Game 2: NBA Finals

[Ghazi]

Good game, tough break fr the Magic. Just missed a few shot sreally.

No team has ever come back in a Finals when down 0-2. Can the Magic make history? I doubt it, but we'll see.

[DPG21920]

Is FT disparity what counts? Or is it the calls in the moments that matter, such as the missed goal tend that the announcers pointed out?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I love how Spur fan is complaining about the refs when the Magic again shot more F/T's than the Lakers.

Yep, I'm sure if Kobe had gotten tripped like Hedo was late, that there wouldn't have been a whistle for it...

[LakerHater]

wasn't it jus 1 FT difference!?!

[DrHouse]

Calls were missed both ways and were momentum changers for both sides. Give me a break guys.

The refs were not the reason the Magic lost.

[21_Blessings]

Why is Spurs fan even talking? Donaghy rigged a game against the Suns and then Stern suspended two of the Suns players for no reason at all in game 6. Shut the fuck and enjoy your asterisk championship. Your window is fucking closed. Have fun getting eliminated by pathetic teams like the Dallas Mavericks in the 1st round the next 3-4 four years.

[ffadicted]

I blame this loss on Courtney Lee missing a wide open layup due to terrible defense by Kobe lol

I also blame it on 5 straight missed FTs

I also blame it on JJ Redick's late game choke wide open 3s

And finally, I blame it on Courtney Lee again.

Thanks

[LakerHater]

Magic had 20 TOs!!!!!!!

That cost'em the game, not the flakers!

[timvp]

:sleep @ blaming the refs. NBA Fan needs more than a one trick pony.

[quickerblade]

Howard shows us he is not dominant, he has butter hands, how many turnovers did he have?? 7

[TampaDude]

I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!

[ffadicted]

Why is Spurs fan even talking? Donaghy rigged a game against the Suns and then Stern suspended two of the Suns players for no reason at all in game 6. Shut the fuck and enjoy your asterisk championship. Your window is fucking closed. Have fun getting eliminated by pathetic teams like the Dallas Mavericks in the 1st round the next 3-4 four years.

Cool story, bro lol

Except you forget the fact your team was even worse off couple years back before they gave up water bottles and a bag of doritos for an all star in return.

At least our all star isn't desperately demanding a trade like a baby

[ace3g]

I love how Spur fan is complaining about the refs when the Magic again shot more F/T's than the Lakers.

again it is never the FT disparity, I've seen games when teams lose with more FT and win with more FT, so I never look at number of FT that says nothing, you are basically looking at a stat sheet and saying hey the Magic must have gotten the benefit of the calls look at that disparity.

You are just like every single NBA commentator, you look at the obvious, it is the timing of the fouls/FT that make a difference in a game not FT disparity. FT slow the pace down, change momentum from one team to another.

Lakers clearly got the benefit of calls at the right time during the game, like I said earlier "a lot of calls for the Magic early in the game ok, a lot of touch/ questionable calls for the lakers during clutch time = bad"

[DPG21920]

Was not the refs fault overall, but that call should have been made. Plenty of things could have turned the tide, but in the end, the Lakers just have too much talent to lose to anyone.

It is really not even close.

[TampaDude]

Magic had 20 TOs!!!!!!!

That cost'em the game, not the flakers!

20 turnovers??? They deserve to get swept. Please, Lakers, put us all out of our misery. This series is weak.

[ace3g]

I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!
I fucking told you all that those missed FTs would come back to haunt the Magic!!!!!

Sad thing is Redick, one of the best college FT shooters and NBA FT shooters percentage wise missed 5, just making 1 or 2 of those would have been the difference

[ffadicted]

20 turnovers??? They deserve to get swept. Please, Lakers, put us all out of our misery. This series is weak.

+1 :toast

Hopefully the magic will wake up at home and take all three. Here's to hoping :downspin:

[sammy]

Good game, tough break fr the Magic. Just missed a few shot sreally.

No team has ever come back in a Finals when down 0-2. Can the Magic make history? I doubt it, but we'll see.

Miami Heat came back from 0-2 against your team Dallas! So if anyone can do it, Orlando has a shot!

[DeadlyDynasty]

:sleep @ blaming the refs. NBA Fan needs more than a one trick pony.

It's a conveniently lazy and baseless response haters can use instead of actually talking about the game. You can tell who the mature posters on this site are...none of them blame officiating for wins and losses

[DPG21920]

Magic had no chance coming into this series. Even if they would have split, this series was over. Hoping does not change the facts.

