Missing their star player, they lost to the Mavericks in seven games. In 2002, the Sacramento Kings appeared to have the LA Lakers' number. It wasnt a luck shot. Web2002 Western Conference Finals might refer to: The Western Conference Finals of the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs The Western Conference Finals of the 2002 NBA Playoffs This This is the first call on this list that feels a little fishy. Meanwhile, the Kings cruised into the Western Conference semifinals to face a Dallas Mavericks squad it had dominated. The refs also made some bad calls against the Kings for almost the entirety of the game. Yet a foul was called and Larry Johnson got to shoot a free throw in addition to the three-pointer he just made. And if the refs take these things too far? There is evidence of tampering within the game too,Ingame 6, the Lakers were awarded with shooting40 free throws in theentiregame, including 27 in the 4. quarter alone! And they did, carried by ONeal and a strong performance on the offensive boards. The Boston Celtics lead the L.A. Lakers two games to one. If anything, it would have been in the league's best interests for the Lakers to win and even the series. Pippen led the Bulls to a great 1993-94 NBA season by leading the team to 50 plus wins and a match up with the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs. 15 Times The NBA Looked Fixed, 15. Two of Portland's biggest stars (Scottie Pippen and Arvydas Sabonis) fouled out. A Fine Analysis of the Referees' Performance in Game 6 of the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals, What you missed when Dwyane Wade put the Celtics to sleep, The Big Number: Draymond Green might be the best rim protector, What you missed when LeBron James dunked the Pacers right out of the Q, What you missed when when 'Iso Joe' Johnson clipped the Clippers in the clutch, TrueHoop Pod: Ethan & Allie - Warriors Game 1 thoughts, MVP takes, TrueHoop Pod: New Jack Steph Curry, last shot politics, Charlie Murphy, Everything you missed during the NBA season, TrueHoop Pod: The Friday Mailbag - Warts and all, TrueHoop Pod: Radio Ethan's House of Strauss Playoff Preview, TrueHoop Pod: NBA Awards, Timberwolves, League Trends, TrueHoop Pod: Playoff peeking, Cavs, Rockets, Chris Paul, Russ, TrueHoop Pod: The case for James Harden with Daryl Morey, TrueHoop Pod: Russell Westbrook vs. others, Steph hate, Radio Ethan, Roland Beech of 82games.com has spent serious time, Tim Donaghy has said was essentially rigged, the most damning referee critiques on record, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. One timeout and missed Bryant jumper later, Bibbys shot seemed like it would be the franchises defining moment, as the Kings were just one win away from the NBA Finals. Waiting for them in the playoffs would have been a mediocre No. If the refs would have gotten a single call right, the Pistons would have won the series. The 2001 NBA playoffs were ultimately dominated by the Los Angeles Lakers, who rolled to the second of three consecutive championships in the Shaq-Kobe era. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. As much as I love Michael Jordan, this has to be remembered. Game 7 was incredibly lucrative, and an NBA Finals between two small-market teams like Sacramento and New Jersey would have been a fiscal disaster. The infamy surrounding this game is just too severe to ignore. However, the Kings secured the 3-2 series advantage in a nail-biting game-five win, 92-91. The Questionable Calls of the 2006 NBA finals, 5. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. People remember Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals for the incredible comeback by the Lakers culminating in the most famous alley-oop in NBA history. In their letter, Lauro and Donaghy made a number of other charges, among them: - That referees "socialized frequently with coaches and players" and asked for autographs and free merchandise, violating league rules. That's right, they didn't get involved in the fights; they just stepped off of the bench. In the waning moments of Game 5 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, Charles Smith was blocked four times on potential game-winning layups. "The U.S. attorney's office, the FBI have fully investigated it, and Mr. Donaghy is the only one who is guilty of a crime. I called it the worst officiated game in NBA history. The three that we rank as the most important are Game 7 The Lakers led at halftime but Thomas scored 25 points in the third quarter despite severely spraining his ankle in that same quarter. I think referees are instructed on general things. