In the annals of NBA referee conspiracy theories, the 2006 NBA Finals are up there with the Tim Donaghy betting scandal and a handful of others offered as “proof” by the tinfoil hat crowd that the fix is in and it comes all the way from the top.
In that series an aggressive and attacking Dwyane Wade got a lot of calls as he drove the lane on Dallas, while jump shooter Dirk Nowitzki and the other Mavs didn’t get the calls. Wade was at the line an average 18.3 times per game over the final for games of that series and seemed to get the benefit of the doubt because he was the aggressor.
Mark Cuban was so livid he hired a former FBI Agent to look into if things were fixed.
That according to John Canzano of the Oregonian who did a five-part series on officiating in the NBA.
During the 2006 NBA Finals, Cuban was frustrated after a Game 5 loss to the Heat, and went on the floor to vent to official Joe DeRosa, glaring, too, at Stern in the stands. Earlier that same playoffs Cuban also criticized how the officials are selected for the playoffs. He was fined $450,000 for those two incidents….
Retired FBI agent Warren Flagg, a 20-year veteran of the bureau, said he consulted with Cuban after that playoff debacle. Flagg now runs his own New York-based investigation and security firm. He looked deep into officiating, as Flagg said, Cuban was considering a lawsuit.
“Cuban asked me what he should do,” Flagg said of the 2006 Finals. “I told him, ‘Sue and you’ll win your case,’ but he knew he’d be killing the Golden Goose.”
When asked about his discussions with Flagg, Cuban said: “I don’t remember.”
What did you expect the guy with the investigation business to say, “I couldn’t find anything?” That’s not how he gets paid.
Officiating in the NBA is far from perfect, something these playoffs have clearly shown. Canzano’s series does a great job in looking at both that and the perception problems it creates for the league. Adam Silver is trying to be more transparent with officiating corrections, but there needs to be more public accountability. There is a fantastic part of the series that talks about the power struggles within officiating crews and how that can skew calls. There’s more.
All of that leads to some to make the next leap to conspiracy theory. But just as is the main flaw with almost any conspiracy — the illuminati, the CIA killed Kennedy, Area 51, etc — it counts on large groups with sometimes competing interests plus often inefficient organizations to maintain perfect secrecy and focus on the end game. The league with its owners and all those referees couldn’t do that if they wanted do.
A bad call is just a bad call. If you don’t want to be subject to the whims of calls late, win the game by 20. Otherwise this is just part of the contest.
In that series an aggressive and attacking Dwyane Wade got a lot of calls as he drove the lane on Dallas, while jump shooter Dirk Nowitzki and the other Mavs didn’t get the calls. Wade was at the line an average 18.3 times per game over the final for games of that series and seemed to get the benefit of the doubt because he was the aggressor.
Mark Cuban was so livid he hired a former FBI Agent to look into if things were fixed.
That according to John Canzano of the Oregonian who did a five-part series on officiating in the NBA.
During the 2006 NBA Finals, Cuban was frustrated after a Game 5 loss to the Heat, and went on the floor to vent to official Joe DeRosa, glaring, too, at Stern in the stands. Earlier that same playoffs Cuban also criticized how the officials are selected for the playoffs. He was fined $450,000 for those two incidents….
Retired FBI agent Warren Flagg, a 20-year veteran of the bureau, said he consulted with Cuban after that playoff debacle. Flagg now runs his own New York-based investigation and security firm. He looked deep into officiating, as Flagg said, Cuban was considering a lawsuit.
“Cuban asked me what he should do,” Flagg said of the 2006 Finals. “I told him, ‘Sue and you’ll win your case,’ but he knew he’d be killing the Golden Goose.”
When asked about his discussions with Flagg, Cuban said: “I don’t remember.”
What did you expect the guy with the investigation business to say, “I couldn’t find anything?” That’s not how he gets paid.
Officiating in the NBA is far from perfect, something these playoffs have clearly shown. Canzano’s series does a great job in looking at both that and the perception problems it creates for the league. Adam Silver is trying to be more transparent with officiating corrections, but there needs to be more public accountability. There is a fantastic part of the series that talks about the power struggles within officiating crews and how that can skew calls. There’s more.
All of that leads to some to make the next leap to conspiracy theory. But just as is the main flaw with almost any conspiracy — the illuminati, the CIA killed Kennedy, Area 51, etc — it counts on large groups with sometimes competing interests plus often inefficient organizations to maintain perfect secrecy and focus on the end game. The league with its owners and all those referees couldn’t do that if they wanted do.
A bad call is just a bad call. If you don’t want to be subject to the whims of calls late, win the game by 20. Otherwise this is just part of the contest.
I feel this way....
NFL and MLB have clearly shown over recent years that they want their game to be more about offense than defense. Don't think anyone can seriously disagree with me on that!
