In a letter filed by his lawyer, Donaghy claimed that the NBA urged referees in the 2002 Lakers-Kings series to call bogus fouls (the Lakers had 27 free throws in the fourth quarter of Game 6) against Sacramento in order to help the series reach a Game 7. The actual letter did not name teams or players, but the Lakers-Kings series was the only series of the 02 playoffs to go seven games. NBA referees, influenced by cozy relationships with league officials, rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to a revenue-boosting seven games, a former referee at the center of a gambling scandal alleged on Tuesday. Without identifying anyone or naming teams, Tim Donaghy also claimed the NBA routinely encouraged refs to ring up bogus fouls to manipulate results but discouraged them from calling technical fouls on star players to keep them in games and protect ticket sales and television ratings. Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/06/10/betting.probe.ap/index.html
Those are probably his motives, but 27 free throws in one quarter? That isn't a little suspicious? Especially when that team is trailing?
Yeah, that is a good point. At halftime, they showed Stern and he said that the instance Donaghy is referring to has already been investigated.
So maybe they rigged game 2 of the Lakers/Celtics series? I think Powe Himself shot more FT's then our whole team, like 12powe, 10 lakers. But I don't believe that for a minute. Robert Horry changed that series, in game 4, Thanks to Chris Webber slapping the ball out to him, which actually was smartest thing you could do, just Horry happened to be standing there.
not the case, the feds have had this info since day 1. more like this is his re-action to the nba filing suit against him to pay for their legal fees over this.
Yeah, I don't think the NBA mandated this but I wouldn't be surprised if the refs fixed it on their own. The games are called so inconsistantly that it really makes you wonder.
the lakers shot 27 free throws in ONE quarter in the game that is being brought up in this. :icon_eek:
I believe it. These sports leagues are businesses and business are out to make money. I wouldn't even be surprised to hear players are being blackballed.
when you think about it this makes sense because the nba blows right now. the game it is nothing more than street ball. horrible to watch if you are a purest but perfect if you're interested in nothing but espn highlights.
Well said. But then again, Donaghy will say anything to minimize Bubba-time and this is the perfect game to point to and 'blame' someone else.
