Finals by Foul: the NBA Finals Fix

[BRHornet45]

Finals by Foul: the NBA Finals Fix
Friday, June 18, 2010 (58 minutes ago)

Kevin Garnett did well not to blow up at the NBA's officials as he was pushed, hacked & stomped beneath the defensive glass in Games 6 & 7

Ah, NBA Playoff games… the most obviously rigged sporting events this side of professional boxing. Can you really blame NBA Commish David Stern, though?

Seriously… I mean, it’s just so easy.

Basketball is a game of momentum, and a single terrible call at a crucial moment can squash a big push and start another. Fixing the 2010 NBA Finals was no trouble at all.

However, instead of my usual selection of individual foul calls that changed individual games in favor of the eventual victors, this time I’m going to take a look at the Personal Foul spread over the course of the entire NBA Finals Series between the Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers.

Not surprisingly, the team that won each game was called for fewer fouls than their opponent in every contest except Game 5 (Boston 23 PF’s to LA 22 PF’s).
(See Chart Below)

This disparity was never more glaring than in Game 3.

It was during Game 3 that the Celtics were whistled for 27 Personal Fouls while the Lakers only drew 20. That crucial contest was a huge swing point, and it is obvious why Stern and his Official Fixers would want to swing it towards the Lakers.

LA had just dropped Game 2 at home by a 9-point margin in a game where the fouls were distributed evenly (29 apiece.) A Lakers loss in the first of three consecutive games in Boston would have meant a potentially short series, and could have fulfilled Paul Pierce’s prediction that the Celtics would not need to travel back to Los Angeles for a Game 6.

It also would have meant an epic loss of advertising revenue for the NBA, which makes more on each contest as the series extends to five, six & seven games.

So the Lakers got all the calls in Game 3, meted out a 91-84 victory, and forced a return to the Big Stage in LA after Boston won consecutive home games to retake the series lead at 3-2. In both of those games, the foul difference was negligible (Game 4; 21-23 in favor of Boston & Game 5; 23-22 in favor of LA.) These stats would lend credence to the notion that, when the game is called evenly, Boston typically wins handily.

In this NBA Finals Series, when the Personal Foul differential between teams was 2 fouls or less, the Celtics won three and lost one. LA pulled out Game 1 with a spirited effort on their home court and a 2-foul differential in their favor. Boston won Games 2, 4 & 5 with negligible differentials of 0, 2 & 1 respectively.

Then, in Games 6 & 7, the NBA’s referees took over the series again.
After serving up Game 3 to Los Angeles on a silver platter (think back on that 7-foul differential), the officials gifted the Lakers with ten extra foul calls over the last two games of the series. Typically, a difference that large can be at least partially explained by one team intentionally fouling another late in tight games to preserve clock.

That was not the case here.

Boston only intentionally fouled LA once in the closing minutes of the final two games, a meaningful hack on Sasha Vujacic in the 4th Quarter of Game 7.

The rest of Games 6 & 7 were tilted handily towards the Lakers by a margin of 46 PF’s against Boston to 36 PF’s against Los Angeles. The Celtics’ Kevin Garnett was routinely hacked by Pao Gasol and charging Lakers forwards/guards on the defensive boards in those final two games, a trend that helped the Lakers outrebound the Celtics 40 to 28 at the defensive glass in Game 7.

In fact, intentional fouls played almost no part in this series, as the earlier stages of the 4th Quarter decided the winner in almost every game.
Bearing that in mind, what would you think the Personal Foul differential was in the 4th Quarter of Game 7, a quarter that started with the Celtics nursing a 2-point lead?

The Celtics were whistled for 12 personal fouls to the Lakers’ 5. On fouls that resulted in shots, Los Angeles took a game-changing 21 free throws to Boston’s 6. And this in the final quarter of a Finals Series decided by a mere four points.

To say, “The Fix was on” is not broad enough. Instead we’ll go with, “The Fix continues…”

2010 NBA Finals Points & Personal Fouls by Game

Game # – Celtics Points (PF’s) – Lakers Points (PF’s)

Game 1 – Celtics 89 (28) – Lakers 102 (26)
Game 2 – Celtics 103 (29) – Lakers 94 (29)
Game 3 – Celtics 84 (27) – Lakers 91 (20)
Game 4 – Celtics 96 (21 – Lakers 89 (23)
Game 5 – Celtics 92 (23) – Lakers 86 (22)
Game 6 – Celtics 67 (21) – Lakers 89 (17)
Game 7 – Celtics 79 (25) – Lakers 83 (19)



http://www.prosportscolorado.com/2010/06/18/2736-finals-by-foul-the-nba-finals-fix/

[Ghazi]

Celtics have been like the #1 fouling team the past 3 years. Just putting that out there.