[iggypop123]

lakers 25 fouls orlando 24. wtf is this bitching about the refs

[DPG21920]

It's a conveniently lazy and baseless response haters can use instead of actually talking about the game. You can tell who the mature posters on this site are...none of them blame officiating for wins and losses

Then there is not one mature person on the board because I have seen every single person complain about the refs during one game or another and blame the loss on it.

Mature is realizing when a game is so poorly officiated and saying yup, just move on.

Do not act like officiating has never effected the outcome of a game in a major way.

[Ghazi]

Miami Heat came back from 0-2 against your team Dallas! So if anyone can do it, Orlando has a shot!

No they didn't, the refs did.

NBA won't want 2 tainted series in a 4 year stretch.

Magic are gonna need a hell of a miracle.

[DPG21920]

This should be a sweep.

[quickerblade]

This might be a sweep.

Might?? this is over man, Orlando hit all there shots and still lost. It's over.

[Ghazi]

Orlando shot 42% from field lol.

[Budkin]

Orlando will win at least 2 of their home games. Book it.

[DeadlyDynasty]

I still say Lakers in 6...I think Orlando blows LA out in Game 3.

[ace3g]

lakers 25 fouls orlando 24. wtf is this bitching about the refs

again looking at that stat it doesn't look that bad, but lets not forget the Magic started off the game with 5 fouls in the first couple of minutes in the 1st quarter.

You can't make statements based on a stat line, you use those stats as supporting material for what you witnessed during the game, and those 24 fouls on the Magic started to add up during critical moments in the game while the Lakers 25 fouls happened during non critical moments

[DeadlyDynasty]

Might?? this is over man, Orlando hit all there shots and still lost. It's over.

they shot terribly in the first half (as did we), and Howard stillhasn't broken out yet. We haven't seen even close to Orlando's best shot yet.

[DPG21920]

That would be like looking at a box score and seeing someone with 25 points. You think good game, right? Well what if that person only made one shot in the 2nd half and his team lost because he was taking terrible shots...

Stats need to be examined, not just taken at face value. But the refs did not lose the game, the Magic did. That goaltend should have been called, but it was not.

[iggypop123]

lewis had the game of his life and they still lost. if he can continue his amazing play then it could present trouble but he made 6 3 pointers

[TheMACHINE]

I blame this loss on Courtney Lee missing a wide open layup due to terrible defense by Kobe lol

I also blame it on 5 straight missed FTs

I also blame it on JJ Redick's late game choke wide open 3s

And finally, I blame it on Courtney Lee again.

Thanks

but but but the refs...what about them?

[dav4463]

lakers 25 fouls orlando 24. wtf is this bitching about the refs

Check the stats in the last six minutes plus overtime. Down the stretch every single close call went LA's way.

Kobe falls down on his own, gets two free throws. Turkoglu gets blocked, tripped, and knocked down and it's a no call with the ball awarded to LA. Gasol goal tends on the last shot. Kobe gets another phantom call when Pietrus played perfect defense and Howard blocked his shot. Kobe extends to clear space on a jumper and hits a shot. Turkoglu extends with barely any contact and gets called for an offensive foul.

[Medvedenko]

Finally the Magic hit shots and had a few lucky breaks and rebounded very well. The Lakers played great D, only to be foiled by a desperation heave that went in or a second shot opportunity. Still, they lost. Over in 5.

[TheMACHINE]

btw i do blame the refs..shoulda ended 86-88 if they havent fcked up the dwight howard goaltedn in the first quarter..u know momentum shift. lol

[quickerblade]

anyone that mentions refs is gonna get fucked like i did by the dude in my avatar

[TheMACHINE]

Check the stats in the last six minutes plus overtime. Down the stretch every single close call went LA's way.

Kobe falls down on his own, gets two free throws. Turkoglu gets blocked, tripped, and knocked down and it's a no call with the ball awarded to LA. Gasol goal tends on the last shot. Kobe gets another phantom call when Pietrus played perfect defense and Howard blocked his shot. Kobe extends to clear space on a jumper and hits a shot. Turkoglu extends with barely any contact and gets called for an offensive foul.

how bout the blwon calls in the first half? Why only look at the last 6 minutes? Oh yah..cuz it helps ur case.

