Do you think such things exist? Would the League ever do anything to make sure one certain team wins? Yesterday, before the Lakers/Wolves game, I was listening to a sports radio show and the host made a pretty interesting statement. He said something like this: "I have never garaunteed a victory before but I am going to do it today. The Wolves will win game 5. There is no way in hell the Lakers win game 5 and close out this series. I know they are great in closing out series but the Wolves will win tonight and I'll tell you why. If the Lakers win game 5 than there will be no national televised Lakers game on Memorial Day. There is no way the League would allow this. Tonight look for the refs to give all the calls to the Wolves, Wolves will win."
I really wouldn't be surprised. Yes, I do think things like this happen all the time. Its all about money, and they will do whatever they can to make more money.
There's a lot of things that I think could be rigged. For example, there's LeBron James going to Cleveland. Maybe it's just a coincidence though. That's like thinking if you think that a Lakers/Pistons final is being set up because it would generate ten times the interest that a Wolves/Pacers final would generate.
there could be, I mean Last year with Bron going to Cleveland, and that point made by the radio host is pretty interesting. I wonder what the NBA has n store next.
i dont think they exist to the point where its gonna guarantee a team wins, but i can do believe there is heavy favortism in the league. perfect example is when someone asked david stern what he would like the nba finals matchup to be, and he said "Lakers versus Lakers." And a guy with that much power can do something to almost make sure half of his dream matchup would happen
I don't what to believe. It could be true though. Nowadays everything is about the Benjamin’s. There's also been some word that the Roy Jones Jr and Antonio Tarver fight was fixed. Being that their fights makes tons of money, a 3rd match wouldn't hurt. Tarver punch wasn't a lucky punch, but it was expected for him to win the bout. Then there was the NBA Draft in 1985. Where it was speculated that the Draft was fixed in benefit of New York, so that they can get Patrick Ewing. I doubt the LA Lakers and Minnesota game was fixed, but I think there have been some conspiracies in the NBA. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There's a lot of things that I think could be rigged. For example, there's LeBron James going to Cleveland. Maybe it's just a coincidence though. That's like thinking if you think that a Lakers/Pistons final is being set up because it would generate ten times the interest that a Wolves/Pacers final would generate.</div> Good point.
I think the NBA (and the NFL/MLB/etc.) do rig some of their events/happenings to national acdceptance... I mean it's all about the money these days.
it's kind of tough to say because a lot of times SHOTS aren't guranteed. A 25 foot contested jumper with alittle time left on the clock is tough to rig, or even attempt to "predict" the outcome. Officiating on the other hand is where IT can be "fixed".
NBA Fixing Games...There's a Thought I Suppose it's possible,not just in the NBA,but in the NHL,NFL,MLB..But than sports,and polictial races have been known to be fixed..i'd ask Jeb,and George Bush,about how they'd pull off the 2000 election Either way,Anything's possible
I don't think so, because SHOTS can go in or pop out, it's not guarenteed, and the best shooters shoot 50% maximum, so the NBA won't make arrangments for some team to win or lose and there's still a 50% chance ( At least ) of it not happening.
They can't fix the outcomes of games, they can only HOPE that one team wins or loses, and the best bet is that the referees are designated to call fouls here and there.
I think David Stern talkes to the Refs before the games and if David says guys I need the Wolves to win it tonight the refs can make it happen. Like said before its all about the money. I think there are alot of people with alot of power controling the NBA,NFL,NHL and all the other huge sports event. I see it happen with refs in europe all the time with soccer.
Some WWE stuff is possible with all sports. Like I heard alot of people saying that game between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers in game 7 of the WCF in 2000 was juiced. I was of course estastic that the Lakers made that comeback, but I did think about why Steve Smith just jacked that 3 up with loads of seconds left on the clock. He didn't even aim it seemed, it looked like he was trying to take a buzzer shot with a the defense all over him. But the defense wasn't even close, oh well.
Of course they can't make jumpshots go in, but the refs have a huge part in the game. The refs can make a team play a certain way by calling fouls. They can let one team get away with certain things, and not the other. Like, not letting Artest get physical on the perimeter would greatly change the Pacers chances of winning. But, on the opposite end, letting Ben Wallace just toss a player around, and not calling it. The refs can greatly alter the way a team plays.
Is it just me or does it seem the draft lottery is rigged? We never see the ping pong balls drop, we only see the results with the cards. It wouldn't be hard at all to rig the lottery. Also like some others said the league can't rig a game completely, but they can "direct" it where they want it to go.
I have to say it's fairly obvious that the league has moments of bias.. The best example of it was last year's Wolves vs Lakers, or as Charles Barkley put it, the worst officiated game he's seen in his life.
NBA = National Business Association great thread, interesting statements being made.. i think to some extent most professional sports are rigged in one way or another.. i think with the NBA, its alot of a profit generating thing, and i DO believe that certain teams have the upper had on other squads because of there reputation/relationship with league commissioner/ownership/heirarchy, call it what u will.. All you need to do is look at the situation with fining players. Two players (sometimes even more) will commit the exact same offence yet everybody recieves different penalties, i can't say i KNOW 100% the nba wants the lakers to win (or whatever theory you may believe), because i have no evidence to back this statement, however it is obvious to us all that the nba is totally bias and uses favouritism as a way of judging what players do and don't deserve. Unfair. BUT.. we as fans are part of an audience who genuinely love the sport for what it is.. we unite on a message board to discuss (and argue ) about something we are passionate about.. but the true reality is that the nba is a joke when it comes to the business side. As Jon Barry said they are a breed of "over paid prima donas", and each nba player is paid to shut up and act/play.. Metaphorically David Stern is a pimp, and its that same pimp who runs shit. So while we might not like the way things pan out and the way conspiracy theories are unanswered, we can't do much about it. Things are no longer about the love of the game. They even turned "I Love This Game" into a million dollar marketing scheme. I know the money is really what the game is about these days, but no ammount of money will change the way i look at the game... unless i make it pro.. then id prob sign with nike. ahha trip. P.S Refs make the outcome of a game these days, officiating fairly is a crucial factor from beginning to end. Not just in the cruch, it effects momentum and determines the way a team will play once that momentum has been established. I wouldn't have a clue as to wether D.Stern would have an impact on refs, but question to jiggax23 or ne1 who knows, is that what you said about Stern saying in the finals he wants to see "Lakers VS Lakers"? if so that sounds a little shady to me..
I sometimes think games can "fixed",even though refs can't make shots go in they can give a team more oppurtunities like if the team (that is rigged to win) shoots a shot and misses a ref can call like a bs away from the ball foul or something. Thats just how things are in this world these days nothing is pure anymore.
spree, the statement i made is true about stern saying his dream finals matchup would be "lakers vs lakers." he made this comment to jim gray i believe when the two were discussing the possibility of a spurs vs pistons finals matchup, where he then proceeded to ask him what would his dream matchup be and he responded with the comment above. all this on national television as well