Only case of a Finals being rigged was 2006.

[Muser]

The writers ass is pretty hurt tbh.

[sook]

Celtics have been like the #1 fouling team the past 3 years. Just putting that out there.

Only case of a Finals being rigged was 2006.

thats not true, the jazz have been

[Ghazi]

well the celtics have been up there.

[z0sa]

As much as the "true basketball fan" wants to defend the NBA, out of respect for his favorite players and coaches and their efforts both on the court and around the community, there is simply no denying it: refereeing has stolen the spotlight. One can make telling correlations between many refs and stats, and it's becoming common knowledge among basketball fans that many refs show different kinds of favoritism and widely differ in opinion on even the most basic calls in basketball.

As much as I love the Spurs and the sport, it might be time to stop watching, out of self respect. This is becoming a casual fan's league.

[TE]

as much as the "true basketball fan" wants to defend the nba, out of respect for his favorite players and coaches and their efforts both on the court and around the community, there is simply no denying it: Refereeing has stolen the spotlight. One can make telling correlations between many refs and stats, and it's becoming common knowledge among basketball fans that many refs show different kinds of favoritism and widely differ in opinion on even the most basic calls in basketball.

As much as i love the spurs and the sport, it might be time to stop watching, out of self respect. This is becoming a casual fan's league.

+1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1

[TE]

As much as the "true basketball fan" wants to defend the NBA, out of respect for his favorite players and coaches and their efforts both on the court and around the community, there is simply no denying it: refereeing has stolen the spotlight. One can make telling correlations between many refs and stats, and it's becoming common knowledge among basketball fans that many refs show different kinds of favoritism and widely differ in opinion on even the most basic calls in basketball.

As much as I love the Spurs and the sport, it might be time to stop watching, out of self respect. This is becoming a casual fan's league.

It hurts a little inside when I know that a casual basketball fan (who only watches the NBA during the finals) is enjoying what is "branded" to be a good series between two "deserving" teams. Give me a break.

[bus driver]

Celtics have been like the #1 fouling team the past 3 years. Just putting that out there.

Only case of a Finals being rigged was 2006.

:lmao

it couldnt be that the team the heat was playing choked?

[BRHornet45]

As much as the "true basketball fan" wants to defend the NBA, out of respect for his favorite players and coaches and their efforts both on the court and around the community, there is simply no denying it: refereeing has stolen the spotlight. One can make telling correlations between many refs and stats, and it's becoming common knowledge among basketball fans that many refs show different kinds of favoritism and widely differ in opinion on even the most basic calls in basketball.

As much as I love the Spurs and the sport, it might be time to stop watching, out of self respect. This is becoming a casual fan's league.

very well said and 100% truth

[TampaDude]

As much as the "true basketball fan" wants to defend the NBA, out of respect for his favorite players and coaches and their efforts both on the court and around the community, there is simply no denying it: refereeing has stolen the spotlight. One can make telling correlations between many refs and stats, and it's becoming common knowledge among basketball fans that many refs show different kinds of favoritism and widely differ in opinion on even the most basic calls in basketball.

As much as I love the Spurs and the sport, it might be time to stop watching, out of self respect. This is becoming a casual fan's league.

Sad but true...the NBA has become less of a sport, and more of a product.

[BadOdor]

:lobt2:

[MaNu4Tres]

Celtics have been like the #1 fouling team the past 3 years. Just putting that out there.

Only case of a Finals being rigged was 2006.

What goes around comes around..

[Giuseppe]

Sad but true...the NBA has become less of a sport, and more of a product.

Precisely. And it makes sense. You can't have that much money at stake and not control the brand (product) with micro precision.

[Cane]

Boston basically dug their own graves when it comes to getting bad calls from the officials. Still, the NBA and most of its fans would always love to see the marquee match up LA vs Boston especially since neither have really been healthy.

Doc Rivers, Sheed, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Nate Robinson, Perkins, and even a minority owner (after the Game with three overturned calls he called out Stern and said he should be ashamed at the refs).....all have bad histories with officials. The New England area was basically calling out for blood for all the extra physical contact that Dwight Howard got away with since the Celtics were up in the series, and again, jacking up their technicals and whining.

