It's not rigged. I'll never believe it is.

The Officials, The Calls, The Spread, & The Scrubs:

 

Bad calls are bad calls. Bad calls when there's a spread on the line are bad calls when there's a spread on the line. Seeing a scrub come down and hit a 3 when people are like, "why'd he shoot that, they were down 25 and there was 10 seconds left" is just that.

 

Basketball has the highest amount of points in a game of any of the major sports, so it's much easier for the spread to be influenced by late, garbage time points.

 

Then there are bad calls like the ones against the Clippers, which ironically happened on the day that Sterling comes out and says he's going to fight the league on his suspension... those could be a subtle way of saying, "wanna see how bad things can get, here's your future...".

 

Tim Donnaghey? I don't think he's as much of an anomaly as most.

 

 

 

Large Markets and/or Star Power in the Playoffs:

 

The NBA probably wants Kevin Durant and LeBron James squaring off in the Finals, not a San Antonio or Indiana team that isn't seen as flashy and lacks star power.

 

The Celtics were called for 5 technical fouls in their 2012 Game 1 matchup with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

 

2002 Kings vs. Lakers Games 5, 6, and 7?

 

2001 Philadelphia vs. Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference Finals? (Two questionable flagrants and a technical against the Bucks late in Game 6 anyone???).

 

2000 Lakers big comeback against Portland???

 

 

The length of playoff series is just as much of a factor as having large market teams there, and it is not beyond the imagination to think that seeing a few more games televised won't harm anyone... I mean, what's the difference in a 4-0 sweep and a 4-1 sweep and a Game 7 will get more interest than a close-out game where a team has a 3-2 advantage.

 

 

 

The Smoking Gun - The Draft Lottery:

 

I'm no mathematician, but I can tell you that since 1991, the team with the best odds of winning the draft lottery has won... exactly twice.

 

No one knows exactly how the lottery really works (what numbers are given to what teams aren't released beforehand to my knowledge). The fact that it isn't televised just adds to it.

 

Let's work chronologically:

 

1. The original-- Patrick Ewing to the Knicks and the "frozen card"?

 

2. Yao Ming going to Houston in the lottery (one of the cities with a huge Asian population, when his handlers were saying they wanted him to go to a team with a large Asian market)? What was Houston's chances of winning the lottery that season? Around 8-9%?

 

3. Cleveland winning the lottery for the hometown savior LeBron James?

 

4. Derek Rose to Chicago? They had less than a 2% chance of winning the lottery that year.

 

5. Washington landing the first pick and rights to John Wall? What about the rumors that they'd be moved to Brooklyn and them losing Gilbert Arenas before that. They had a 10% chance of winning, which is reasonable enough, but I think we can start seeing a trend here.

 

6. The NBA-owned New Orleans Pelicans winning the Anthony Davis draft lottery when they were trying to find a buyer?

 

When's the last time a Portland, Milwaukee, or Minnesota has won the lottery? What are the chances they'd have won in some of those years? In years they did "well" considering the "random chance of the ping pong balls", were they able to land a game-changer like a LeBron, Davis, etc.?

 

 

What really gets me: people will acknowledge the "funny odds" and entertain these conspiracy theories about the lottery, which basically insinuates that they believe the NBA COULD be manipulating where the best players end up, but think it just ends there.

 

 

 

 

The Conspiracy Theories:

 

Rumors Stern suspended Jordan for gambling and that's why he tried baseball?

 

Cleveland winning the lottery the year after LeBron leaves?

Rumors that John Wall whispered "welcome to Cleveland to Kyrie Irving before the lottery was televised?"

 

The Chris Paul trade to

 

 

 

The Bottom Line:

 

No other league has this many conspiracy theories floating around it.

 

No other league has an official like Tim Donnaghey who is now serving Federal time for gambling and who has candidly talked about how rigged the league is.

