I'm a big Laker fan and Kobe fan, but if L.A. was getting outshot at the ft line as bad as Utah is (89 to 46) I'd be pretty pissed. Yes, there are some factors, Utah leads the league in fouls committed and sending opponents to the ft line. Plus, Utah has been playing scared on offense this series-- not taking the ball to the hole. Also, another key factor to kind of justify the ft disparity is Utah has been down late in the 4th quarter in both games, and really tried extending the game by fouling the last minute or so. Sloan, is known for this.
However, and this is a big however, DAVID STERN has been accussed for years for manipulating series, and as a long time NBA fan I support that accussation. There's been too many series and critical games that were officiated unfairly. Here's just some:
2006 Nba finals. D Wade goes to the ft line over 100 times, and Miami outshoots
Dallas, (owned by Stern's Nemesis Cuban) 87 to 43 in the last 2 games which Miami won by a combined 4 pts.
2004 Finals Detroit outshot L.A by 70 fts, when Kobe was facing rape charges. Kobe, only goes to the line 25 times. Interestingly Kobe and Wade both shoot about 10 fts a game. But one guy goes to the line 100 times and Kobe (facing rape charges) only gets 25 ft attempts
2003 Game 1 series between L.A/S.A....S.A wins game 1 against L.A. by five pts, and Phil jackson was asked in the press conference what was the difference in the game, and jackson responded, "Oh, maybe it had something to do with the 37-6 ft advantage for the Spurs."
2002 Game 6 L.A./Sac L.A. traling Sac in the series 3-2, down in the ft quarter shoots 25 fts in the 4th quarter.
Here's my point. L.A.'s in all likelihood a better team than Utah and would probably beat them without any help from the refs, but the fact remains, that Stern is famous for manipulating series and having an agenda. I've just seen too many series inthe past with biased officiating....Sometimes, as I've pointed out it's worked in L.A's favor, and sometimes it's worked against them....Unfortunately, because Stern has run the league the way he has in the past, suspicions will always be there whether or not they're accurate or not.
In the past, Stern used to chuckle when people brought up conspiracy theories, and make his standard, "call Oliver Stone" joke. But after Tim Donaghy no ones laughing anymore. Including Stern, who's done everything in his power to SQUASH the story. Isn't it odd, that no one even mentions Donaghy? A ref indicted for fixing games he officiated. Espn announcers never mention it. Tnt never mentions it. Local NBA broadcasters never mention his name. Wonder why? They've been ordered by Stern not to mention his name.
Furthermore, Stern is a control freak. He controls the owners and players from speaking out against the officals, by levying hefty fines if they criticize the refs. He tries to control what age a player can enter the draft by imposing an unfair rule saying that a player now has to play 1 year of college. Interestingly, an 18 year old can go to Iraq and get killed but the NBA is just too dangerous for an 18 year old, according to David Stern who feels he's the one that should decide what age is appropriate. And he controls the inner NBA broadcasting circle from discussing Tim Donaghy. So is it any surprise that Stern would attempt to manipulate and control which teams advance in the playoffs? Based on what I've seen and many others, I say defintely not.
Sman, please call Oliver Stone. All you're doing with this post is marginalizing everything the Lakers have accomplished and further hope to accomplish this season. Please do us Lakers fans a huge favor and zip it.
WTF??? Conspiracy theory based on margin of free throws? It's not like they're calling ticky tack fouls. Kobe is just purely attacking the basket and drawing fouls. In the real NBA world, we call this high percentage shots.
Being a realist, Jefe. Sorry, but Stern has always run a corrupt league. Laker fans all cried conspiracy in the Detroit L.A finals in 2004. Even Michale Thompson went on Dan Patrick's show and said the series was fixed. I thought it was as well. So now we're the benefactors of favorable officiating, and fans like yourself just want to ignore it, and say "it's diminishing our accomplishments.'
Get your head out of the Sand Jefe and either make an intelligent remark or shut your fuking hole. "The Oliver Stone" line is as tired and unimaginative as the rest of your boring posts. ...And do us all a favor, Jefe, quit kissing Viddaruler's A$$$. It's nausauting seeing another man continually flower another man with compliments.
"Great post, Vic." "It's great to have you back, Vic." "We've missed you so much. Vic."""
Hey sman, you know why I like Vic, and Bosh, and Nori, and TZ, and pretty much all the other intelligent Laker posters on this board? Because they all know what they're talking about and never resort to speculation, conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated facts to make their points. I'm relatively new to this board so, of course, I am deferential to them, as well I should be.
You, on the other hand, are the exact opposite - with you it's always hype, sensationalism, and drama. And, it's not just on this Laker board - your drivel is like a virus that has infected the entire CBS Sportsline community - you're a cancer, sman. I hate to call anyone out like this but you attacked me personally and now feel obliged to push back.
Being a realist, Jefe. Sorry, but Stern has always run a corrupt league.
This is horsesh*t sman, get a grip on yourself! You're being a realist??? Guess again - you're being a fanatic of the worst kind.
Jefe, you have no opinions. Nothing to say. Your posts are the cure for insomnia. So put on your Laker skirt, and grab your pom-poms and cheer for the home team. Cause that's all you bring to the table. "Great opinion Vic." "We missed, you Vic."
S-he-man, are you stupid or have you been eating crap? Wouldn't suprise me if you did both. Most basketball games played average out to a 5 point difference. How can you call the last seconds of the game based on FT, a "manpulation" of the game? Teams usually run down the clock to the final seconds of the game where they have to score FT in order to keep a lead. Of course, you would known that if you had played organized ball as a youth. Even the Laker fan base thinks your full of it, becuase you never have supporting details or credible proof for that matter. You just got hand too far up your a$$ to be thinking straight.
what do you think about what the Cards has done so far in the off-season? Draft? As I haven't been following football since the season was over and my two favorite sports are currently in their prime-time mode.
It's useless arguing with Sman, he's always right, and knows all there is to know about everything. Don't you guys know that he is the ultimate voice of reason in the universe?
Well, at first I took it a little hard when you said "I was a cancer to these message board" but then I realized you're probably right. Some people like to go on these boards to talk hoops and comraderie. I on the other hand like to talk trash, stir things up. I guess I take things too far, so I'm going to tone down my act.
Sman, I'm actually really sorry about the "cancer" comment - that was really harsh, I'm sorry. I actually have sort of come to appreciate your value to these boards as a trash talking stirrer of things.
BTW, I think it's awesome that "midmajor" fav'ed you! Your validation of Derek Fisher as league MVP was hilarious!!!
