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.

[kellynla]

granted players "flop" to draw a foul...but I am not whining...Divac plays for Sacramento because he couldn't make the team in LA...and Horry & Fox are on the starting five for Lakers because they "made" the team...Divac can't defend Shaq so he trys to get him fouled out with his flops...same for the "hackaShaq" which was overcome by better free throw shooting...

[Uncle Hal]

All the Kings had to do was make free throws to win the games, Look at he box score. If the kings had made the same percentage of free throws as the Lakers, the Kings would of won game 6 and game 7.

[luvzhottea]

NBA Commissioner David Stern, Commissioner of Major League Baseball Bud Selig, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue , and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber are all VOODOOISTS?!
The things you learn!

[Sir Gawain]

then I'd like you to bet me on some wrestling matches.

Hey, just becuase they're scripted doesn't mean they're predictable. One foreign object to the back of the head can end the whole thing. :-D

[okkev68]

There was not a fix to get LA in the championship. But to think that the refs were not trying to manipulate the outcome of the games is foolish. They know the importance of Shaq and Kobe and a game 7. They love the excitement also.

There was an obvious effort by the officials to extend the series after LA took game 1 easily. Games 2 and 3 were officiated heavily in Sacremento's favor. Game 4 was closer, and because of LA's fortunate shot at the buzzer game 5 was then manipulated back in Sacremento's favor.

Then comes game 6. Please don't even try and argue that there wasn't an effort being made to extend it to a game 7. No discussion.

The refs stepped back in game 7 and let them play and LA made a couple of more plays than Sacremento. Series over.

[Skooz]

Actually, I thought tic made a good point. I am no class warrior (and I have a degree), but Aldridge's comment did come across as a bit snooty--as if he had to quote the lowly bellhop ONLY with a qualifier lest the reader think he actually consorts with and appreciates the opinions of the icky people of the world.

[Icthus]

"..Divac plays for Sacramento because he couldn't make the team in LA.."

I think it had more to do with a trade.....for KOBE!

[GoreIsLove]

And if you watch Kobe, he does the exact same thing. He looks at the ref and shakes his head as if to scold the ref for missing the call(identical to the Jordan move). Vlade is more obvious because he's more animated about it.

[AmishDude]

(a) Game 7 should have never been played.

(b) Kobe should have been called for a technical foul at least twice for showing up the refs.

[mrustow]

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

Was there any reason he said that, beyond his usual, pathetic pettiness?

[Sir Gawain]

fake falls

How do you fake a fall off a 15 foot steel cage? I guess that was also a fake tooth that Mankind had hanging out of his nose after he landed.

[kellynla]

traded because he was expendable...don't see anyone trying to trade Shaq, Webber, Duncan do you...

[Skooz]

You seem to possess a disconcerting amount of pro wrestling knowledge.

[Night Hides Not]

Allow me to preface my statement that I live in the Metroplex, home of the Mavericks. This situation is truly fodder for Mark Cuban and his crowd. However, Cuban's act on officiating is wearing thin with the fans in Dallas - more and more folks are telling him to get over it.

For you Lakers fans out there, enjoy the next year or two, because Shaq Daddy is getting older and heavier. Even on his humongous frame, carrying 350 lbs is wreaking havoc on his wheels. Plus, I would estimate that Shaq's 'basketball age' is closer to mid-30s because of all the playoff games he's played in, as compared to Jordan, who took off a couple of years for baseball.

Kobe is a great player, but Shaq is the reason the Lakers will probably four-peat (sorry Nets fans, but I'm already looking ahead to next year). Nobody, but nobody in the rest of the league has an answer for him.

[Texaggie79]

He's from Alabama, what do you expect?

[Mr. Bird]

Of course, the public is as hypocritical on this as it is on so many things. The very people who say they're sick of seeing the same faces win year after year in the NBA are the same folks who stayed away in droves, and didn't watch, during the league's most democratic era -- the 1970s, when talented if nondescript teams like Golden State, Washington, Portland and Seattle won championships.

An imbecilic statement. There is nothing hypocritical about a Suns fan wanting the Suns to be in the finals, but not watching it if they are not. The author is nearly saying, "hey, they tried it your way and didn't make money, so this is what you get". The conspiracy theorists (of which I am a tangential supporter) argue that, somehow, things always seem to work out for the clubs that can generate the biggest dollars (through large fan bases). The Ewing draft, the Jordan non-calls (there were tons), Magic v. Larry (an altogether remarkable cross-marketing bonanza with the racial undertones): these all stoke the fires of the conspiracy crowd.

The main problem with the NBA is the same one figure skating has: subjective rules. Refs make mistakes, and if you provide them lots of opportunities, they'll make lots of mistakes.

[discostu]

I think Bud Selig might actually be a zombie, the product of voodonists. But as for the rest, there's dolls and needles in all their desks.

[Freebird Forever]

I suspect that if Shaq butt bumped you, you would fly accross the court. Shaq's body makes it impossible for him to play in accordance with the rules. He thinks the rules should be bent for him because of this. I say he shouldn't even be in the league.

I know this won't ever happen, but I'd like to see him play middle linebacker for Green Bay!

[Icthus]

All players are expendable....ask any team thinking about their future in the league. I don't deny Divac was a scrub, especially comparing him to what LA got in the trade.

[GoreIsLove]

The Spurs build up big regular season records because they rarely lose games they're supposed to win while the Lakers sometimes overlook those same teams when they go into their frequent cruise mode during wintertime.