Never made much sense to me to try and stir up shit with refs - too much of a gamble especially if your entire team/organization gives 'em shit. A lot of the Celtics lose their cool way too easily and you don't need the extra pressure of potentially being suspended for stupid technical foul bullshit.

And as great as Mark Cuban is.....his organization probably would've been better off if he never came across as an enemy to the officials. Danny Crawford case in point.

[spursfan1000]

:lmao

it couldnt be that the team the heat was playing choked?


:lmao of course not

[Jacob1983]

It's sad that NBA fans care so much about the refs. The NBA shouldn't be like that. I get it that refs are human and they make mistakes but game 7 was beyond the refs being human. It was an epic fail on their part. When I watch other sports, I don't give a fuck about the refs/umpires or worry about them screwing my team or any team because honestly it just doesn't happen that much in other sports. The NBA has the shittiest officiating in all of sports in North America.

And why can't NBA refs admit their mistakes? Is Stern just so protective of them and paranoid that he won't let them own up to their mistakes?

[dbestpro]

I knew this thread would get slammed, The funny thing is that there has been less evidence presented in a court of law where a man has been sentenced to be executed than was presented in this thread. Stern could come out and give a death bed confession and the die hards would still not believe it.

[MiamiHeat]

Well, what can you expect?

The world revolves around money..... I mean, look at little things, like Coaches talking to reporters DURING A GAME, while their team is out there playing on the court.

That sort of thing USED to be looked down upon, and people USED to say that you cannot compromise the integrity of the sport just for some extra TV ratings.

In the MLB and NFL, thankfully, they haven't been ruined as bad yet.

[Koolaid_Man]

Celtics have been like the #1 fouling team the past 3 years. Just putting that out there.

Only case of a Finals being rigged was 2006.


The proof is in the pudding....BRHoney is full of septic shit...I can dig up every foul if I have to here are some examples of Boston's style:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul6.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul5.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul4jpg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul3.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul2.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul9.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul8.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/foul7.jpg

[EIC]

I think the fact that we have threads and conversations about this is telling. I have honestly never felt that a game was rigged in any other sport I've ever watched, college or professional, other than an NBA game.

You have several factors in play here:


The potential for marquee vs. insignificant match-ups in later rounds depending on who wins or loses the current series
An inherent conflict of interest arising out of the series-based playoff system which generates more profit the longer each series goes on
The potential for significant referee involvement due to the breadth and nature of potential fouls
Evidence that referees harbor biases for and against certain players, coaches, owners, and teams
A comissioner that appears to be a greedy little fuck


When you put all that in a bowl and stir it around, you get a system that is virtually guaranteed to produce questionable outcomes and to raise suspicions about its integrity.

An easy solution might be for the league to cap its playoff revenue at a certain easily obtainable amount with the excess spilling over into an account that is then dispersed to the teams in the particular series at issue.

In other words, the league would then have no vested interest in an exciting versus boring a matchup, or a long versus short series.

But something needs to happen soon or else serious fans will be leaving in droves and all you'll be left with is causal fans and the look-at-me celebrities in the audience.

[cobbler]

It's sad that NBA fans care so much about the refs. The NBA shouldn't be like that. I get it that refs are human and they make mistakes but game 7 was beyond the refs being human. It was an epic fail on their part. When I watch other sports, I don't give a fuck about the refs/umpires or worry about them screwing my team or any team because honestly it just doesn't happen that much in other sports. The NBA has the shittiest officiating in all of sports in North America.

And why can't NBA refs admit their mistakes? Is Stern just so protective of them and paranoid that he won't let them own up to their mistakes?

History is riddled with bad calls in all sports.

http://www.askmen.com/top_10/fitness_60/60_fitness_list.html


And take your head out of the stat sheet and watch the game. Every foul called on the Celts in that supposed 4th quarter travesty was indeed a foul.

[LnGrrrR]

Cobbler, I would say that refs have much more control over the game of basketball than other sports, because no other ref can create an opportunity to GENERATE points. The closest thing to it is the pass interference rule in the NFL which can give significant yardage. Unsurprisingly, many pass interference calls are hotly contested.

I think that's why NBA refs are so scrutinized.