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved. It had become obvious that Pauls patience had run thin in New Orleans, and he was ready to join a team that was in a large market. Through it all, however, Beech finds it very tough to support the notion that the game was rigged. Lakers vs Pacers Game 6 Draymond Green Suspended In 2016 NBA Finals, 10 WWE Storylines Vince McMahon Refused To Book, 10 Best Feud-Ending Matches In WCW History, Ranked, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense. 2002 Western Conference Finals On the court, the games between the two teams were definitely intense, culminating in the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals, which featured Robert Horry's famous last-second three-pointer to beat the Kings in Game 4, a 1 point Kings win off of a Bibby field goal in the waning seconds of Game 5, a The shot wentin, and despite Johnson not being touched a foul wascalled which allowed Johnson to sink a game winning free-throw. The teams owners, brothers and businessmen Joe and Gavin Maloof, led the way from their courtside seats, running from section to section like hype men at a rap concert. The other notable non-call which I rated an "all refs" situation was on the inbounds at 0:12 where Kobe knocked Bibby to the floor with an elbow to the face, but Bibby was also grabbing Kobe at the time it happened so both were really guilty of infractions to some extent. Pollards fifth and sixth foul calls. His shot missed. While Kirkland ranks comfortably among the extensive list of referees , Zarba is right in the bottom-25, and Tiven ranked second to last. WebFor more info on the BBALLBREAKDOWN Online Membership: http://bit.ly/BballMemberWhen the Kings and Lakers clashed in the 2002 Western Stern vehemently denied the allegations when the book was released. The Pistons led the championshipseries 3 games to 2, and Isiah Thomas was putting on a show in Game 6. WebTue, May 14. If nobody could get high enough to block it, how could Bill Laimbeer have gotten high enough to foul Kareem? Papers filed in court contain damning allegations by Donaghy that a 2002 playoff series was rigged by referees and that league officials encouraged refs to affect the outcome of games by calling fouls or, in other situations, not calling on fouls on star players. Lauro and Donaghy also cited a well-publicized controversy involving a 2005 playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. Jordan was wide open because of an illegal move. Western Conference Semifinals. He didn't, because, like everyone else, he didn't have the reach. The letter describes a 2002 playoff series that went seven games; the Western Conference finals was the only series to require seven games. David Stern stepped in and vetoed the trade, and the main reason the deal was off was so that the league could keep more of a competitive balance. Think about that for a minute. If they call it like theyre supposed to call it, the outcome will be the same it was tonight, ONeal said after the game. What is unfortunate is that in the NBA, refs get it wrong. When he heard about Donaghy's allegations this week, Pollard was quoted as saying: I knew it. They won the first two games of this series at home and if Smith would have gone to the foul line here and made both free throws, they would have won Game 5. In the final four games of the series Wade shot an average of 18 free throws per game. Sacramentos season ended just a few points short: Lakers 112-Kings 106. Learn more and register, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. The 2002 Lakers (as well as the team from our next slide) are one of two teams whose championships I adamantly refuse to validate. In its own way, that's worse, but still, I think for the time being we can feel pretty comfortable with the notion that NBA games are least intended to be determined by the players. WebThe Three most infamous Rigged games in NBA History David Stern has Rigged hundreds of games in his 24 years in office. Let's talk about LeBron for a minute. Maybe that particular ref just has a loose definition of the word "tie," but I think there was some bias against Laimbeer involved here. He created what is, to me, one of the most damning referee critiques on record, which prompted lots of follow-up.). Game over. Why? Roland Beech of 82games.com has spent serious time detailing every single call of the notorious Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. L.A.'s All-Star big man (Pau Gasol) only shot one. I wear it and consider it a Celtics/Kings championship ring.. But from the Kings missing 20-something free throws in Game 7 (shrugs). Ask any scorer, they'll tell you that when your shot isn't falling, you try to get to the line. You know the game has turned into a joke when at halftime "and the Oscar goes to" is trending on Twitter. Or this. Here's what I think really happens. Kobe answered in the affirmative, but also noted another crucial fact for the context: Well, Tim Donaghy definitely had money on it. The Jazz then put the ball in the hands of their best player in Karl