[YellowFever]

Holy Crap!

Mike dunlevy, that pathetic coach of the clippers was quoted as saying something to the effect of, "If Orlando makes their three pointers and Rasheed goes off in this series.......Lakers in five."

LoL....The pathetic coach is looking like a prophet.

[21_Blessings]

Check the stats in the last six minutes plus overtime. Down the stretch every single close call went LA's way.

Kobe falls down on his own, gets two free throws. Turkoglu gets blocked, tripped, and knocked down and it's a no call with the ball awarded to LA. Gasol goal tends on the last shot. Kobe gets another phantom call when Pietrus played perfect defense and Howard blocked his shot. Kobe extends to clear space on a jumper and hits a shot. Turkoglu extends with barely any contact and gets called for an offensive foul.

How about the play, in crunch time, where Turkoglu knocks the ball out of bounds but is called off kobe? That was arguably the worst call of the game, outside of the Dwight goal tend non call.

[dav4463]

how bout the blwon calls in the first half? Why only look at the last 6 minutes? Oh yah..cuz it helps ur case.


Because if a few calls are made in the first half against LA, it is easier to justify screwing the Magic down the stretch.

[dbtbandit67]

JJ Reddick shouldn't have been in there, where was Rafer or Jameer?

[DrHouse]

:lmao at Spur fan whining about the refs. Some things never change.

When even timvp stops complaining about the refs you know it's time to give it up.

[Capt Bringdown]

Out of 8 periods played so far, 9 if you count overtime, the Magic have won only 2.

Lakers are dominating them and probably should sweep, if they don't get lazy in Orlando.

[lefty]

but but but the refs...what about them?
Yeah yeah, refs too...

[playaslk]

Out of 8 periods played so far, 9 if you count overtime, the Magic have won only 2.

Lakers are dominating them and probably should sweep, if they don't get lazy in Orlando.
The game was decided by missed FT by Magic as well as 2 good looks by C Lee at the end of the game.

The "goaltend" on Gasol is a joke, he had absolutely no alteration of the shot, didnt shake the rim, Lee just plain missed.

Ariza was very physical w/ Turk in OT, I agree. Some of those calls would have been called in regulation. One of the "no" calls resulted in a 3 point play for Howard so I figure that evened that out a bit.

Bryant got shafted on the out of bounds (of his foot) call at the end, but thats how it goes.

The "refs fucked the magic" posts are weak, Bynum was getting absolutely, positively 0 love. NONE, he was getting called for "contact" that cheerleaders routenely make with fans in the first row. WEAK calls. He was COMPLETELY out of his game. The only reason noone says anything about that is because Odom had a game of his life.

Oh and by the way, how about the free throws Pau and Odom hit? As a laker fan, when Odom, and to a SLIGHTLY less extent, Gasol step to the line, I feel like its Shaq at the line. For Christs sake, Odom is a 59% shooter. They came up big.

Good game LA, it was a grind, but thats the kind of game they had to win because not every game is going to be a smooth flowing offensive game.

[quickerblade]

is bynum really relevant?

[playaslk]

is bynum really relevant?

He's relavant in his defense of D12 as well as offensive rebounding. He has had a crap playoff but he did score 40+ once this season before his knee blowout.

He had 6 quick points in the first game at the start (i think he had 6 of first 10 Laker points).

I will agree that he's not an offensive force but what IS relevant is that when he defends Howard, Gasol doesnt have to and it keeps Odom off the floor.

Lakers got lucky that Odom had his good game. If he did not (which VERY easily could have been the case with his 10 point 4 rebounds), it would have been a much bigger point.

With Odom's 5 fouls, we were 1 call away from having big time DJ Mbenga roaming the offensive sets.....

[IronMexican]

Lol, blaming refs.

[quickerblade]

He's relavant in his defense of D12 as well as offensive rebounding. He has had a crap playoff but he did score 40+ once this season before his knee blowout.

He had 6 quick points in the first game at the start (i think he had 6 of first 10 Laker points).

I will agree that he's not an offensive force but what IS relevant is that when he defends Howard, Gasol doesnt have to and it keeps Odom off the floor.

Lakers got lucky that Odom had his good game. If he did not (which VERY easily could have been the case with his 10 point 4 rebounds), it would have been a much bigger point.
regular season is different, he looks lost here

[iggypop123]

bynum will get 2 fouls in olrando within the 11 min mark. its just how they hate him

[playaslk]

regular season is different, he looks lost here

I agree that he's not a big time scoring weapon, but he's a defender whom D12 cannot push around like a rag doll.