[cobbler]

Cobbler, I would say that refs have much more control over the game of basketball than other sports, because no other ref can create an opportunity to GENERATE points. The closest thing to it is the pass interference rule in the NFL which can give significant yardage. Unsurprisingly, many pass interference calls are hotly contested.

I think that's why NBA refs are so scrutinized.

No arguments here... :toast

[greyforest]

look at the box score
game 7 sucked so bad

[Vertical]

Wow! i watched game 7 and I was squirming because I know it was a matter of time before the fakers would overtake the Celtics who keep shooting jumpshots...Shuttlesworth deserves all the blame.

[Jacob1983]

NBA refs have the most power of any ref in any sport because they reward players and teams with points. Yes, I know that an NBA player has to make a free throw in order to get the free points when he is fouled on a shot but just look at the stats. An NBA player is more likely to make a FT than a hockey player scoring a goal, a baseball player getting a hit, or a football team scoring on a drive. Refs in hockey can give teams penalty shots but the player shooting the penalty shot has to get the puck past a human being that is protect a goal. I'm not saying that making a free throw is a piece of cake but all the player has to do is get the ball in the hoop. Hockey players don't make 80-90 percent of their shots. Baseball players don't get a hit 80-90 percent of the time. A football team does not score 80-90 percent of a time on a drive. A large number of basketball players shoot 80-90 percent from the FT line.

[AnthonyM]

It's weird because one of the big reasons that football is the top sport in America is because of the hard-hitting, violence, and brutal nature of the sport.

You would think Stern would take the cue from the NFL and let the players in the NBA play rougher and get in each others faces more so fans enjoy the game more, but instead he thinks the game stopping every few minutes is more enjoyable than a game like last night, where things were extremely physical. It was great.

[Jacob1983]

People don't want to watch two teams shoot free throws during a large portion of the game.

[JamStone]

Cobbler, I would say that refs have much more control over the game of basketball than other sports, because no other ref can create an opportunity to GENERATE points. The closest thing to it is the pass interference rule in the NFL which can give significant yardage. Unsurprisingly, many pass interference calls are hotly contested.

I think that's why NBA refs are so scrutinized.

I think that's an opinion that would make for a pretty interesting debate. I don't necessarily disagree with it, but I think there could be a case made for umpires in baseball having more control than basketball referees. A couple of things to consider:

-while your point about basketball referees creating opportunities to generate points is a good one, referees in other sports can do the same. Hockey referees awarding penalty shots. Or football referees calling a penalty that puts a team in field goal range or more to the point at the goal line. It's obviously more noticeable for basketball referees because the amount of free throws awarded per contest makes it so

-in basketball, individual points aren't nearly as valuable as in the other three major American sports. Not that they aren't valuable at all. But in basketball, a game will have 175-200+ total points per game. An average NFL football game might have 40-70 total points in a game. An average MLB baseball game has less than 10 runs a game. An average NHL hockey game has less than 8 goals a game. Points are much more valuable in those other sports, so when basketball refs create opportunities to generate points by awarding free throws, it can be overcome more easily than if awarded in other sports because there is simply so much more scoring in basketball. Generating one single opportunity to score in say baseball or hockey will have a direct impact on the outcome of the game far more often in those sports than any one single foul call for two free throws will in basketball.

-I think there is a very good argument that umpires in baseball have more control than referees in basketball because umpires in baseball are involved in every single play of the game. Down to every pitch, a subjective ruling on balls and strikes to calling each play out or safe, fair or foul. Umpires rule every single play in baseball. In basketball, if there is no violation and no foul, referees don't make a judgment call. They just don't blow their whistle. Umpires stay involved with every single play.

I don't necessarily disagree with your contention though. I just think it could be an interesting discussion.

[pauls931]

Maybe replay and the internet spawns this, but back in the 80s, I don't remember anyone every bitching about the refs in the Lakers/Celtics/Pistons games... Just sayin'...

[BeeGee]

Maybe replay and the internet spawns this, but back in the 80s, I don't remember anyone every bitching about the refs in the Lakers/Celtics/Pistons games... Just sayin'...

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally somebody says it. The so-called NBA "fan" has turned just as bitch as they claim the game has. Bunch of pussies. Lakers win a big game and immediately, it's "Fixed...Rigged!" And it's usually Spurs fan leading the way, lmao.

F:lobt:CK YOU CLOWNS

[mavsfan1000]

Fuck Stern. He is the greedy little bastard on why the NBA is so crooked.

