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.

[Sir Gawain]

Likewise, when Michael Jordan drained his many "buzzer beaters" to win playoff games, in leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships, I don't recall him getting Laker-style help from the referees, or the basket being expanded for him.

You must've missed the push on Russell that sent him flying.

[GoreIsLove]

I know the Warriors are bad, but they are definitely not a small market team (#4).

[dead]

It is interesting that L.A. and the New Jersey/New York areas are the largest media markets in the country.

The problem with that is that nobody in the NY market cares one way or the other about the Nets.

I live in NJ, and don’t personally know a single Nets fan.

[gubamyster]

I think its funny how people keep talking about Vlade's "flopping" as if Shaq doesn't weigh 350 lbs

The problem with this theory is that Vlade flops just as much when hit by Kobe, Fisher, Fox or anybody - not just 350 guys.

Did you happen to catch game 7 when Shaq bumped Vlade & stopped moving forward? Vlade still flopped & was called for a blocking foul. He loses a lot of credibility when he flops like a rag doll at the top of the key.

What also is annoying is the way after every one of his shots he would rather gripe than go after a rebound. Watch him. After every shot he looks for the ref, not the ball.

[tictoc]

Thanks for posting this article by Gary Aldridge, here are my thoughts.

You are one sad sack, Mr. Aldridge, if you think it's allright to quote verbatim a woman with a business degree, but not the bellhop who carries your bags, based not on a difference in what they had to say but because of who they are.

Many of the people who ultimately pay your salary are blue-collar workers or college dropouts who nevertheless, it is rumored, are capable of original thought and expression.

[Icthus]

You're right....bad choice on my part as an example....I should have used my beloved Spurs.

[wheezer]

It is interesting that L.A. and the New Jersey/New York areas are the largest media markets in the country.

Now if Kidd's wife would only show up for game 3 with a black eye....ca-ching!

[philosofy123]

Ditto

[GoreIsLove]

After every shot he looks for the ref, not the ball

Kobe never does this. Neither did Jordan. Neither does Karl Malone.

[SoCal Pubbie]

The Kings WERE NOT JOBBED IN GAME SIX! Why won't you respond to the differential in calls in games one through five! Why won't you acknowledge that LA wasn't jacking up threes all night and pounding the ball inside instead, something that's part of the Lakers game plan? Why won't you recognize that Shaq was moving better in game six, getting position, and drawing the fouls?

Why won't you admit that Sacramento was salivating at the prospect of a game seven at home all year long AND THEY CHOKED!!!!!!!

[freestyle]

If you are talking about the inbound play where Bibby was already wrapping his arm around Kobe's waist before the ball was thrown in... then you don't know basketball. That was the first foul not called (which the ref had to have known he was letting go). There is no way he is then going to call the resulting contact of that.
Who has more of a right to the area ONE INCH in front of a players face? His own elbow, or another guys mouth. That's a tough call on its own. The first missed call was not.

To everyone else... Please explain the "fix" for these amazing last second wins and overtime nail bitters. REMOTE CONTROLLED BASKETS?!?!?! Stupid, stupid, stupid. No wonder you all were so offended when you realized wrestling was fake.

Oh, and by the way... Santa Clause, well he doesn't really... nevermind.

[GoreIsLove]

The you probably have issues with Phil Jackson who says your championship should have an asterick beside it.

[connectthedots]

Any doubt that the outcome was rigged was erased when, with one minute left in the game, Kobe Bryant tried to get free of tenacious Kings guard Mike Bibby, in order to catch an inbounds pass. Kobe got free, alright. He smashed Bibby in the nose with a forearm.

First, let me say that my favorite team is any team that is playing the Lakers. I also only watched the tail end of game six. I cannot comment on the rest of the game, but on this particular play, the refs were correct by not making a call on either player. Why? Because Bibby grabbed Bryant in an attempt to pull him to the floor and get a foul called on Bryant. If there was a foul, the first foul was on Bibby against Bryant. If the ref had made the call, L.A. wouyld have gotten one free throw and the ball out of bounds.

[Skooz]

... Santa Clause, well he doesn't really...

Nnnnooo!!!!!!!!!!!

[gubamyster]

Kobe never does this. Neither did Jordan. Neither does Karl Malone.

Everybody in the NBA argues calls. But if you watch Vlade closely, his first reaction is to look for the ref. I didn't like it when he was a Laker & I don't like it now. Chick would get on him all the time for doing this when he was a Laker.

[X-Servative]

Many of you are missing the point. The key word here is not "fix," but rather, MANIPULATION. For NBC and the NBA, manipulating this series to seven games was their ultimate goal and their best opportunity for ratings success. They did not choose a winner, only ensured that there would be a game seven for financial gain. It's wrong and I hope it is proven. After watching game 5 and 6, it made me realize once again why I dislike the NBA.

The NBA and figure skating...birds of a feather.

[Icthus]

I was just happy to see it finally happen! But to tell you the truth, the Spurs have a recent history of peaking around the All-Star break then melting down going into the playoffs. Who knows if the shortened season would have made a difference.

I do wish Robinson would have stayed out of the Laker series. The momentum changed once he was brought back.

[Semper Paratus]

The 1983 76'ers was one of the best teams ever and very under appreciated IMHO.

Was that the year Moses only comment about the playoffs was "3, fo, fo ,fo"?

[discostu]

Oh please, you're worse than the conspiracy nuts. Being as he went to the restaurant right after the game he probably had his notebook and pen, both of which were probably in his luggage when he talked to the bellhop. Or maybe the bellhop just didn't say his bit in a quotable way (could have sworn a lot, or just taken a few minutes to get to the point). Shouldn't read class warfare into every little thing, makes you look goofy.

[mrustow]

I did, and I posted a response paragraph by paragraph. Did you read it?

Of course, I did. What did you think I was responding to? (Guess you didn't pay attention to the "to" number, either.)

Here's a typical gem from your non-response:

First of all the Lakers have won no threepeat.

The writer never said they did. Read ALL the words. I realize that reading only some of them gets you through the article faster, but comprehension has its virtues, too.