NBA Voodoo: David Stern Fixes the Playoffs

A Different Drummer ^ | 5 June 2002 | Nicholas Stix

[mrustow]

Article argues that NBA Commissioner David Stern wanted so much for the Los Angeles Lakers to extend their two-consecutive NBA championships to a "threepeat," that he fixed the Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings.

[Diddle E. Squat]

How exactly did the NBA 'fix' the ending of game 4? Remember, if Horry doesn't catch that last second slapped ball from a SACRAMENTO player AND then reflexively drain a clutch buzzerbeater, the Lakers would have been down 3-1, (with 2 games remaining in Sacramento) and thus effectively eliminated.

NBC simply lucked out on that shot, there is NO WAY to script that.

[mrustow]

Just keep crying.

Jerk.

Well, you showed me!

Tell me, are you a real FReeper, or are you just a back-up screen name SoCalPubbie uses to repeat his points, and even his insults?

[poet]

Some teams have the talent, but, they don't have the heart.

[kellynla]

calling me a "dork" and an "idiot" doesn't make you right just lacking in a vocabulary...

[kellynla]

Shaq was a free agent...wasn't traded...

[Steve_Seattle]

I stopped watching the NBA because there's not a referee in the league with anything between his legs or between his ears.

[Sir Gawain]

No, but being right makes me right. Look at the post numbers to see who threw the first insult. Can't respond to the post, can you? You think falls are fake?

[Henchster]

Well, I was going to let you off with the simple brush off, but now you get the full treatment:

Did the REFS miss airball three-pointers down the stretch for the Kings?

Did the REFS miss clutch free-throws for the Kings?

And the best one, did the REFS make the 10-10 streak that Shaq had in game six that basically crushed the Kings?

Get objective, not subjective. If ANYONE threw the game, it was the King's players.

As for your stupid game with my screen name, I'll say this once:

Get a life, and please stay out of mine you loser, because I put dim-wits like you on a "never-respond-to-again" list, so don't waste your keystrokes.

[Night Hides Not]

you actually sit in front of the television and "watch" wrestling...your life must be reallllll exciting... and you actually believe that it is not "fixed" and that those hits and falls are not orchestrated... wake up and smell the coffee...

Getting a little 'snippy' and condescending, aren't we? I checked out Gawain's profile and noticed he lives in flyover country, and is in his mid-20s, which is the big demographic for wrestling fans. At least he took the time to fill out his profile. Give the young man a break, he probably has more of an interesting life than you give him credit for.

My life is probably considered boring to the average Californian (speaking from experience as a former resident of CA): I work two jobs to support my wife and three kids (15, 13, & 3 months), and my favorite non-work activity is enjoying my house and my family. My favorite day is Sunday, because we get to do things together as a family (church, a meal, and some fun). Within my circle of friends, that's a pretty common scenario.

Since I think you live out in CA, I congratulate you on having a great team, with a great coach, and a great organization. I just hope that Lakers' fans show more class than in the past, when they destroyed the area around the Staples Center after winning a couple of years ago.

As I said in a previous post, Lakers' fans need to enjoy this, because it will end sooner than you think. Don't forget that it was Jerry West who brought Shaq and Kobe to the Lakers, and he's in Memphis now.

[GoreIsLove]

Duncan's a center but that doesn't stop the Spurs from playing him at the four. Vlade couldn't make it as a Laker due to timing. He played during the single most disfunctional period of Laker history. Furthermore, he was the center who replaced Kareem, which isn't exactly an easy act to follow.

And I would further argue that if Shaq were still in the East and Divac was still a Laker (with Kobe et al) they'd probably still win a title. The reason the Kings won't win a title isn't Divac, it's Webber, a heartless, soulless player who will never take the final shot, and will always react to pressure as he did against Duke.

[Texaggie79]

I don't care what everyone else says. I think you are cool ;-)

[mrustow]

If the NBA were to "fix" the playoffs, why not make it a Celts vs. Lakers final?

Why would the NBA care about a Celtics-Lakers final? There was a time when the league would have cared about that matchup, but that time passed when all the particulars retired.

[Icthus]

You may be right.....isn't it possible they sell a blocks of airtime at the beginning of the season.....then sell the rest of the airtime to the highest bidder? Let's face it, TV is there to make money, not just entertain.

[AmishDude]

However, no team will ever win a title with Vlade. Chris Webber. I mean, drive the hoop for once.

[Icthus]

OUCH!....I'm sorry grandfather....grasshopper will remain quiet now... ;o)

[Sir Gawain]

Getting a little 'snippy' and condescending, aren't we?

And using a strawman too. I never said wrestling wasn't fake, I said the falls are not fake. Orchestrated, but not fake. I guess that flew over some people's heads.

[kellynla]

and they both wish they had Webber back...didn't say teams don't screw up...and where are Golden State and Washington today...watching the finals on TV...

[mrustow]

How exactly did the NBA 'fix' the ending of game 4? Remember, if Horry doesn't catch that last second slapped ball from a SACRAMENTO player AND then reflexively drain a clutch buzzerbeater, the Lakers would have been down 3-1, (with 2 games remaining in Sacramento) and thus effectively eliminated.

NBC simply lucked out on that shot, there is NO WAY to script that.

Maybe it's my senility showing, but I don't recall saying Diddle E. Squat about game four.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Why would the NBA care about a Lakers-Celtics final?"

Because despite their recent mediocrity, the Celtics still remain in the public eye as probably the most well-known professional basketball team. Tradition counts for a lot, and the Celtics' tradition still makes them a good marquee team.

[GoreIsLove]

Golden State is a unique situation. NBA rules were changed due to the Webber situation with W's.

Webber is a cancer who cares only about Chris Webber. I'm sure there are plenty of players out there who'd Sac would trade Webber for.