[Cane]

Maybe replay and the internet spawns this, but back in the 80s, I don't remember anyone every bitching about the refs in the Lakers/Celtics/Pistons games... Just sayin'...

Back in the 80's there was no Tim Donaghy and NBA fans really couldn't keep track of records like Danny Crawfords "LMAO WTF" record against Mark Cuban.

With youtube we can clearly see all the inconsistent calls and phantom calls especially from guys likes Joey Crawford.

Then there's the fact that there are still convicted felons officiating the NBA Finals.

NBA officiating can basically always be better also. Why the hell are palming and travelling even rules if they're only selectively enforced for example. Why can't something be done about a foul seen on a replay that wasn't called in the first place other than make a bullshit make-up call later on; like when Rondo fouled Odom for the loose ball play. Etc.

:downspin:

There's always been bitching about refs but yea not on this level.

[Armando]

Maybe just maybe the freethrow disparity in Game 7 favoring the Lakers had to do with the Lakers outrebounding the Celtics and earning second shots at the basket and getting fouled. Even with all that Boston still had thier chances to steal game 7.

[Armando]

Thanks to youtube everyone becomes an armchair referee

[namlook]

Donaghy says the Celtics were favored on the calls in game 7:

Up until the 4th quarter, the officiating was heavily favoring the Celtics, according to Tim Donaghy. 4 Missed calls that favored the Lakers compared to 10 missed calls that favored the Celtics. Then in the 4th quarter it evened out just a little bit, with 5 bad calls in favor of the Lakers compared to 2 in favor of the Celtics. That brings the grand total at the end to;

Calls that favored the Lakers: 9
Calls that favored the Celtics: 12

[sabar]

The product isn't rigged for a certain team, it is rigged for certain players. Superstar treatment and home cooking are garbage, imo, and way too prevalent. There is an uneven playing field each game (slight, but there).

[v2freak]

namlook, may I see the article in which I read that please?

[cobbler]

6af0BVcCtPA

[cobbler]

tqo6kzN7A1A

[pauls931]

I think there has always been the same level of 'corruption' in the league. Just replay and as one person mentioned, Youtube lets everyone see inconsistencies more clearly. I think it started roughly in the min 90s when the term 'Jordan Rules' came to life.

Back in 93 watching MJ trash KJ, not once did I think about the refs, but how much MJ pissed me off being so good. However if I ever get to watch the series again, I'm sure I'd notice the officiating more.

[LnGrrrR]

Jam, umpires do control a game more, but they still can't generate points for a team. The only way they can "give" a team a run is by screwing up a ca, say calling a foul ball a fair one. They can't just put a player on base. Now, they could theoretically call strikes as balls, but to takes four balls to walk. Even then, you're only giving a player one base. The strike zone is the most objective part of baseball, and most fans accept that.

NBA refs may only be handing out two points at a time, but if you add then up it becomes significant. For most NBA games, I'd say that scoring at the foul line accounts for roughly 20% of total points in the game. That is way more than other leagues. Sure hockey refs can give a player a penalty shot, but that's relatively rare, and there's a goalie. Football can gift long yardage, but it's relatively rate that a team gets a long pass interference call. (that said, I think it happens more than most fans like)

When all is said and done, the NBA is te only league that relies on refs giving relatively easy points to a team, which is probably why NBA refs are reviled so much.

[mojorizen7]

NBA.....the last 25 yrs it's been faaaaaaantastic for 6 teams....

Stern has done a wonderful job.

[LnGrrrR]

:lmao

Go have another lager. We're catching you bitches at 17 next year.

Probably. :)

Do you deny that the NBA is the one league where a ref can give relatively easy points or not? :lol

[LnGrrrR]

When Durant beat the Celtics this year. In the presser, KG had his head down and said, "you would of thought we were playing against Michael fucking Jordan out there." The MJ era brought about more bogus whistles than anytime in the history of this game. You literally couldn't touch the guy.

Agreed, but that's an extreme example. Let me put it this way... NBA refs can control a game more, through use of whistles. However, by definition umpires control the hitting in a game. You can't have a baseball game without an ump calling what's a strike and what's a ball.

[monosylab1k]

History is riddled with bad calls in all sports.

http://www.askmen.com/top_10/fitness_60/60_fitness_list.html

lol askmen.com

[v2freak]

Agreed, but that's an extreme example. Let me put it this way... NBA refs can control a game more, through use of whistles. However, by definition umpires control the hitting in a game. You can't have a baseball game without an ump calling what's a strike and what's a ball.

