Donaghy: 2002 NBA Playoffs series fixed

Surely, you don't expect the Spurs to roll over. And given that . . . when they're hungry and focused, with Pop calling the right shots time and again, not even a twisted whistle could push them aside, the way they play defense.

 

Yeah.  And the Spurs and their "global" makeup matches well with Stern wanting the game to become global.

Manu's presence alone brought in a massive amount of viewers from Argentina. 
Let's not act as if the attention of the American television audience is the end all of things.

 

If they're fixing games just to assure a long series and they aren't worried about who advances it's entirely possible for San Antonio to continue to dominate and reach the Finals.

The NBA has always been more about promoting the individual players rather than teams and San Antonio and a number of marketable players.

Bird-Magic-Isiah-Jordan-Akeem-Ewing-Duncan-Wade-James-Bryant-Garnett

 

I don't believe for a second that Stern would be foolish enough to give outright orders to referees regarding who should win. However, I don't dismiss the possibility that the league employs more subtle means and hints to try to get series to go longer and desired outcomes.

I know he's disliked around here, but Bill Simmons has advanced a theory for years that the league utilizes referee assignments to this end, by assigning refs whose tendencies and patterns are more likely to get the desired result in a given game. And, frankly, it always has seemed a tad suspicious how the league's assignment system in the playoffs follows little to no objective rhyme or reason. Assignments and changes often seem to occur based upon nothing more than a league whim the day before.

In his column just a couple days ago Simmons predicted that Salvatore would be assigned to Game 3 because of his propensity to be swayed by the home crowd, and sure enough there he was, and sure enough, the foul disparity switched to the home team Lakers' favor in game 3.

I'm not completely convinced this stuff is happening, but there is a lot of smoke to suggest a possible fire.

 

You might be the first person in history to consider Tim Duncan "marketable."

 

Who would replace Stern? I'd vote for:



The move would improve both leagues! ;D

 

The Spurs have two guys from Argentina and one from France. They aren't really all that more or less global than any other team out there. What's more Manu's presence has indeed attracted fans from Agrentina, but I'd wager "massive" to be an overstatement.

Most people there still care more about Maradona than Manu.

Long story short: I won't contest that officiating in the NBA is sketchy. But I have a hard time believing it comes from the top down. What would the NBA itself have to gain by fixing games?

 

Some Guy:
Donaghy did not allege the NBA wanted this team or that to win the series, just that they wanted the series to go longer.
There is plenty to gain from a series going 7 games instead of 4-5.

 

Oh, I understand that ... but I still have trouble believing this is a directive that came from the top down.

Donaghy I get. He was in it for personal monetary gain. What's in it for the NBA? Certainly not enough to risk ruining the sport forever. There's really no motive.

 

$

Lots of it.

 

More ratings. More drama. More money. Especially after the mid 1990s, the NBA needed something.

 

The Lakers making it to the finals is ALWAYS huge for the NBA.

I understand about just making sure the series goes seven games, but that is still fixing the outcome.

Yes, the Kings played like crap in Game 7, but none of that would have been an issue if Game 6 wasn't fixed.

If ever there was a commissioner who is so egotistical he thinks he could pull this off, it's David Stern. Also, if you know what the commissioner wants done, why wouldn't you bet on the game/series?