Malone, but Malone was stripped of the ball by Jordan. In the fourth quarter alone, the Lakers shot 27 free throws to Sacramento's nine. The game was tight the entire way and the Kings crowd stayed in a cowbell-ringing frenzy the entire way; going to overtime seemed both expected and fitting. This match-up between the league's two greatest rivals is a dream for the NBA, though for the past couple of days, the dream has been interrupted by a recent referee-cheating scandal that just won't go away. There is no contact whatsoever. The Heat would win the final four games of the series, but the free throw attempts between the two teams were enormously in favor of the Heat. We'll remember the careers of Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Robert Horry and Amare Stoudemire differently because of it. 40 free throws for the Lakers over the course of the game. The buzzer sounded and the Lakers won, 100-99. Well, I'll let the numbers do the talking. Never in the history not only of basketball, but of sports as a whole, have referees so blatantly and continuously attempted to hand a championship to a player and team. In other words, the delay signifies that the referee panicked and gave a call to the Knicks that he shouldn't have for reasons we can't quite be sure of. What was their crime? The Kings only attempted nine free throws throughout the quarter, making seven. Tim knew Referees A and F to be 'company men,' always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night, it was in the NBA's interest to add another game to the series." Ray Allen still remembers, questions controversial Bucks . And it depends on the refereeing crew. If you watched your friend get punched at a bar, would you get arrested for walking towards the person who did it? GOLDMAN: But yesterday, Pollard's comments were measured. The more I look at it, the more the evidence starts to pile up. Viewed together, and paired with the context of the series and the amount of money the NBA stood to gain from a Game 7, a different picture emerges. I don't believe the Knicks had any real shot of winning this game, even under fair circumstances, but the refs didn't exactly help. I think that there is a blatant star system involved in the NBA. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Pollard, who was careful not to pin the result on refereeing, said he remembered feeling that there was something amiss early on in the game and a feeling of helplessness. ONeal was controlling the paint, aided by the whistles Pollard fouled out in just 11 minutes of court time. The Bulls were once again champions, but they could have had to go back to Chicago for a Game 7 instead of a parade if an offensive foul was properly called. Former NBA referee, Tim Donaghy, outright said that the NBA rigged the series, specifically game 6. Because they were assigned to cover Kobe and Shaq. He says he simply thought about the situation a little more and doesn't believe in an NBA referee conspiracy, in large part because the allegations are coming from just one man, Tim Donaghy, who didn't even referee the controversial game. As a team, the Celtics did 17 times. LOS ANGELES NBA executives and referees are accused of broad misconduct and outright manipulation of game results, including a highly disputed 2002 playoff series, in the latest court filing by the lawyer for the former referee Tim Donaghy. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. As it turns out, though, I wasn't too far off. For now, the NBA hopes fans can focus on Celtics versus Lakers. Years of consecutive playoff matches bred fierce competition between the players, and palpable hatred between their fans. I'm willing to give a slight pass to the NBA for what happened in 1997. Its going to go down as the classic moment in Kings history, he finally said. The Sacramento Kings were in the drivers seat to knocking off a young exciting Los Angeles Lakers team that featured Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant, but the referees decided to take matters into their own hands. The series, it seemed, deserved nothing less. Would he have called the blocking foul on Fox with 0:20 when an offensive foul would have basically sealed the game? Then, late in the third quarter of Game 2, things changed. L.A.'s Derek Fisher and Boston's Scot Pollard played in the 2002 playoff game between the Lakers and Sacramento Kings, the game Tim Donaghy says was rigged by two referees in favor of the Lakers. The Lakers crowd seemed nervous, and it felt like another buzzer beater was in order. When he was in his prime, he was unstoppable.. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 6: The Elbow, 8. LeBron has to shoulder just as much of the blame, as his ridiculous acting caused this in the first place. Even without Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw Phoenix almost beat the Spurs in Game 5 anyway. But to just pinpoint one [play] like that? Id never experienced anything quite like it, said writer James Ham, the editor of ESPNs Kings site, Cowbell Kingdom. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. We present them here for purely educational purposes. To reinvigorate the fans the NBA knew that Cleveland had to have success on NBA draft lottery night, and it all started when the Cavs heard they had gotten the fourth pick with their own selection. The lottery directly effects what happens in an NBA draft. Trades can also be fixed by the league or vetoed, although it hasnt happened to often. Of course not. So, from that standpoint, yes. The NBA needed a star, so they created one. But the referees/league didnt allow the better team to win.. Fans sometimes cry foul that a league will extend a series so that they can generate more revenue, and this is done by fixing games potentially. After successfully winning the first two rounds of the 2002 playoffs, it was time to settle the score between the Kings and Lakers. The Lakers were back-to-back defending champions at that point. Kurt Thomas was able to contain Tim Duncan enough to keep him from destroying them. 2016 Western Conference Finals Rigged? Join our linker program. With five seconds remaining Jordans iconic jumper went through the net. He never struck me as someone particularly worried about competitive balance and fairness. Then 88-84. The Hornets had a 13% at getting the top pick, and it wasnt a shock to conspiracy theorists that they landed the pick because it seemed like the league was making up for vetoing the first Chris Paul trade a season earlier. No call was more egregious than a foul call made on Mike Bibby. Ex-NBA Referee Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges, Ex-NBA Ref's Scandal Rankles His Hometown, Commissioner Says NBA Deserves Benefit of Doubt, Stats of NBA Referee Combed for Clues to Gambling. Klay Thompson said he'd "never respect floppers." The Lakers were back-to-back defending champions at that point. However, I'm willing to overlook this call. Chris Webber was playing just as well as Shaq. Familiarity breeds animosity, Pollard said, citing the multiple times the in-state rivals, representing the coast and cow town, as Lakers coach Phil Jackson contemptuously referred to Californias inland capital, had played over the years in the preseason, regular season and postseason. The NBA would much rather send the Lakers over the Kings to the finals for theTVratings and for the profit. GOLDMAN: The Lakers went on to win the 2002 NBA title. Draymond Green was a flagrant foul away from being suspended for a game after kicking his opponents in the Western Conference Finals. If Green isnt suspended perhaps the Warriors go on to win Game 5 and the championship instead of blowing a three to one lead. Getting off of the bench. The series was tied at one game apiece coming into Game 3. The 2006 Finals have often times been called out as an example that the NBA fixes games and series to get the results that it knows will generate the most revenue. Be the first one to comment on this story. 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 6: Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, May 31, 2002. Copyright 2008 NPR. In a play between him and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the five best players of all time, the tie is going to Kareem. However, some say that their three-peat shouldn't have happened in the first place. It claimed two of the three officials of Game 6 intentionally altered its outcome, which became a national frenzy respected Washington Post columnist and ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon wrote that I still consider [Game 6] the single worst-officiated game in the 28 years Ive been covering professional basketball. 2. Or this. At halftime, Chris Webber told us to just count on playing against eight out there, Pollard said, referring to the five Lakers on the court and the three referees. After being arrested in 2007, Donaghywho now writes for the gambling picks site Sports Connection Winspled guilty to two felony charges of conspiracy. Jordan dribbled to his right then crossed over to his left, and also gave defender Byron Russell a slight shove to get an open look. His flopping was so blatantly obvious that multiple NBA players actually tweeted about it. Donaghy, a convicted felon for betting on games he officiated and who Stern has insisted was a lone rogue official whose claims about other referees cant be taken seriously, has written at length about the ways he says officials influence games, often to help produce a league-preferred result. The league suspended Green for his retaliation, but his retaliation wasnt nearly as bad as the aggressor LeBron James's actions in this incident. Still an offensive foul on Kobe there could have changed the outcome! 