 

 

The only proven truth in your post is Tim Donaghy. None of those other things has ever been proven. Just talked about and speculated on.

 

 

I've never heard any conspiracy theory story around Wall/Washington or Davis/New Orleans either. Who reported that one? Matt Jones?

 

How would Wall know Cleveland would get the first pick and where did he whisper that to him at? Wall had a year in before KI went pro.

 

2002 Kings/Lakers-see the Grantland thread about that series. The refs spoke on it.

 

Celtics/Heat 2012-those technicals were probably warranted. Crybabies Pierce, KG and Rondo in the game???? Just saying.....

 

I need video of the 76ers/Bucks game from 2001. Only people who cared about that game lived in Philly and Milawaukee.

 

The right call was made in the Clippers game. It was CP3's fault they lost anyways.

 

Out of all the draft lotteries 3-5 of them have appeared funny style. Yeah, I'm not buying a conspiracy on that.

 

 

 

 

Bottom line:

 

You've been hanging out with mountainref haven't you? :lol2: You're giving the NBA way too much credit.

I don't think it's rigged, but the officiating in the NBA is not very good IMO.

 

This.

 

Some of you sound like my father in law, everything is a conspiracy.

It's not rigged. I'll never believe it is.

 

I'm with you

Rigged is the wrong word although it is close. It is manipulated. Let's face it different players get away with different fouls and if you don't think the refs know the difference between LeBron James and Roy Hibbert, you are kidding yourself. Of the three major sports-baseball, football and basketball-this one in entertainment with a capital E. The stars are the stars, and are 100% protected by the league and the officials.

 

Hard for me to watch often. The players are awesome, but they play with a different set of travelling rules than any other basketball in the universe. The officials are doing exactly what they are instructed to do-protect the stars at all costs. The games last way too long. The end of an NBA game rivals me cutting the grass, watching it grow again, and me cutting it again. The coaches are unnecessary. The players do whatever they want, yet there are six coaches on every bench.

My replies in bold.

 

The only proven truth in your post is Tim Donaghy. None of those other things has ever been proven. Just talked about and speculated on.

 

 

I've never heard any conspiracy theory story around Wall/Washington or Davis/New Orleans either. Who reported that one? Matt Jones?

Deadspin and the New York Times: link.

How would Wall know Cleveland would get the first pick and where did he whisper that to him at? Wall had a year in before KI went pro.

2002 Kings/Lakers-see the Grantland thread about that series. The refs spoke on it.

Donnaghy was an official in one of those games. I also would expect refs to keep the company line, it's not like they'd ever acknowledge that it was as bad as it actually was.

Celtics/Heat 2012-those technicals were probably warranted. Crybabies Pierce, KG and Rondo in the game???? Just saying.....

Here's an article on the five technical game: 2012 NBA playoffs -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers calls technical foul 'worst I've ever had' - ESPN Boston

I need video of the 76ers/Bucks game from 2001. Only people who cared about that game lived in Philly and Milawaukee.

That one is one of the more infamous screwjobs. The Bucks were up 30 in the 3rd quarter.

The right call was made in the Clippers game. It was CP3's fault they lost anyways.

 

Out of all the draft lotteries 3-5 of them have appeared funny style. Yeah, I'm not buying a conspiracy on that.

Again, since 1990, the team with the best odds of winning has done so exactly twice. That's kind of a statistical anomaly and I don't see why anyone would think that the rigging stops there. Chicago winning with a 1:200 chance of winning? I don't think that the drafts where star power is lacking (i.e. 2013) are as rigged as the ones where a prospect who is seen as a game changer (Davis, LeBron, Ming, Rose, etc.) is available.

 

 

 

Bottom line:

 

You've been hanging out with mountainref haven't you? :lol2: You're giving the NBA way too much credit.

Read it.

 

 

All the Kings? Men «

Why would John Wall know who was going to win the lottery? That makes zero sense that the lottery was rigged but they told John Wall?

