2008-09 NBA Playoffs

[NewUserName]

I think the amount of people who would have to know about some sort of Boston/LA conspiracy makes it impossible. Wouldn't that ref, who went to jail last year, have come out with information on this if it was true or even plausible.

 

I am much more inclined to believe that our emotions get in the way of watching a game objectively.

[Guest]

How is THAT play a flagrant 2, and rajon rondo purposely THROWING kirk hinrich into a scorer's table is a flagrant 1?

 

The answer?

 

Because the NBA wants teams like LA and Boston to advance. This league is such a joke.

 

Right when the play happened I said that it wasn't a flagrant-2 and wasn't even a flagrant-1. That's only a F-2 because it was Ron Artest. If Shane Battier does that, it might not even be a F-1. I fully expect the NBA to reduce it to a F-1 and for Artest to be able to play in Game 4.

 

It was a very, very weak call and a bad one.

 

As far as the league wanting the Lakers to advance to the finals, I'd say that could only be argued if Artest does in fact get suspended for Game 4. The play happened with 43 seconds left in the game and the Rockets down eight so it didn't have any effect on the outcome of Game 3. Rondo's play happened in the first half (I believe) so issuing a F-2 definitely affects the outcome of the game. This one was probably just as a precaution considering the outcome of the game wasn't in doubt and knowing that the NBA could overturn it later.

 

The problem is, the two teams are officiated differently. Whether or not Artest is suspended for the next game, one gets the feeling the Lakers can get away with much more. Kobe is seen manhandling Battier after a play, and no action was taken. Artest commits a clean, hard foul during play, and he gets an F2. That's going to play in the minds of the Rockets (and perhaps Artest, though likely he doesn't give a [expletive].)

 

I don't really think there's a league mandate to the refs to screw the Rockets. But for whatever reason, there is a ton on inequity in the way games are called, and it's part of the reason I find the NBA so irritating. (Even though I benefited from it in the Jordan years.) And I sincerely believe in cases where the league reviews plays after games, they'll do everything they can to ensure their best players/teams remain on the court, fairness be damned.

 

I'm not doubting that stars are given the benefit of the doubt, but that's not limited to Kobe. And like I said before, I think a big part of why Artest got an F-2 on that play was because he was Ron Artest and because the game was already decided at that point so they were erring on the side of caution knowing that the NBA could overturn it if it was necessary. If it's Battier in the first quarter, he might not even get an F-1 because of the situation.

[Guest]

As I figured, Artest's foul was downgraded to a flagrant 1 so he'll play in Game 4.

[Butterscup1679666578]

un [expletive] real. god dammit.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Zaza Pachulia with the dumbest ejection I've ever seen anyone earn.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

LeBron is just doing whatever he wants, this is ridiculous.

[Shilzzz]

anyone else think LeBron does 'roids? He's just so ungodly huge

[Guest]

Yao's out for the rest of the playoffs with a broken foot.

[NewUserName]

anyone else think LeBron does 'roids? He's just so ungodly huge

 

I think there are many who have thought this since he was in HS. I hope he doesnt.

[Guest]

Yao's out for the rest of the playoffs with a broken foot.

time for the conspiracy theorists to really come out now.

[Sosa21MVP]

anyone else think LeBron does 'roids? He's just so ungodly huge

 

I think there are many who have thought this since he was in HS. I hope he doesnt.

 

It just shows you how much the culture varies from sport to sport. If Lebron was a high school kid breaking into MLB with that kind of body then you know damned well it would become a topic of discussion.

 

But in the NBA I can't recall any talk of steroid use at all. I think it is fair to ask the question in regards to Lebron because he went straight to the NBA from high school with a NBA body already in place. I mean seriously look at college freshmen and prior HS to NBA players.......these kids simply do not come built like Karl Malone at that point in life.

[XZero771679666304]

LeBron is just doing whatever he wants, this is ridiculous.

 

Kobe fans can say what they want, but LeBron is the best player in the NBA right now and it isn't particularly close, IMO.

[Outshined_One]

I think the amount of people who would have to know about some sort of Boston/LA conspiracy makes it impossible. Wouldn't that ref, who went to jail last year, have come out with information on this if it was true or even plausible.

 

I am much more inclined to believe that our emotions get in the way of watching a game objectively.