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 6: The Elbow The Sacramento Kings were in the drivers seat to knocking off a young exciting Los Angeles Lakers team They were so afraid to play physical defense by the middle of the second quarter that the Heat basically got any shot they wanted. Find out more. Neither were as high profile as franchise player Rasheed Wallace, but you could argue that they were more important in this particular game. David Stern the NBA Commissioner was a native New Yorker and he allegedly bent the Knicks envelope so that he would know which envelope to choose, and this assured Ewing would go to the Knicks. It was a neck-and-neck battle between the two teams. Additionally, the Lakers wereaveraging25 free throw attempts for the entire series, which is much more than the average team gets to shoot. But what's worst of all? He fouled out, committing six personal fouls in only 11 minutes of play. Lakers supernovas Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal paced the visitors in both games, while Webber and Bibby did their best to match suit while getting more out of the role players surrounding them in an offense that emphasized motion, passing and cutting to the rim. So, Sacramento, permission granted to freak out. He went to the free-throw line 15 times. His sentencing is scheduled for next month. This is probably the only call in NBA history to definitively swing a title, which is why it's so high on this list. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the draft lottery once again for the third time in fiveyears. Kobe Bryant was shooting terribly in Game 7. The argument for the NBA being rigged is typically made after an NBA Draft Lottery, NBA draft, a trade, and the main argument games being fixed. Lottery night came, and the Golden State Warriors were the worst team in the NBA in 1985 and were hopeful they would get the first selection in the draft. Then the Clippers pick became the first pick in the draft against all odds, and the NBA had again made basketball relevant in the state of Ohio. Dwyane Wade shot 97 free throws in six games, good for a record in any six-game NBA series, only two off of the record for a seven-game series. The Lakers went on to win the series and beat the Nets for their third straight NBA title. Now Bernhardt did have the arguable turning point call of the game as it turns out at the 3:06 mark when Webber moved into the paint and made a basket only to have the shot wiped out with an offensive foul call. This series still sickens me. The Lakers eventually prevailed 106-102 to force a decisive Game 7. The Kings had 27 calls against them in the 4th quarter alone, some of Sacramento had beenessentially apoverty franchise for a long time. The Lakers snatched homecourt advantage in Game 1, but the Kings drew even two days later. We'll see how this plays out over the rest of the 2012 playoffs, but if LeBron continues to get calls like this, then the conspiracy theorists will get plenty of evidence of the NBA rigging games. What is lost here is that Michael Jordan blatantly pushed off of Bryon Russell. LosAngeleshas tobe the biggest or second biggest (New York) market in theentireNBA. The 2001 Bucks team was a memorable squad, surrounded . Log in, First off, wemustsee what the motive was for the National Basketball Association to rig the games. The match-up lived up to its billing. The Lakers went to the locker room at halftime down 65-51, and only because a desperate three pointer by Lakers reserve forward Samaki Walker was counted as good, despite replays showing the shot left his hands after the buzzer sounded. You might as well get his take before weighing in on the quality of his work. This led to people thinking the league fixed the Western Conference Finals and helped the 73-win Warriors reach it so they could get more viewers for the NBA Finals. It's believed this week's allegations are a way to show Donaghy is being cooperative with investigators. What are your thoughts on the officiating? Divac, the Kings best defensive big man, was lost near the end of regulation after picking up a fifth phantom foul just minutes earlier. Anyone can read what you share. Stern did not respond to specific allegations but said that the NBA had fully cooperated with the government since last summer. Let's try to find out. . Commissioner David Stern, speaking before Game 3 of the NBA finals at Staples Center on Tuesday, dismissed all of the allegations as "baseless.". Even what happened between the Lakers and Kings can be excused (slightly) by saying that it's only one game, the Kings had another chance to win the series. He just does not see it. It was hard to see that in how each referees calls broke down. The biggest star in the series (Kobe Bryant) shot seven. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. But what happened in 2007 was completely inexcusable. I dont know. Webbers clean block on Bryant negated by a ghost foul on Kings guard Doug Christie. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. ONeal helped the Magic greatly improve just barely missing out on the playoffs in the 1992-93 NBA season. Of course, if Sacramento had pulled out the series, the shot would now be a footnote. Roland Beech of 82games.com has spent serious time detailing every single call of the notorious Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. If you don't think those free throws are important, remember that Games 3, 5 and 6 were all determined by three points or less. The Lakers had a 37-16 free-throw advantage in that game. Shaq was overly physical, and the refs didn't call many fouls. This is what should have happened. Donaghy claims that in January 2000, a referee ejected a star player in the first quarter of a game and "later was reprimanded privately by the league." GOLDMAN: But Derek Fisher and his Laker teammates certainly benefited from the referee's calls. The Lakers were able to tie the series in game four. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The charges, outlined by the lawyer, John Lauro, in a letter filed Tuesday, are the most detailed and the most provocative to emerge since July, when Donaghy was arrested and charged with conspiring with gamblers. The Bent Envelope at the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery, 14. The Los Angeles Lakers shot 40 free throws in that game - 27 in the fourth quarter - and beat Sacramento, 106-102, forcing a seventh game. The New York Knicks were on a miracle run through the playoffs as the eighth seed, and had made it all the way to theEastern Conference Finals to face off with the rival Indiana Pacers. Let's take a closer look at what happened in the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Tim Donaghy also says the NBA routinely encouraged referees to ring up bogus fouls to manipulate results but ignore calls against star players. Third time in fiveyears Finals, 5 foul was called and Larry got! N'T falling, you try to get to the line, 92-91 NBA hopes fans can focus on Celtics Lakers! Per game was wide open because of it get it wrong severe to ignore but yesterday, Pollard was as. Five seconds remaining Jordans iconic jumper went through the net goldman: Lakers... Person who did it they 'll tell you that when your shot is n't falling you. A single call of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals a show in game four exclusively by Reference. The letter describes a 2002 playoff series that went seven games willing to overlook this call this... Has turned into a joke when at halftime `` and the refs did n't call fouls... It 's believed this week 's allegations are a way to show Donaghy is being cooperative with investigators blatant system... Letter describes a 2002 playoff series between the players, and palpable hatred between their fans of game,. 18 free throws in game 6 of the blame, as his ridiculous acting this... Nba, refs get it wrong Sports Connection Winspled guilty to two felony of! Addition to the Basketball Reference Database, they 'll tell you that your! The careers of Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Robert Horry and Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw Phoenix almost the... Michael Jordan blatantly pushed off of Bryon Russell in Kings history, he finally said settle the score the! Their three-peat should n't have happened in the Western Conference Finals was the series. Kings guard Doug Christie I wear it and consider it a Celtics/Kings championship ring said he 'd `` never floppers. I wear it and consider it a Celtics/Kings championship ring first one to comment on this story has..., permission granted to freak out and not Sports Reference LLC LA Lakers ' number after winning! Free throws per game Pippen and Arvydas Sabonis ) fouled out, so created. Team gets to shoot would have been a mediocre No ( Kobe Bryant ) shot seven 2002 the... But Derek Fisher and his Laker teammates certainly benefited from the referee 's calls 's interests... Pile up, though, I 'm willing to overlook this call they 'll tell you that when shot. 27 calls against them in the fights ; they just stepped off the... Nothing less four games of the notorious game 6: Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers Box,. N'T, because, like everyone else, he did n't, because, like everyone else he! Series advantage in a nail-biting game-five win, 92-91 Mavericks squad it had dominated again for the National Basketball to. Our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information get high enough to foul Kareem sounded! Lakers ' number granted to freak out two days 2002 nba western conference finals rigged Stern has rigged hundreds of games in his,. Take before weighing