If the NBA is really rigged the L*kers will not win the title next year. No 3peat, no back to back to back, no Kobe matching MJ title for title. Why? Next year is the final year of the current CBA. The worse off the owners can claim they are the more they can force the players union to come down from current levels. Less revenue sharing, lower salaries, shorter contracts and quite possibly no more guaranteed contracts. If the league is really rigged we're going to see two small market teams in the finals next year. "Lowest ratings ever..." "NBA viewership down ##%" The owners are going to go into the contract negotiations next summer cryin' to the players about how bad the teams are doing financially and how the league is losing fans, using the TV ratings as proof. The good news is either us or OKC are goin' to the finals, Baby! (Hey, I know this wasn't that great of a post but I don't understand why it was removed. Even if the title said Lakers my post was more in theme with "The NBA is rigged" conspiracy theories. And if I've just gone blind and dumb and just not seeing the original thread I started sorry for posting this and I'll get my eyes checked in the morning.)
I know that but still I think I'm on to something here. This also could help explain why KP is in trouble and Penn got fired. They broke rule #1 and told people not in the NBA's secret circle of trust that next season, 2010-11 "The year of the small market team!" the Blazers are winning the championship. PA isn't mad at KP, Stern is. It's the league that is forcing PA to publicly shun him because KP & Penn told someone outside of the NBA's secret circle of trust that the Blazer's cake was not only done baking, it was guaranteed to be the Blue Ribbon winner in next year's state fair.
You know I saw a lot of similarities between the Celtics and the Blazers tonight. Great defense but just couldn't put the offense together when it counted, not enough ball/player movement and sharing of the ball. Plus their number one center was hurt
Of course they wont, because the Trail Blazers are winning the title next year! DUH! http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=5302401
When I said, I was talking about next year's TV ratings if Stern makes it so that there are 2 small market teams meeting in the finals. Actually the high ratings article you just posted fits perfectly with my original post. The higher the ratings this year will really make the lower ratings of next year's final between Portland vs an East Coast small market team stand out all the more.