Again, we were 1 call away from having Luke Walton / DJ coming into the game in crunch time.

[KSeal]

Lol, blaming refs.

:toast

[TampaDude]

http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/sound_sorting/all/images/sweep.jpg

[IronMexican]

Maybe it is rigged. Look at 2005, the NBA obviously wanted to keep out boring old Dwayne Wade and Steve Nash to give the world Tim Duncan vs Rasheed Wallace.

[dbtbandit67]

:lmao at Spur fan whining about the refs. Some things never change.

When even timvp stops complaining about the refs you know it's time to give it up.

i dont blame the refs. the magic were the ones missing jump shots and free throws, not the refs. but this was a game that the magic could have and should have won. hopefully van gundy makes the proper adjustments and takes game 3 in orlando where the crowd will be much more lively not putting us all nearly to sleep

[quickerblade]

where was jameer?

[Budkin]

The NBA isn't rigged, it just has the worst refs of any professional league at least in the US. How the fuck are 50-70 year old dudes that are already starting to lose their minds supposed to run up and down the court all day and manage to call a fair game? It seriously makes it difficult to watch the NBA for all of us, fans of all teams.

[spurscenter]

Refs are professional ....... gamblers.


They know what they are doing.


Phantom call on Pietrus, his 4th, then helps Kobe get up. lol


You can see it in the refs faces. They make 300,000 a year, they are company men.


Get ready Lakers --- Refs will completely give the Magic Games 3 and 4 (to calm down Orlando fans and so people will then say this isnt fixed, this is great basketball, this is great series, while making everyone forget Game 2)

then they will do a Bullshit Game 5 in Orlando for the Lakers to go up 3-2.

THEN

they will make sure the Lakers win in Game 6 at home for maximum revenue and dramatics, i.e. Kobe crying, Ceremony for Phil, etc. etc.

Trust me.


Book mark this post. It will go down like that.

[ginobili's bald spot]

Refs are professional ....... gamblers.


They know what they are doing.

spurscenter crying like a bitch again.

[crc21209]

The game was clearly given to the Lakers in the final 2 mins or so of the 4th qtr. The foul on Pietrus that fouled him out was BS. Turkoglu's "offensive foul" for pushing off...my ass. And finally, Kobe falling on his ass BY HIMSELF, only for a foul to be called on Turkoglu. But people around here wanna talk "killer instinct" and the Magic not having it...I didnt see it from the Lakers either people. So...I'm calling the Magic to sweep ALL 3 games at home, and then close it out in Game 6 IN L.A. Just a feeling I have. I had the same feeling in 06' bout the Heat as well. :tu. :lol

[spurscenter]

spurscenter crying like a bitch again.

I could care less that the Lakers win. I want this corporate bullshit to stop.

I hate seeing a sport ruined by corruption, money and marketing.


You will NEVER see this sort of bullshit calls in Baseball because they take game fixing and gambling seriously.

They protect the GAME , not a certain city (hence yankees dont always win with their roster), a certain player (Pete Rose) or a certain ref (name 1 umpire who is corrupt in MLB)

[ginobili's bald spot]

I could care less that the Lakers win. I want this corporate bullshit to stop.

I hate seeing a sport being ruined by corruption, money and marketing.

You will NEVER see this sort of bullshit calls in Baseball because they take game fixing and gambling seriously.

You could care less? So in other words you care. I can tell because the entire front page of NBA forum was you crying about refs and conspiracies in EVERY thread.

[spurscenter]

You could care less? So in other words you care. I can tell because the entire front page of NBA forum was you crying about refs and conspiracies in EVERY thread.

It could be the New York Knicks and if the refs were all on their nuts over X team, I would still be calling this bullshit

It just so happens , as we all know since 2000, the refs and the NBA love to suck the Lakers cocks.

Fuck even ESPN opened an international office across the street from the Staples Center this year.

[crc21209]

it could be the new york knicks and if the refs were all on their nuts over x team, i would still be calling this bullshit

it just so happens , as we all know since 2000, the refs and the nba love to suck the lakers cocks.

Fuck even espn opened an international office across the street from the staples center this year.

