The NBA's Credibility Problem

I’m sure some players shave points, etc, and I’ve been told the players get paid a bonus for each game they play in the playoffs. It makes sense, but it’s also an obvious incentive to let a series run to six games.

But. Some years ago, a friend of mine went to a boxing match in Detroit. He had good seats and wound up sitting next to a guy who worked for the boxing commission. They talked about baseball and basketball as well as the fight. My friend said he thought maybe the Pistons (who hadn’t been blown up yet) would go all the way.

The other guy said no. He said that although the NBA wasn’t fixed like boxing is (LOL), there’s a lot of influence on it, especially in terms of what fouls get called, especially early in the game. One team getting penalized correctly in the first half can usually decide a game without being obvious — you take away possessions, you cause foul trouble, you get them out of their rhythm.

My friend was skeptical, but the guy said that a lot of gamblers know the ‘real’ spread. He said the series the Pistons were playing (against Chicago?) would go to six games, and then they’d get bounced by . . . Miami, I think it was. (I have a terrible memory for the specifics.) This didn’t seem likely, but when my friend told me this later, I made him repeat it all and wrote it all down. I was skeptical but interested to see.

I forget all the details now, but it all played out exactly like this guy predicted. Does this prove anything? No, of course not. I started watching more carefully, though, and I think it’s true. I think the players and coaches know but aren’t allowed to complain, and I think you can see sometimes when they beat the other team and the unfair calls and are a little extra-pumped about it. And maybe it all works out, for most teams, on average.

Howard clearly got away with at least four flagrant fouls in Game 4. One of them, the league called long after the game ended. Last night’s game was a professional wrestling match. Just ridiculous. I shut it off before halftime. I don’t hate the Magic, but I don’t want to watch another game with them in it this season. Maybe if the Suns get past the Lakers, I’d watch for the Suns . . . if the officiating is passable.

But, yeah, the last two games were handed to the Magic, and not by accident. Game 4 wasn’t too bad, but last night was a brawl. I’m hoping not, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the C’s beat the everloving crap out of the Magic in the next one. Stern had better be intervening behind the scenes right now.

Although i am a dihard C’s fan and i hate to do this but, I am done supporting the NBA. I will not renew my league pass next year. Not buy any more NBA gear, Not buying murchandise advertized during the games. The NBA where cheating happens!

above. I must have missed it. It wasn’t more than a minute or two (literaly 120 seconds) into last nights game that I could tell the fix was in. Don’t believe me? Watch it again.

This type of shi* usually happens to a second tier team ala Phoenix, Dallas, Portland and Sacramento. We’ve all witnessed it before when it’s happened to another team. But it sure is shocking when it happens to yours.

What a farce. I’m so glad I only went to less than a dozen games last year (down from 10 yr STH). I won’t give this league another dime.

It was a hard game to watch. I was stunned early on by the ticky-tack fouls the refs were callings… especially the black bald guy. Even in slow mo it was tough to see, let alone see it clearly. After Rondo got his second, I saw the message… play off Orlando. Well, the refs got the results they wanted.

The Celts started to play soft and Orlando started to score. Don’t get me wrong, they got open in many cases. But they weren’t being challenged all that hard either. Orlando then started getting more physical. And why shouldn’t they? They were given a free pass by the refs. But that wasn’t enough and so it continued…..

… Perkins with a double tech (if it was that easy to get techs, half the Orlando team should have been tossed out in the first two games.)

… Davis gets nailed and no seems to care until he’’s ready to fall into the Orlando bench. IMO, he ran into the ref just so he could show him he was hurt. But then I could be wrong. I don’t think Davis knew where he was when they had him sit on the court.

… Then Daniels went down the the second concussion (I’ve never seen two concussions in a pro game, let alone in the same half.) If any could be forgiven, this one could. But not the way the refs were calling it.

With three minutes left in the third I knew… the game was over. Orlando would win and the only question would be by how many.

I tuned out before the end of the game. And I don’t intend on watching game six. The Celts will be playing like they’re on thin ice. Even if Davis and Daniels comes back, they won’t be the same, Wallace doesn’t look good and they’ll be playing with 4 1/2 players on the court. It’s no dig on the Celts, just that you can’t play your normal style. And the defense will be soft again. Boston has no choice.

I’ve never rooted for LA in my life. Never. NEVER! Until now.

Go LA! Beat Orlando! Because the refs have given the Magic their magic.

I’ve suggested a boycott of all advertised products on ESPN / TNT and a letter writing campaign until the league and it’s sponsors address the referee crisis of confidence. Hit ‘em where it hurts, the bank. Because it’s developed into more about money than the athleticism and teamwork. (This isn’t breaking news, I know.)