Yea, yea..... MLB got upset when the long ball got so common due to steroids and jumped in on that. And, yea, yea..... The Seabags won the Superbowl with defense. But, all in all, throwing the ball all over the yards still carries the day. And... Chicks still love the long ball!
Fans like the occasional big block down lows in the NBA.... but not near as much as they like big scoring. Obviously over the years basketball had morphed into a completely different sport at the NBS level. I always thought Iverson was the guy who introduced "palming" or "the carry" into the game and ruined ball handling in the process. Even the TV guys joke all the time about the rare traveling call that takes place. Players are allowed now to just simply blow over and into defenders around the basket with impunity after the advent of the "dotted line" in the lane.
Anyway..... NBA officials are not ever calling anything resembling a basketball game..... So they pretty much call what they want to. Leaves a tremendous amount of doubt as to how they arrive at what they want to enforce at times.
NFL and MLB have clearly shown over recent years that they want their game to be more about offense than defense. Don't think anyone can seriously disagree with me on that!
Yea, yea..... MLB got upset when the long ball got so common due to steroids and jumped in on that. And, yea, yea..... The Seabags won the Superbowl with defense. But, all in all, throwing the ball all over the yards still carries the day. And... Chicks still love the long ball!
Fans like the occasional big block down lows in the NBA.... but not near as much as they like big scoring. Obviously over the years basketball had morphed into a completely different sport at the NBS level. I always thought Iverson was the guy who introduced "palming" or "the carry" into the game and ruined ball handling in the process. Even the TV guys joke all the time about the rare traveling call that takes place. Players are allowed now to just simply blow over and into defenders around the basket with impunity after the advent of the "dotted line" in the lane.
Anyway..... NBA officials are not ever calling anything resembling a basketball game..... So they pretty much call what they want to. Leaves a tremendous amount of doubt as to how they arrive at what they want to enforce at times.
A white only league really would be a hit. You would have 4 year college players like Hansborough and guys like Doug Mcdermott. Would be better basketball. There would really not be a "star" which is what seperates this league from the "who can jump higher" league. Really, give Lebron the ball on the wing and tell him to drive every SINGLE time; what would be the outcome? Lots of fouls and free points for the 6'9" man child.
Please refute a point.No strategy needs to be involved. Give me 2 good shooters and Lebron and I win, it is that simple. He drives every single time and will get calls esp. when it matters and kick out to others and they will hit. I live in Indiana and dont give a shit about the NBA. ESPN tries to act like there is strategy. There isn't.
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2014/04/canzano_former_nba_official_ti.html
This is a nice feature in The Oregonian about NBA officiating. That is where that Cuban tidbit comes from, it is a pretty good read.
This is a nice feature in The Oregonian about NBA officiating. That is where that Cuban tidbit comes from, it is a pretty good read.
Thought this was interesting, from Part #3 at the Oregonlive site
The NBA league office works behind the scenes to manipulate the public discussion on officiating, especially by on-air analysts, according to Van Gundy and others in the broadcast industry.
"They've tried to hurt me with my bosses," Van Gundy said. "They've called my bosses and said, 'Nobody wants to hear that guy whine about officiating.' They're pretty sensitive about that sort of stuff. I'm not quite sure why. I think by critiquing them you're talking of their importance to the game.
"I'm not sure why they'd be upset with that."
Rod Thorn, the NBA's director of operations, said this week that the league monitors and logs what broadcasters say about officiating and rules. He outlined the league's program to evaluate and assign officials. And he believes the NBA has the best basketball officials in the world.
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2014/04/canzano_joey_crawford_is_trend.html
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On another note, it can't make the NBA happy that Donaghy is still out there critiquing other officials and talking about the guys he used to work with after playoff games.
The NBA league office works behind the scenes to manipulate the public discussion on officiating, especially by on-air analysts, according to Van Gundy and others in the broadcast industry.
"They've tried to hurt me with my bosses," Van Gundy said. "They've called my bosses and said, 'Nobody wants to hear that guy whine about officiating.' They're pretty sensitive about that sort of stuff. I'm not quite sure why. I think by critiquing them you're talking of their importance to the game.
"I'm not sure why they'd be upset with that."
Rod Thorn, the NBA's director of operations, said this week that the league monitors and logs what broadcasters say about officiating and rules. He outlined the league's program to evaluate and assign officials. And he believes the NBA has the best basketball officials in the world.
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2014/04/canzano_joey_crawford_is_trend.html
======================
On another note, it can't make the NBA happy that Donaghy is still out there critiquing other officials and talking about the guys he used to work with after playoff games.
What's funny is Cuban has had a front row seat to so many games over the years in which his Mavs would be Favored by 8-12 and turn 18+ 4th Quarter leads into 1-3 point ATS fails. I remember a streak they failed ATS at Home vs Sub 400 teams 19 out of 20 times. He should talk to his own players.
