2002 Lakers vs. Kings play-offs fixed?

[Joe L]

Donaghy letter to court alleges refs altered games

Jeff Van Gundy ultimately backed off comments that a referee told him that officials had targeted Yao Ming in the Houston Rockets 2005 first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. Maybe he was right.

A letter sent to the sentencing court on behalf of convicted former referee Tim Donaghy outlines just such a plan. Donaghy's legal team is trying demonstrate his cooperation with a government investigation before he is sentenced on July 14 on felony charges alleging he took cash payoffs from gamblers and bet on games himself.

The letter mentions only the year, but the circumstances make it apparent that it is referring to the Rockets-Mavs series.

"Team 3 lost the first two games in the series and Team 3's Owner complained to NBA officials," the letter says. "Team 3's Owner alleged that referees were letting a Team 4 player get away with illegal screens. NBA Executive Y told Referee Supervisor Z that the referees for that game were to enforce the screening rules strictly against that Team 4 player. Referee Supervisor Z informed the referees about his instructions. As an alternate referee for that game, Tim also received these instructions."

Mavs owner Mark Cuban did in fact complain after his team lost the first two games of the series, and Dallas went on to beat Houston in seven games. Van Gundy said that a working referee had told him about the league's plan. Donaghy's letter claims that Supervisor Z contacted the coach. Van Gundy was ultimately fined $100,000.

Looking at box scores from the series, however, the only game in which Yao fouled out was in fact Game 1. He did average 4.4 fouls per game in the series.

The letter also details an incident in the 2002 playoffs in which Donaghy alleges that two referees, who were known as NBA "company men," wanted to extend a series to seven games. "Team 5" could have wrapped up the series in Game 6 but lost two players to ejection, lost that game and ultimately the series.

*It is not clear which series this account refers to.

Donaghy also alleges that team executives conspired with the league to prevent star players from being called for too many fouls or being ejected. He claimed that league officials told referees that doing so would "hurt ticket sales and television ratings."

According to the letter, when an official did eject a star player in the first quarter of a game in 2000, he was privately reprimanded.

In addition to game-altering allegations, Donaghy's letter claims that many officialy carry on relationships with team exectutives, coaches and players that violate their NBA contracts.

"Tim described one referee's use of a team's practice facility to exercise and another's frequent tennis matches with a team's coach," the letter states.

The NBA has not commented on Donaghy's allegations. Donaghy's attorney and prosecutors also declined to comment to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Donaghy faces up to 33 months in prison.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3436401

* Only series that went to 7 games was the...LAKERS VS. KINGS...HMMM????

 

[hsandhu]

Game 6 of lakers/kings is well known for being the biggest screwjob in the history of the league. But I dont remember two players getting ejected?

 

[abomb]

Game 6 of lakers/kings is well known for being the biggest screwjob in the history of the league. But I dont remember two players getting ejected?

There were no ejections in game 6.

http://www.nba.com/games/20020531/SACLAL/boxscore.html

 

[Joe L]

Game 6 of lakers/kings is well known for being the biggest screwjob in the history of the league. But I dont remember two players getting ejected?

Bill Plashke (LA COLUMNIST) & Bob Ryan (boston columnist) just said they wouldn't be surprised if that occurred considering the way that gam,e was called. Plashke also said he was at the game and felt it was one sided and was amazed at the outcome. Man, this is going to be big.

 

[D-Dogg]

game 5 was the same way, in the Kings favor...not as blatant as game 6 though, but Kobe and Shaq were picking up super cheap fouls, even though Shaq was dominating he shot maybe 2 FTs. Game six was very much a payback feeling game...like they swung WAAY back the other way because the games were close.

Game 5 and 6 were odd games. Just had weird vibes to them.

 

[Southpaw]

game 5 was the same way, in the Kings favor...not as blatant as game 6 though, but Kobe and Shaq were picking up super cheap fouls, even though Shaq was dominating he shot maybe 2 FTs. Game six was very much a payback feeling game...like they swung WAAY back the other way because the games were close.

Game 5 and 6 were odd games. Just had weird vibes to them.

Interesting if anyone knows how much the Maloof's wagered and won or lost on this series. Imagine winning big at a competitors casino.


This is so big, I wonder if Stern can stifle this one. Hopefully Donaghy doesn't fall into the recent rash of suicides.

 

[elindholm]

game 5 was the same way, in the Kings favor

LOL, Laker fans crack me up. Game 6, and only Game 6, got massive nationwide attention for its clear bias.