But how to create some kind of double blind system where the refs on court don’t have final word in bad, game changing calls?

Maybe, (and this theory/solution definitely needs developing) some sort of system like in figure skating (hear me out), you have not only the refs on the court, but a panel of independent refs/judges making the call from monitors, and hotkeys to make different calls, in collusion with a randomizer that picks which majority decisions gets passed down to the refs on court in real time.

…Or something. Hire Ralph Nader. He almost seemed willing to do it for free after the 2002 Kings Lakers screwjob.

But it’s coming to a severe crisis point of confidence for fans, like 1919 Black Sox and the Quiz Show debacle of the 50s (and others). Either step in now to return some degree of pureness of sport, or make it the NBE, National Basketball Entertainment.

Last night I thought the refs definitely tried to control the outcome. It was foolish. The results probably would have been the same, and the N.B.A. would not have the appearance of malfeasance. Teams can overcome the influence of the refs. But the effort it takes is enormous and definitely not fair to the players or fans. (The fans do NOT pay money for tickets in order to watch the refs play their games!) If the N. B. A. truly wanted to put a fair contest out there, they would at the very least monitor the referees closely and overturn obviously bad calls, with consequences going to refs who repeatedly make bad calls. A better solution would be to do away with the “tenure” system that seems to exist (Union?), and as a ref starts to slip in his judgement he should be retired from actively participating in calling games.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/13443985/

http://adage.com/article?article_id=127759

we’re not the only ones

but tonight I am going to listen to Tim Donaghy on The Celtics Late Night Show with new ears. You can also get the show (at 9:00 p.m.) through Gino’s Jungle site.) I feel that I have been very naive.

I’m watching EJ and the gang at the Lakers/Suns pregame. The Atlanta studio is saying the Celtics will win. Barkley and Miller are saying the Celtics. I get the feeling the league has told them what to say because their “explanations” don’t make any sense.

Personally? Unless they get into a shooting match Orlando will blow out the Celtics and Howard will get 40+ points easy.

The deep bench disappeared in yesterday’s game and won’t be back. I don’t expect Davis to play and if he does, he’ll be slow and ineffective. Wallace will be no different.

Thanks refs. You’ve done a terrific job.

Games 1 and 2 were badly reffed for the Magic, teams just have to play through the bad calls. I don’t see the refs forcing Ray Allen and Pierce to miss shots, with or without the refs the Magic just played better last night.

The Suns missed and rebounded two consecutive three point rebounds before hitting the third with 3.5 seconds left! Incredible – go Suns!

Dwight’s elbow is more annoying then Lebrons and worse than KG’s…How is it that he can give a couple of guys concussions, break another back, rip the face of a teammate (last year) and not have any actions taken against him…ofcourse the refs have sumtin to do with it…

when ever people have to question wether the refs have to much ‘influence’ in a game… the answer is yes!

the best games ever played, basketball, baseball, hockey, football, were games that you never remember the refs making a good or bad call. it was th obvious calls and let the players decide the game!

joey crawford has become the ref that is out there when ever there is an issue. or to say it in a better way the nba’s ‘enforcer’ “this team is beating the other team to much go make them seem less dominant” he’s the stu grimson, marty mcsorely, charles oakley, to david stern aka brett hull, wayne gretzky, patrick ewing / jordan… the star player in the series is looking more like a a bench / role player, go let him seem like a stud again! …he holds grudges (tim duncan thrown out from the bench?!). doesnt like players (rasheed wallace).. why the league has him ref a PLAYOFF game is beyond me. he should never be involved with playoff basketball! drag this series out so the nba can make another million!

both of perks tech’s should be called off but the league has to protect the refs a little bit. if both were called off the celtics would have a valid argument that they didnt get a fair shot to win the game! howard has become a pro wrestler, howard vs the bobcats was being called for these fouls. now the refs want to drag it out, so he gets a pass.. inconsistant game calling!

… shame on me. Just look at the way they have protected the refs and fined coaches and players for telling the truth, it is obvious the NBA is rotten, from the head down.

news just in NBA.com has set a new record for people logging into it’s site from the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. The word about this great product is reaching new and diverse locals as we speak , they can see how Hard the Refs are busting their butts and look forward to a great Finals series.

NBA action is Fantastic

it was a sarcastic post , The type that the NBA headquarters would make in that it wouldn’t even acknowledge a credibility problem to start with and then give some self promotion about attracting new fans to the game and endorsing their Refs.

I love this game