrote:
Wow the Magic looked like… well the Magic! We have a series now.
Things are definitely NOT looking good for Boston. This one day off between games isn’t helping out the older Celtic players and now they get two guys down with concussions and another who’s facing a suspension cause of too many T’s.
I would not be too surprised if Orlando wins this series now especially if one or Perkins T’s arent rescinded.
.greg.[/quote]
I think the NBA will rescind the 2nd Tech from tonight, if they don’t Boston is fucked for game 6(Davis will almost certainly miss game 6 with that concussion), that’s basically their entire defense on Howard between the 2 of them(Wallace and KG are superior offensive players but they can’t defend Howard nearly as well).
^^The announcers were saying that without knowing what Perkins actually said they couldnt rescind the T’s just based on his physical actions not being “that bad”… I thought it was kind of a BS technical and that the refs were just trying to take control of the game cause it was getting a little chippy at that point. I think they just didnt realize that Perk had already gotten a T.
.greg.
[quote]red04 wrote:
[quote]gregron wrote:
Wow the Magic looked like… well the Magic! We have a series now.
Things are definitely NOT looking good for Boston. This one day off between games isn’t helping out the older Celtic players and now they get two guys down with concussions and another who’s facing a suspension cause of too many T’s.
I would not be too surprised if Orlando wins this series now especially if one or Perkins T’s arent rescinded.
.greg.[/quote]
I think the NBA will rescind the 2nd Tech from tonight, if they don’t Boston is fucked for game 6(Davis will almost certainly miss game 6 with that concussion), that’s basically their entire defense on Howard between the 2 of them(Wallace and KG are superior offensive players but they can’t defend Howard nearly as well).[/quote]
Nah I think you’re over-exaggerating the effect of not having Davis or Perkins there to defend Howard. Whilst it would make it easier for Howard to score points in the paint without those two dudes there he’s not a good offensive player to the extent he can take over a game. He may score 30 points some games but the Celts shouldn’t be too worried in that scenario because it slows down the Magic’s offense. Those fast breaks and threes would be reduced if the Magic dump it down to Howard often and therefore transition into a more half-court game.
I think Rasheed could handle him for a while and keep him from getting deep. If the Celts can even remotely do that and force Howard to hustle in or shoot his lil hooks I think they should be okay.
Of course all this depends on the Celts offense. It runs in conjunction with how efficiently they are getting buckets and the foul situation.