The MLB accepts instant replay so it a shot is questionably fair/foul or a double should be a home run, the umpires usually look at it right away. As for the game itself, you have a person standing behind another person trying to see if balls fit within an imaginary strike zone. It sounds crazy but you hear way less whining about MLB umps.

Lead MLB umpires in a game can generate points if they institute a tiny strike zone and call every pitch a ball, and even then that would require the batter to not swing, swing and miss, foul it, foul tip it etc. The conditions for an MLB umpire to generate a run must be that the pitcher throws borderline strike/ball pitches, the batter doesn't swing, repeat as many times as necessary. And even with check swings, the catcher can appeal to the appropriate umpire depending on the handedness of the batter.

Totally agree with you on NBA refs and the point-generating power they wield. It's not comparable with other sports.

[kobyz]

it's well known that when you playing the Lakers you need to win both the Lakers and the refs, it's been like this forever.
when ever the refs feels like the Lakers in trouble or in bad spot to lose the game they will always help them and will give them momentum calls in their favor, it happened a lot in this playoffs and also in game 7 against Boston.

[cobbler]

lol askmen.com

You owe me 10 grand welcher boy. :lol

[Jacob1983]

I think most NBA fans wouldn't bitch that much about the refs if the refs would admit their mistakes publicly and weren't so protected by Stern. NBA fans probably would bitch less about the league being rigged, manipulated, and/or influenced by refs if the refs and Stern would just admit that there is some influence or manipulation going on in the league.
If you look at the stats in all 4 major sports, an NBA player will make a free throw attempt more often than a hockey player will score a goal, a baseball player getting an RBI, and a football team scoring a touchdown or field goal. There are some players in the NBA that shoot almost 90 percent at the FT line. That means those players' teams have a 90% of basically getting easy/free points. You won't find that high of a percentage of getting easy points in any other sport.

[v2freak]

NBA.....the last 25 yrs it's been faaaaaaantastic for 6 teams....

Stern has done a wonderful job.

30 years, actually. 2006 was an anomaly with the Heat getting the title. The combination of Wade and Shaq's star power and intervention from the refs spelled doom for the Mavs.

[MiamiHeat]

I think the fact that we have threads and conversations about this is telling. I have honestly never felt that a game was rigged in any other sport I've ever watched, college or professional, other than an NBA game.

You have several factors in play here:


The potential for marquee vs. insignificant match-ups in later rounds depending on who wins or loses the current series
An inherent conflict of interest arising out of the series-based playoff system which generates more profit the longer each series goes on
The potential for significant referee involvement due to the breadth and nature of potential fouls
Evidence that referees harbor biases for and against certain players, coaches, owners, and teams
A comissioner that appears to be a greedy little fuck


You forgot

1) Mafia/gambling influences/addictions of referees. The opportunity to make a lot of money is there.

2) Money from TV contracts.




An easy solution might be for the league to cap its playoff revenue at a certain easily obtainable amount with the excess spilling over into an account that is then dispersed to the teams in the particular series at issue.

In other words, the league would then have no vested interest in an exciting versus boring a matchup, or a long versus short series.

That wouldn't work.

TV contracts. As the NBA playoffs as a whole becomes more or less popular, the NBA can charge more money or less money for their TV contracts.

So even if certain matchups don't go 7 games, TV money, merchandise sales, all of this plays into effect when it comes to playoff results.

The NBA sucks, period.

Stern is rigging everything because of 2 reasons

1) The NBA suffered tremendously when Michael Jordan retired. The very reason for the NBA's stratospheric rise in popularity, MJ, was the same reason for the NBA's rapid crash back to earth.

2) The NBA suffered again when the "image" of the NBA became "thugs, tattoo'd rappers, and hoodlums"


Basically, Stern decided to take DICTATORIAL control over the NBA.

Blame a ref, fined $30k.

Don't wear a suit on the bench? Fined.

Rule changes. Let's open up the NBA and create more dunks and highlights.

We need star power again! Referee's, go do your jobs!
Now, my loyal referees, I want you to keep an EXTRA CLOSE eye on the Celtics tonight. They are getting a bit too physical and we need to rein them in and call a nice clean game, ok guys? Keep a close eye on them. I'm NOT ordering you to call fouls on the Celtics, but I want you to keep a CLOSE EYE on them. OK? now go out there, fellas!