The NBA's worst nightmare

Ruh Roh
Might put <img src="http://www.hfxnews.ca/photos/TheDailyNews/stories/Suns1.jpg"> Into a whole new perspective perhaps? I for one hope not. Bunch of babies. Argh.

 

I've been surprised at how little skepticism there's been about the refs this season. I would have thought the Donaghy thing would come up every time there was a questionable call, but it hasn't. This should put it back on the front burner though, just as we head into the meat of the playoffs.

 

The situation is somewhat similar to Pete Rose: the big news is when the "line of virginity" is crossed -- that came last year, with the revelation a ref was involved in gambling (prior to that, the NBA categorically denied such a thing could possibly happen). Pretty much nothing from now on, up to and including the revelation that Donaghy fixed games, will really be that big a deal.

Now if it turns out some PLAYERS were in on it, look out. Don't think Stern isn't following stories like Latrell Sprewell quite carefully (if there wasn't ever a better candidate [than maybe Chris Webber] for a player throwing/fixing games, wouldn't it be Sprewell??).

 

I thought this was about a Detroit-New Orleans final...

 

Fixed.

 

I agree completely. I thought the Donaghy thing was gonna cast a much darker shadow over this season. I'm really surprised how many have let it drop or forgotten about it.

 

Might not be the league's first choice, but any Finals involving LeBron wouldn't be a nightmare.

 

People have always had conspiracy theories when it comes to NBA refs. Not too much room for that to increase.

And, this story is hilarious. Not that I want the NBA to die, but what a story.

 

Yes, the NBA is one league who could live without more "smoke" to prove the "NBA is fixed through officiating" conspiracies.......

There have been some ridiculous examples in the past -- Larry Johnson's four-point play against the Pacers for one -- but if there is actual proof of it, it is bad.

 

It certainly was last year.

 

In the second round of the playoffs - the home team has a 91% winning percentage. If this was a Vegas casino and you were sitting at a blackjack table and the dealer suddenly won 91% of the hands - wouldn't you start to wonder if some cheating was going on? The house advantage is not supposed to be this pronounced in any endevour.

Stern and the refs should be answering lots of questions and facing lots of scrutiny. But instead he gets a free pass.