Today will either affirm or disaffirm my prior thoughts regarding the NBA.
For some time now I have been on the skeptical side regarding the NBA. Actually, now that I think about it, my skepticism has a pretty well defined starting date...
It all started back in the early 2000's when it was confirmed that a referee had intentionally thrown basketball games. I had seen a lot of questionable things back then but that was the verification I needed to know that what I was seeing was not all in my head.
However, it wasn't just the referee throwing those games that stuck out in my head because that could be a one off event. It was what the referee wrote in his book years later that really got my attention...
The referee was instructed by the league on how to officiate certain players.
He talked about how he didn't actually throw the games. Instead he was often instructed on how to officiate certain players by the league front office before the game would even start.
He claimed that he could tell with a 90% certainty who was going to win the game before it even started based upon the instructions he received from the league office prior to each game.
Things like not calling star players for fouls were often high on his instruction lists since the fans didn't' want to come watch their favorite player foul out.
In the referee's eyes he really wasn't doing anything different than he normally would, he just started leaking that information to certain questionable characters who then placed large bets using that information.
Don't even get me started on stuff like this:
(That was the year the New York Knicks miraculously won the 1st pick in the draft after David Stern chose the envelope with the slightly creased corner. That pick would become Franchise altering Hall of Famer, Patrick Ewing.)
Fast Forward to today.
The NBA denied much of what the referee wrote in his book but it has claimed numerous times that it is a business and the fact that it is a business is all the proof we really need.
There is a major financial incentive to make sure the NBA Finals last as many games as possible. If the series were to end in a sweep, the league would miss out on millions of dollars in TV revenue, ticket sales, possibly merchandise sales etc.
For that reason, in my opinion, the league will do everything they can to make sure Cleveland wins tonight.
Golden State is far and away the better team. That is not really a knock on Cleveland though, because Golden State is probably the best team ever assembled. Losing to the best team ever assembled isn't that bad of thing in the grand scheme of things.
Going back to my original point. If the best team ever assembled loses tonight, it will officially confirm my prior beliefs that the NBA is indeed rigged. If, the better team wins again tonight, it will make me rethink my prior beliefs. However, it won't totally eliminate them until the following game.
Basically if anything other than a sweep of this series happens, I believe the league is rigged. If a sweep happens it will get me to reconsider.
It would be nice if the integrity of the sport were put first and foremost, but I do understand that it is a business. It would make rooting for a mid level market team much easier for me if I knew the playing grounds were at least somewhat even...
You want to change your image, Mr. NBA? Show me a sweep!
Pictures:
http://dishnation.com/game-6-nba-finals-rigged/
http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/3-reasons-people-think-nba-as-rigged-as-wrestling/
http://www.dawgshed.com/threads/my-bold-pick-for-the-nba-east-finals.149179/
I am the: @voiceofreason
Warriors lost what, 10 games this year with a healthy Durant? The league is hardly rigged because they lose 1 game in the finals lol
I thought sports was our last refuge from this kind of stuff. If I wanted to see rigged games, I could just go back to playing against myself in the driveway.
This makes me upset tho .. XD
I'm watching NBA since last year finals. And already a big fan of Golden State Warriors. And yes I also believe that GSW has the best team in NBA right now. But if this is true, it will really change my mind on NBA. It's the same with FIFA/UEFA in Europe, all about the money...
I think it is very likely that the NBA will call more fouls on Warriors players and let the Cavs get away with fouls and get quick trips to the free throw line (e.g. 4th quarter of the Game 7 of 2010 NBA Finals Celtics vs Lakers).
It's gonna be tough sledding to score in the paint this game for the Warriors (won't get any help from the refs), so they better hope their 3 pt game continues its hot streak from the last game (54 points from 3 pt range).
If the Warriors want to swipe one in Cleveland tonight, they must maintain a big lead coming out of the 3Q or else the refs will insert themselves in the 4th and allow the Cavs to get back into the series. Neutralize the screw job by taking care of business earlier in the game - don't wait until the 4Q!
I thought the NBA were better then FIFA ... :(
Extremely compelling information! Didn't know much about the David Stern-New York Knicks Draft situation (too young I guess). I do believe that some referees call players more sensitively, if you will.
I believe that the Cavs will have a little more leeway in terms of drawing fouls, especially since they're at home. Of course, we all hope for a more competitive series, but hopefully the Cavs can actually be more cohesive on offense, see Tristan Thompson be more dominant inside (rebounding/defensive coverages), and have more fluid shooting after defenses collapse! Rumors have it that Shumpert will replace JR Smith for the SG position tonight, which will help the Cavs on both ends, in my opinion.
Scheming aside, I just want to see a good, competitive game that comes down to the last few possessions. And ultimately - sweep or not - I hope that the referees don't screw this one up!
Wow!
well said @voiceofreason a sweep would be nice but I hope not, I want to keep watching ball.
I have noticed this manipulations in numerous sports as well, crazy man?
These multi Billion dollar leagues NBA/ NFL/ MLB are all registered as Charity's and tax exempted. How is that???
peace out
What a win from Warriors tonight! For a moment I thought they had lost the game, what a come back in the last minutes! Go Warriors!
28 Fouls called on the Warriors and 25 on the Cavs + Warriors winning I am so happy the NBA is not rigged.
I had the same feeling last year and then Cavs won game 3. I was so confident that the NBA wouldn't let the Cavs lose that game (for bu$ine$$ reasons) and put some money on the game. I thought I was so smart when they won! 73-9 Warriors, one of the best teams ever assembled, who won the first two games by over 20 points. I was smart until I put money on them to win the series :'(
Yes all sports are rigged but this warriors team is so good that it doesn't matter