 

Actually, he's come out with quite a bit more information, but from what I can tell, he has thus far been unable to substantiate his claims. A lot of this stuff is basically "he said, he said" without any hard evidence. Unless another ref gets busted or some sort of a smoking gun comes out, I don't think we'll ever know if he was telling the truth or just trying to ingratiate himself with federal prosecutors.

 

Link

[illiniguy]

Only one time have I ever bought an NBA fixing. The year the Lakers played the Kings in a Game 7 and shot like 45 freethrows in the 4th quarter and barely won in overtime. There is no doubt in my mind that Stern fixed that one.

[illiniguy]

anyone else think LeBron does 'roids? He's just so ungodly huge

 

I think there are many who have thought this since he was in HS. I hope he doesnt.

 

It just shows you how much the culture varies from sport to sport. If Lebron was a high school kid breaking into MLB with that kind of body then you know damned well it would become a topic of discussion.

 

But in the NBA I can't recall any talk of steroid use at all. I think it is fair to ask the question in regards to Lebron because he went straight to the NBA from high school with a NBA body already in place. I mean seriously look at college freshmen and prior HS to NBA players.......these kids simply do not come built like Karl Malone at that point in life.

Or couldn't he just be a freak of nature? If it was just steroids making him that big and fast, believe that every high school stud would be juicing now.

[RynoRules]

No one is talking about the Nuggets (except for last night's non-call), but they might be able to give LA a hard time for 6 or 7 games. Cavs are going to be far more rested when they get to the Finals.

[hawkeyecub]

Only one time have I ever bought an NBA fixing. The year the Lakers played the Kings in a Game 7 and shot like 45 freethrows in the 4th quarter and barely won in overtime. There is no doubt in my mind that Stern fixed that one.

 

I suspect you may see some of the same in the Denver/LA series if it's tight. Stern will not be denied his Kobe/LeBron Finals.

[ELCABALLO45]

LeBron is just doing whatever he wants, this is ridiculous.

 

Kobe fans can say what they want, but LeBron is the best player in the NBA right now and it isn't particularly close, IMO.

[Guest]

Only one time have I ever bought an NBA fixing. The year the Lakers played the Kings in a Game 7 and shot like 45 freethrows in the 4th quarter and barely won in overtime. There is no doubt in my mind that Stern fixed that one.

 

For the record, that was Game 6 that was up in question. Game 7 was when the Kings couldn't hit a free throw to save their lives and choked away the game.

[Guest]

I think the amount of people who would have to know about some sort of Boston/LA conspiracy makes it impossible. Wouldn't that ref, who went to jail last year, have come out with information on this if it was true or even plausible.

 

I am much more inclined to believe that our emotions get in the way of watching a game objectively.

 

Actually, he's come out with quite a bit more information, but from what I can tell, he has thus far been unable to substantiate his claims. A lot of this stuff is basically "he said, he said" without any hard evidence. Unless another ref gets busted or some sort of a smoking gun comes out, I don't think we'll ever know if he was telling the truth or just trying to ingratiate himself with federal prosecutors.

 

Link

 

Donaghy seems to be in the same situation that Jose Canseco was in (in a way), in that Canseco said a bunch of things that nobody believed until guys started testing positive or were implicated in another way. Like you said, unless something else comes out, I don't think we'll know for sure whether or not Donaghy was telling the truth.

[Guest]

You gotta feel bad for Yao (and other really big guys). Their body can't handle such size and it takes a toll on not just their career but their post-NBA lives.

[illiniguy]

You gotta feel bad for Yao (and other really big guys). Their body can't handle such size and it takes a toll on not just their career but their post-NBA lives.

Yeah that's why they should retire young. Get your money and get out.

[Rusch33]

Only one time have I ever bought an NBA fixing. The year the Lakers played the Kings in a Game 7 and shot like 45 freethrows in the 4th quarter and barely won in overtime. There is no doubt in my mind that Stern fixed that one.

 

I suspect you may see some of the same in the Denver/LA series if it's tight. Stern will not be denied his Kobe/LeBron Finals.

 

And LA/Boston last year.

[Guest]

Lakers lose against a Yao-less Houston. :)

[Guest]

Lakers lose against a Yao-less Houston. :)

 

Yet another lackluster performance by LA.