+10000000000

[sonic21]

backdoor sweep

[spurscenter]

I know my Spurs won 4 titles, a great feat for a small market team, but if they did not have a fascinating international angle to them that helps the NBA market themselves in Argentina and France/Europe, the spurs would have been pushed to the side in 03 and 05. Those were the early days of the global NBA expansion, with the wonderful Spurs draft choices it gave the NBA a great angle to sell the Spurs regardless of who they played.

NBA operates with an agenda all the way from giving you a $25,000 plus fine for bad mouthing the referees. It will never allow a reporter to interview any referee at any time for any reason, no matter what. This is to protect what they want to stay protected.

In baseball, any reporter can freely go up to a MLB umpire, set up an interview and ask him questions --- WHY? --- because they have nothing to hide nor does the league. Usually no reporter seeks an interview because they don't engage in game fixing or become part of the game like the NBA refs do.

Then the NBA is exposed with Tim Donague and all the talk from games like Game 6 between Sacramento/Lakers and many others games since make sense.

You see refs like Jack Nies pocketing money from flights, you see refs like Joey Crawford suspension and reinstatement, you see refs like Violet Palmer, refs that used to work for the Mob and FBI.

You see a league that never broadcasts or allows the media to witness the actual draft lottery balls being picked, David calls it "boring" but makes a spectacle and grand stage show opening the envelopes --- which David has final say who gets the first 3 picks every year. It's always a market in brink financially or in need of a jolt. i.e. Cleveland, Clippers, etc. I can go on and on on other instances in the last 9 years.

This is a league that stresses Entertainment first and foremost, like the WWE. I'm not hating on Stern for being a marketing genius and turning the NBA into what it is today, but when he reaches into the actual game in order to fulfill an agenda, I have a problem and so should you.

I marvel at those people that still don't see behind corporate bullshit in any sport, the ones that don't want to believe in any of this.

It reminds me of that guy from the movie "Thank you for Not Smoking" The lobbyist who is so good at what he does, he will never make you see the bad in cigarettes.

Or people like Jose Canseco screaming back in the early 2000's that there's steroids in baseball, writing a book called, "Juiced", MLB denied it because they needed Sosa, McGwire, Bonds to continue what they were doing to revive the game after a downturn in ad revenue and baseball interest still from the lockout.

Then congress stepped in and baseball admits the steroids problem, and Canseco writes another book titled, "Vindicated" lol (btw read it)

Wait til you see Tim Donague's book. Will you believe him or what the NBA (corporation in need of your money) tells you to believe?

It's always the ones that call out the bullshit first, the ones who get ridiculed first, then Tim Donague happens and the Kings fans are like, "We told you mother fuckers" then Pete Rose happens and Jim Gray is like, "I told you mother fuckers." lol

Of all leagues and sports, the NBA is sadly the most corrupt professional sport but fortunately the players are not. However, the NBA won't let them talk freely because it has a business (not a game) to protect.

[Ghazi]

I dunno about all that. It could be possible though.

I do know that the 2006 Finals were rigged though and that the Mavs are the true champs of that year. That much I know.

[spurscenter]

I dunno about all that. It could be possible though.

I do know that the 2006 Finals were rigged though and that the Mavs are the true champs of that year. That much I know.

lol

[playaslk]

I know my Spurs won 4 titles, a great feat for a small market team, but if they did not have a fascinating international angle to them that helps the NBA market themselves in Argentina and France/Europe, the spurs would have been pushed to the side in 03 and 05. Those were the early days of the global NBA expansion, with the wonderful Spurs draft choices it gave the NBA a great angle to sell the Spurs regardless of who they played.

NBA operates with an agenda all the way from giving you a $25,000 plus fine for bad mouthing the referees. It will never allow a reporter to interview any referee at any time for any reason, no matter what. This is to protect what they want to protected.

In baseball, any reporter can freely go up to a MLB umpire, set up an interview and ask him questions --- WHY? --- because they have nothing to hide nor does the league. Usually no reporter seeks an interview because they don't engage in game fixing or become part of the game like the NBA refs do.

Then the NBA is exposed with Tim Donague and all the talk from games like Game 6 between Sacramento/Lakers and many others games since make sense.

You see refs like Jack Nies pocketing money from flights, you see refs like Joey Crawford suspension and reinstatement, you see refs like Violet Palmer, refs that used to work for the Mob and FBI.