Yeah, technical fouls and fouls are never deserved. Ever. They should play the games without refs and call their own fouls. Nobody ever fouls anyways and no technical has ever been deserved. The NBA could save money from paying the refs.

Why would John Wall know who was going to win the lottery? That makes zero sense that the lottery was rigged but they told John Wall?

 

IF Wall said that, it was pure speculation on his part.

IF Wall said that, it was pure speculation on his part.

 

 

Exactly. He probably did say it. Just like I am saying the Lakers or Celtics will win the lottery on Tuesday. Pure guessing on my part but if one of those teams do.........was I in on the conspiracy?

Exactly. He probably did say it. Just like I am saying the Lakers or Celtics will win the lottery on Tuesday. Pure guessing on my part but if one of those teams do.........was I in on the conspiracy?

 

You do seem to be connected!

Actual odds are in this article:

2014 NBA draft lottery means everything to some teams

 

 

IF things are really "falling into place nicely", here are some "conspiracy theories" for the draft lottery tonight.

 

Jazz - Jabari Parker is a devout Mormon and there's no place else where he'd have a connection like the one he'd have in Salt Lake City. The Jazz are the only pro team in town and have been down since Stockton and Malone left. He'd be the centerpiece of their franchise for years.

 

Lakers - Begin the battle to re-take LA and it's huge market (back) from the reeling Clippers, who might see an exodus of players and coaches anyway. A nice pick helps that.

 

Pistons - Detroit gives their pick to Charlotte if it is anywhere from 9+. Jordan didn't tank this year and is a likable owner. They played the Heat better than expected and the East needs more balance. The Hornets may end up with the Pistons' pick.

 

Magic and 76ers - They've done well to deal for picks, but their top ones may slip, especially in the case of Orlando (hey, they have 2 in a deep draft and that's enough, right?).

 

Phoenix - Young, exciting team in a huge market that is only growing. Could they be rewarded for not tanking? What about a Minnesota team who'll be losing Kevin Love and is a candidate for relocation?

 

 

Just for fun:

 

Scenario #1:

1 - Jazz

2 - Bucks

3 - Lakers

4 - 76ers

5 - Magic

6 - Celtics

7 - Kings

8 - Pistons

9 - Cavaliers

10 - Pelicans... goes to 76ers

11 - Nuggets

12 - Knicks... goes to Nuggets, who must give it to the Magic

13 - Wolves

14 - Suns

 

 

Scenario #2:

1 - Celtics

2 - Jazz

3 - Suns/Wolves

4 - Bucks

5 - 76ers

6 - Magic

7 - Lakers

8 - Kings

9 - Pistons... goes to Kings

10 - Cavaliers

11 - Pelicans... goes to 76ers

12 - Nuggets

13 - Knicks... goes to Nuggets, who must give it to the Magic

14 - Wolves/Suns

 

 

***Obviously, the scenarios listed above cannot all play out, so I tried doing two that would seem to favor: larger market teams, the geographic and cultural fit of someone like Parker in Utah, and a reward for teams who didn't tank this season (i.e., Charlotte or Phoenix). I also tried to disfavor teams that had either: multiple picks in this year's draft and/or higher picks in the previous seasons.

 

The Wolves getting the #3 in the scenario above could be a consolation prize for losing Kevin Love, but I think the approach the league would take with them is just letting them go through what the Celtics or the 76ers did this season. To be clear, this isn't something I think is very likely, it was just a nice fit and angle to go with if I was going to move Detroit out of the Top 8 and allow Charlotte to take their pick. If the team were to try and sell/relocate (Seattle???), having a young player like Imbiid, Parker, or Wiggins would be a nice bargaining chip in negotiations.

I think the Lottery is rigged. I honestly expect the Celtics or Lakers to grab the #1 pick tonight.

Hmmmm.....

 

I guess we'll have to wait until next year to validate the lottery being rigged?