NBA Finals- Celts/Lakers (Page 3)

I think it's too big of a jump for me to go from a case of a single referee, and there may be more, manipulating games, to say that the NBA is involved.  Yes, people have done stupider things, but even from a financial standpoint, which everything is all about, the NBA would be out of their collective minds to be involved in this.  Think of the financial ramifications if it was proved that they were involved?  They'd lose all their TV contracts, fans, I just don't see them being THAT stupid.

"Refs" plural?  besides the one guy, who are the other refs who have been caught?

THose refs better do a better job in this conspiracy though.  They almost let last night get away from them, what with Radmanovic's travel to the basket for the dunk bringing the Lakers back from 24 down to 2 down.  Bet they're breathing a sigh of relief right now.

Yup, just like 9/11 was a conspiracy between Bush and Israel.  Now THAT's scale.  Or the vast right wing conspiracy

So it's a theory you have.   I only heard of one ref where it was demonstrably proven.  You say there are others.  I ask who has been demonstrably proven to be a cheat?  Even unindicted co- conspirators have names.  "others" is insufficient

Sorry, I am just a stickler for language.

chadtower - 2008-06-09 1:19 PM

ChrisM - 2008-06-09 4:15 PM

Yup, just like 9/11 was a conspiracy between Bush and Israel. Now THAT's scale. Or the vast right wing conspiracy

So it's a theory you have. I only heard of one ref where it was demonstrably proven. You say there are others. I ask who has been demonstrably proven to be a cheat? Even unindicted co- conspirators have names. "others" is insufficient

Sorry, I am just a stickler for language.

Since I've openly stated that I believe there are more affecting outcomes it is perfectly reasonable to use the plural. I believe it - therefore my language reflects that I believe it. If you pay enough attention in the sports media there are enough others saying it too that there is likely enough smoke for there to be fire. It doesn't do anything for anyone to compare a basketball game to geopolitics.

My emphasis added.  It's fine if it's your theory and belief, I was just wondering who the other refs are that have been "demonstrably proven" in your words to be cheats.  I assume people don't just make stuff up, so I would expect there to be names behind the assertion.  

Note that because I challenged your factual assertion that doesn't mean I disagree with you, nor does it mean I agree with you.  Arguments are just stronger when they don't sound so... paranoid. I don't think it does anything for anyone to make blanket factual statements they can't back up.  But hey, it's the internet after all.

Anyway, this hijack has gotten off course.

Since we're going on unproven theories, I say Lakers win the next four in a row 

Ok I really don't have a gambling problem or do I at this moment operate a booking service but... 

...actually it's pretty well know that gamblers whether they be "the mob" or others usually focus on college basketball instead of the NBA (or any college sport & They got a ref giftwrapped for the NBA)

  It's a lot easier to get college kids that have no money to shave a few points off a mid-season game that no one is paying that much attention to.. It's just easier to have a half dozen games in mid season be tilted in their favor to make money, then go for a larger game where there is so much attention being paid to the spreads, amount wagered and the actual game itself. Throw in the players pride of being in the big game and it's really just not worth it.

If there was a conspiracy who really benefits the most.. following the money leads not to the NBA as a business entity but the owners of that team in the playoffs in terms of attendance for the extra games, concession sales, their share of TV revenue,  being able to increase ticket prices for the next season and market the players.   You really couldn't have just one or two owners involved so it would have to be more, and with the ego/competitiveness of most of them they would never agree to have their team lose in the first round. Nor would they have a system in place such as this year where very good western conference teams don't make the playoffs (but could land the number one pick) while a sub .500 team from the east makes it.

Can Kobe Bryant even spell "horse" ?  He'd rather play just "ho."

you're a sports genius (except that winning in 6 thing)

1.  that doesn't sound paranoid, sounds like a felon singing like a blubird to get lenient sentencing.  This has been going on for how long and only now, when he's in the crosshairs, he gets a conscience?

2.  Not only post dates your "determinatively proven post," no one has been determinatively proven to be a cheat, except the admitted cheat.

My most recent prediction of the Lakers in 6 still holds

Because impugning a referee possibly calls into question the integrity and/or fairness of the game.  Physical violence, fighting, does not.  Pretty obvious answer.

That's your opinion... the NBA's opinion, which is the one that matters, not yours or mine, says it's not more important.  The NBA is a business just like everything else.  Profits come first.  The NBA also doesn't exist to further race relations.  One could say that the NBA has done damage to race relations, but one would likely be incorrect.  The fact that we have a black Presidential nominee at least says to me, that race relations are better than they've ever been.  Not that they don't have a long way to go. 

I remember both series in question.. that sac/La series was poor officiating throughout, I think in game 5 there was a total blown call at the end on a mike bibby play that gave the kings the lead.and the game... officiating shaq was always one of the hardest tasks for officials depending on his effort level and in this series Vlade's flops.  Giving Shaq 20 free throws doesn't guarantee the outcome of the game since he might miss 18.. it does get his team in the penalty though and that has a big outcome on the over/under for "gaming" purposes, but not always the outcome.

The Van Gundy issue is what got my attention,, living in Dallas and being a mav's fan and I like the way Cuban runs the team (he charts the teams records with various refs, and the ref's tendencies to make certain calls so the players can make adjustments before the game, this is where the phrase from ex players that are announcers now "you will not get that call from ____" came from )
Cuban sent tape of the calls he thought Yao was getting basically a moving screen.. and made a big deal of it.. most teams do something like this no big deal,, but Van Gundy came out and said back then that he was told by a ref not working the game that his team would not win.  The refs really didn't enforce the calls Cuban made them aware of Yao didn't have significant foul trouble than normal for him.. and dallas was expected to be the better team.. and they won.  But why would a guy like VG make a statement like that while his team had the lead and home court advantage in the series is what gets me.

It's interesting to note that when the news broke about the tainted ref gambling sites had lines where you could bet who it was,, Dounghney wasn't a big choice, the odds on favorite where others and the biggest game in question was game 3 of the dallas vs Miami finals a couple of years back

I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that I wrote that it's not a viable method for investigating crimes.

At any rate, time for the NBA black helicopter conspiracy theories to get their own thread and stop interfering with my bask in the glow of a Lakers win.  Cuz god knows, if the Lakers play like that again, and the Celtics decide to actually show up in Los Angeles, we won't have many more

Oooh, ouch, eeeh, ohhhH!!!!!!  that was painful.  What a choke job!

Well played and coached comeback.  One bucket at a time.  I KNEW we were screwed once dipsh** Van Gundy said "I'm calling 2-2" in the first quarter

Celtics - 3
Lakers - 1
Conspiracy Theorists  - 0