You see a league that never broadcasts or allows the media to witness the actual draft lottery balls being picked, David calls it "boring" but makes a spectacle and grand stage show opening the envelopes --- which David has final say who gets the first 3 picks every year. It's always a market in brink financially or in need of a jolt. i.e. Cleveland, Clippers, etc. I can go on and on on other instances in the last 9 years.

This is a league that stresses Entertainment first and foremost, like the WWE. I'm not hating on Stern for being a marketing genius and turning the NBA into what it is today, but when he reaches into the actual game in order to fulfill an agenda, I have a problem and so should you.

I marvel at those people that still don't see behind corporate bullshit in any sport, the ones that don't want to believe in any of this.

It reminds me of that guy from the movie "Thank you for Not Smoking" The lobbyist who is so good at what he does, he will never make you see the bad in cigarettes.

Or people like Jose Canseco screaming back in the early 2000's that there's steroids in baseball, writing a book called, "Juiced", MLB denied it because they needed Sosa, McGwire, Bonds to continue what they were doing to revive the game after a marketing baseball slump.

Then congress stepped in and baseball admits the steroids problem, and Canseco writes another book titled, "Vindicated" lol (btw read it)

Wait til you see Tim Donague's book. Will you believe him or what the NBA (corporation in need of your money) tells you to believe?

It's always the ones that call out the bullshit first, the ones who get ridiculed first, then Tim Donague happens and the Kings fans are like, "We told you mother fuckers" then Pete Rose happens and Jim Gray is like, "I told you mother fuckers." lol

Of all leagues and sports, the NBA is sadly the most corrupt professional sport but fortunately the players are not. However, the NBA won't let them talk freely because it has a business (not a game) to protect.

The only possible thing you may have said that carries merit is that the refs in the NBA are too old. They need to have a youth infusion. Oh wait, you did not say that.

I realize you are probably one of many degenerate gamblers who lose money on betting but please sit and think about your statements.

Baseball and legit/clean dont even fit in the same sentence. From homeplate umps who have a different strikezone, to the steroids which are STILL not openly discussed (dont forget that the Mitchell report only really dealt w/ 2 teams and a few well known players that are not on those two teams. From scuffed balls to spit balls to corked bats to HGC..... If anything, baseball is the LEAST open/honest sport there is. You say Conseco is a savior, and i'll counter that he's a money grubbin ho' who used the opportunity to get back at baseball and MAKE MONEY with this issue. His books are going to keep coming out because there are many MANY more players who were juiced, and ofcourse he doesnt tell it all in one. Please wait for future releases of "jake peavy wont piss in a cup" as well as "how ARod makes love to himself, a steroidalmentary". Good lord, baseball = honorable is just too funny.

Lets take another sport, football. I am a steelers fan and let me tell you, our DPoY Harrison is def not "el natural". You can probably say that about a large number of defensive as well as some offensive players in the league. Take a look at any forum during the season and you'll see how many people are calling for the refs' collective heads. OMG THAT WAS A HOLD, DUDE THAT WAS A CLIP, PI!!!! The league "wants Pittsburgh, NE, Colts etc to win". Stop it.

In summary, should NBA remove the corpses of the officials off the floor? probably so. Is it a head office conspiracy to get the Lakers into the finals? Absolutely not. How about the fact that the Lakers spend more money (over the cap and pay the tax) to put a winning product on the court? Its funny coming from a Spurs fan. I dont need to bring up the fact that the Spurs won a handful of trophies, with a superstar who's as marketable as Andrew Bynum.

Take off the camo gear, they are not coming to get you... yet.

[spurscenter]

What camo gear? WTF you talking about. LOL

I hear what you are saying, but Baseball is actively monitoring strike zone with cameras now and has introduced instant replay .

Baseball will ban you from the game if you cheat, no matter who you are.

In the NBA, a star player can cheat and get rewarded. (yes Im stretching the analogy, lol)

NBA has made moves (only after the Tim Donaghy fiasco) to make the fans aware that they are there for them and squash dissent.

They did install Instant Replay with limitations but it's all a step in the right direction .

I think a mixture of new refs and/or international rotating refs would do wonders for the league but they won't, Stern won't allow that to happen, its about control which you need when you are doing mass marketing.

Anyhow, that's funny when you state, "you are probably one of many degenerate gamblers who lose money on betting" LOL

I never gamble on crooked sport like the NBA. Too many variables involved and nothing really about the actual game.