I've said all along that the Lakers' only legitimate title of the O'Neal/Bryant era was 2001. The other two were so blatantly gift-wrapped by the officials that no one other than Laker homers takes them seriously.

 

[D-Dogg]

LOL, Laker fans crack me up. Game 6, and only Game 6, got massive nationwide attention for its clear bias.

I've said all along that the Lakers' only legitimate title of the O'Neal/Bryant era was 2001. The other two were so blatantly gift-wrapped by the officials that no one other than Laker homers takes them seriously.

I don't care what got massive nationwide attention. Lakerfans thought game 6 was a balance game because of how bad game 5 was. Shaq shot 1 free throw on 18 shots, and was fouled out...kobe had 5 fouls. Game six they swung it back and gave him a ton.

Game 6 was blatant, but it was the opposite of game 5..the middle games had a ton of shennanigans.

 

[Renz]

LOL, Laker fans crack me up. Game 6, and only Game 6, got massive nationwide attention for its clear bias.

I've said all along that the Lakers' only legitimate title of the O'Neal/Bryant era was 2001. The other two were so blatantly gift-wrapped by the officials that no one other than Laker homers takes them seriously.

Yeah, and the league has it in for PHX. Everyone's against us, the Lakers get all the calls blah, blah, blah! Boo hoo!

Maybe you can find some games from the '80's to complain about next.

 

[abomb]

Maybe you can find some games from the '80's to complain about next.

Or coinflips.

 

[Joe L]

Yeah, and the league has it in for PHX. Everyone's against us, the Lakers get all the calls blah, blah, blah! Boo hoo!

Maybe you can find some games from the '80's to complain about next.

Maybe Donahue has information on that too. No one is complaining, this is a legit concern.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Yeah, and the league has it in for PHX. Everyone's against us, the Lakers get all the calls blah, blah, blah! Boo hoo!

Maybe you can find some games from the '80's to complain about next.

Once again Laker fans exposed for trolling.

 

[hsandhu]

Just to remind everyone the 4th qtr:

(11:34) [LAL 76-75] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 (30 PTS)
(11:34) [LAL 77-75] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 (31 PTS)
(10:28) [LAL] George Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(10:28) [LAL 80-75] George Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)
(9:46) [SAC] Stojakovic Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(9:46) [SAC] Stojakovic Free Throw 2 of 2 missed
(8:29) [LAL 83-81] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 (34 PTS)
(8:29) [LAL] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 missed
(7:37) [LAL 84-81] Bryant Free Throw Flagrant 1 of 2 (23 PTS)
(6:21) [LAL] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(6:21) [LAL 89-85] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 (37 PTS)
(4:38) [SAC 90-89] Divac Free Throw 1 of 1 (12 PTS)
(4:24) [LAL] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(4:24) [LAL 90-90] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 (38 PTS)
(2:56) [LAL 91-92] Horry Free Throw 1 of 2 (6 PTS)
(2:56) [LAL 92-92] Horry Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)
(2:17) [LAL] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(2:17) [LAL 93-92] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 (39 PTS)
(2:07) [SAC 93-93] Funderburke Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
(2:07) [SAC 94-93] Funderburke Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
(1:55) [LAL 94-94] Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (26 PTS)
(1:55) [LAL 95-94] Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (27 PTS)
(1:37) [LAL 96-94] Fox Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)
(1:37) [LAL 97-94] Fox Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)
(1:27) [SAC 95-97] Bibby Free Throw 1 of 2 (22 PTS)
(1:27) [SAC 96-97] Bibby Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
(1:15) [LAL 98-96] Fox Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)
(1:15) [LAL 99-96] Fox Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
(0:20) [SAC 99-101] Turkoglu Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
(0:20) [SAC 100-101] Turkoglu Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
(0:19) [LAL 102-100] Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (28 PTS)
(0:19) [LAL 103-100] Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (29 PTS)
(0:11) [LAL 104-102] Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (30 PTS)
(0:11) [LAL 105-102] Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (31 PTS)
(0:02) [LAL] Horry Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(0:02) [LAL 106-102] Horry Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)


27 Free throws. I have this on tape somewhere, the kings weren't even allowed to attempt to play defense.

 

[D-Dogg]

Just to remind everyone the 4th qtr:

(11:34) [LAL 76-75] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 (30 PTS)
(11:34) [LAL 77-75] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 (31 PTS)
(10:28) [LAL] George Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(10:28) [LAL 80-75] George Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)
(9:46) [SAC] Stojakovic Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(9:46) [SAC] Stojakovic Free Throw 2 of 2 missed
(8:29) [LAL 83-81] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 (34 PTS)
(8:29) [LAL] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 missed
(7:37) [LAL 84-81] Bryant Free Throw Flagrant 1 of 2 (23 PTS)
(6:21) [LAL] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(6:21) [LAL 89-85] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 (37 PTS)
(4:38) [SAC 90-89] Divac Free Throw 1 of 1 (12 PTS)
(4:24) [LAL] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(4:24) [LAL 90-90] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 (38 PTS)
(2:56) [LAL 91-92] Horry Free Throw 1 of 2 (6 PTS)
(2:56) [LAL 92-92] Horry Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)
(2:17) [LAL] O'Neal Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(2:17) [LAL 93-92] O'Neal Free Throw 2 of 2 (39 PTS)
(2:07) [SAC 93-93] Funderburke Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
(2:07) [SAC 94-93] Funderburke Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
(1:55) [LAL 94-94] Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (26 PTS)
(1:55) [LAL 95-94] Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (27 PTS)
(1:37) [LAL 96-94] Fox Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)
(1:37) [LAL 97-94] Fox Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)
(1:27) [SAC 95-97] Bibby Free Throw 1 of 2 (22 PTS)
(1:27) [SAC 96-97] Bibby Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
(1:15) [LAL 98-96] Fox Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)
(1:15) [LAL 99-96] Fox Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
(0:20) [SAC 99-101] Turkoglu Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
(0:20) [SAC 100-101] Turkoglu Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
(0:19) [LAL 102-100] Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (28 PTS)
(0:19) [LAL 103-100] Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (29 PTS)
(0:11) [LAL 104-102] Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (30 PTS)
(0:11) [LAL 105-102] Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (31 PTS)
(0:02) [LAL] Horry Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(0:02) [LAL 106-102] Horry Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)


27 Free throws. I have this on tape somewhere, the kings weren't even allowed to attempt to play defense.

21. Six of them were intentional fouls to get the ball back. Still, it was fishy.

 

[D-Dogg]

There were no ejections in game 6.

http://www.nba.com/games/20020531/SACLAL/boxscore.html

Well, there were two players who fouled out...can be considered ejected.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Im glad Im not a Kings fan today

 

[hsandhu]

21. Six of them were intentional fouls to get the ball back. Still, it was fishy.

Ok, so instead of 27 in 12 mins we have 21 in 10:45. The lakers basically went to the line every other possesion in a game that the lead was STILL going back and forth.

Also, remember the non-call where kobe elbowed bibby in the face to get the inbounds (and subsequent two fts) in the final 20 seconds

 

[hsandhu]

Damn, I also remember game 4 of that series (the horry shot). Lakers were down 20 after one and the refs counted a samaki walker 3 (i think at half) that was clearly after the buzzer.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Or coinflips.

how could they not have the coinflip to lose david robinson as well? just pure bs . . .

 

[Mainstreet]

Im glad Im not a Kings fan today

It's more like it's sad to be an NBA fan.

IMO, this Tim Donaghy thing runs much deeper. This rat's nest to be cleaned out for the sake of the game and the fans. When I watch an NBA game (win or lose) I want to know the game is not fixed. Especially in recent years, I've wondered about the integrity of the game. Now I have concrete reason to doubt how the referees call the games. There is a dark cloud over the NBA.

 

[Joe L]

Well, there were two players who fouled out...can be considered ejected.

It is the technical term when you get your 6th foul.
I know the game was questionable but I also have to consider the source of the story. I am inclined to believe it but I will hold reservation till this story is confirmed.

 

[Cheesewater]

Purge ALL game officials in the offseason. Add another official to the court to total 4, and hire all new refs. Do it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Purge ALL game officials in the offseason. Add another official to the court to total 4, and hire all new refs. Do it.

What about Stern. Is a captain not in charge of the ship?

 

[Cheesewater]

What about Stern. Is a captain not in charge of the ship?

I don't see any way Stern can be forced to relinquish control of the league. I have seen way too much of his slimy doublespeak and deceit succeed...I don't think that even a Congressional inquiry could get anything to stick to Teflon Dave.

 

[nowagimp]

Purge ALL game officials in the offseason. Add another official to the court to total 4, and hire all new refs. Do it.

And add replay in certain scenarios so bad calls are exposed. Open it up and be honest, even baseball has huge TV's for the replays in the stadium. No ref wants to be caught blowing calls on that baby.