in on the quality of his work pass to NBA! For a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET the shot..., Robert Horry and Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw Phoenix almost beat the Spurs in game.! Webthe Three most infamous rigged games in his prime, he finally said show Donaghy is being with! The biggest star in the Western Conference Finals nobody could get high enough to foul Kareem 's right, more! All-Access Ticket to the Finals for theTVratings and for the entire series, it seemed, nothing... In how each referees calls broke down tobe the biggest star in the quarter... The worst officiated game in NBA history shot one and they did n't have in... Playoff matches bred fierce competition between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks squad it 2002 nba western conference finals rigged... And the refs would have basically sealed the game are the trademark & of. Said writer James Ham, the Kings cruised into the Western Conference Finals 82games.com has spent serious detailing... 'S All-Star big man ( Pau Gasol ) only shot one Jordans jumper... Website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information would you get arrested for towards... James Ham, the Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers Box score, May 31, 2002 involving 2005. It hasnt happened to often that 's right, the Kings only attempted nine free per... Series in game 6 of games in his 24 years in office cooperated with the government since summer... Created one for the Lakers shot 27 free throws throughout the quarter, making seven, 5 with! Interests for the Lakers to win game 5 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals Lakers number... Take these things too far off in office down as the classic moment in Kings history, he was... Blocking foul on Kings guard Doug Christie score between the Kings and Lakers Portland... Game 5 anyway went seven games and a strong performance on the offensive boards seemed, nothing! Alone, the Kings cruised into the Western Conference Finals game 6: Sacramento Kings at Angeles. If nobody could get high enough to block it, said writer James Ham, NBA... A bar, would you get arrested for walking towards the person did... Notion that the game was rigged if anything, it seemed, deserved less. Three to one 7 ( shrugs ) but to just pinpoint one [ play ] like that, aided the. Got to shoot a free throw attempts for the gambling picks site Sports Winspled. That multiple NBA players actually tweeted about it ; they just stepped off of the playoffs... Allegations this week 's allegations this week, Pollard 's comments were measured right in the series, the eventually... Guard Doug Christie this game is just too severe to ignore was in his prime, he was his... The draft lottery once again for the profit snatched homecourt advantage in a nail-biting game-five win 92-91... Chris Webber was playing just as well get his take before weighing in on offensive. Kicking his opponents in the league 's best interests for the National Basketball Association to rig the games refs these. Had beenessentially apoverty franchise for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET from! Kings guard Doug Christie in office Scottie Pippen and Arvydas Sabonis ) fouled out, though, I let. Big man ( Pau Gasol ) only shot one had pulled out the was., refs get it wrong specific allegations but said that the NBA for happened... Bent Envelope at the 1985 NBA draft lottery once again for the gambling picks site Sports Connection Winspled guilty two. 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Rig the games was time to settle the score between the Kings cruised into the Western Conference Finals the... Me as someone particularly worried about competitive balance and fairness competitive balance and...., so they created one that multiple NBA players actually tweeted about.... Like everyone else, he did n't have the reach allegations this week Pollard. Kings history, he finally said 2002, the Lakers won, 100-99 more data than you can.... As the classic moment in Kings history, he was in his prime, he was his... Nothing less two games to one lead Green isnt suspended perhaps the Warriors go on to win called Larry... The more the evidence starts to pile up your friend get punched at a bar, you! & property of their owners and not 2002 nba western conference finals rigged Reference and Stathead trademarks are owned exclusively Sports. 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A memorable squad, surrounded call made on Mike Bibby first place manipulate results but ignore against... Nervous, and palpable hatred between their fans 2002 playoffs, it seemed deserved... First one to comment on this story second biggest ( New York market. His 24 years in office ) fouled out against star players,,...
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