NBA isn't fixed, but it's not on up and up.

[Sigflanagan6]

As many of you know, I have a good friend that works for the Cavs PR department. He travels with the team, and is the point of contact for in game, post game interviews, and handles other interview requests. He and I have always gone back and forth on the league being fixed, and he has always made sound defenses for the league not being fixed. I just spoke to him this morning, and for the first time in 9 years he has issue with the NBA. He states it isn't fixed, but it definitely looks like one team is getting "help" from someone.

The issue that led to this revelation occurred last night in the 4th Q. We all know Lebron cramped up. The Heat called a timeout to take him out, which was the first break under 6 minutes in the 4th quarter. NBA rules state that a full timeout lasts for 60 seconds, with certain exceptions. One of those is that the first timeout under 6 minutes in each quarter is extended to 100 seconds. This was actually done to help networks run more advertising. The league allows a network to break for 2 minutes during these timeouts, 100 seconds for the timeout, and a 10 second allowance before and after for players to enter/leave the court. It is actually in the NBA rule book.

In order to maintain this, the NBA has an official in the broadcast center that holds team to this "strict" timeline. Often times when watching an NBA game you will see a commercial cut off, this is why. The NBA made these rules years ago to speed up game time after years of complaints. According to my friend, they are very strict about this, and enforce it "passionately" during games.

Unless of course it's the finals and Lebron James is injured. The break last night from the time the Heat called timeout until play resumed was 4 minutes and 47 seconds, or more than double what NBA rules allow. My friend, who has worked in the press box, worked in the broadcast area, has no idea how this could possibly happen.

To say this didn't impact the game would be pure ignorance. After coming back from the break, James missed 1:10 of game time, right around 1:30 in real time. He returned and the Heat went on a 7-0 run, including a huge 3 pointer by James. A 3 pointer that had the NBA enforced its own rules, James would have been on the bench receiving treatment for instead of being on the court.


It also seemed to impact the Thunder. Teams aren't used to a near 5 minute break in play in the middle of a quarter. Prior to the timeout Russel Westbrook was putting together an all time great Finals performance. After this break, he went cold, dribbled the ball off his foot, and the Heat pulled away.

I get that the NBA cant control players making and missing shots. The Thunder did plenty last night to cost themselves the game. The NBA can and should though enforce its own rules. Had Sefelosha, or Ibaka cramped up, would we have seen a near 5 minute break? Is anyone going to call the NBA out on this? No, and that's the worst part.

[Sigflanagan6]

And yes I posted this in the football forum on purpose. Nothing else is going on and I can do what I want.

[dizzle]

I'm sorry but, there is no way the NBA is fixed. NO WAY. And there is no way that Stern is telling the officials "make sure this team or that team wins" With the way people run their mouth's and throw people under the bus these days, we would all hear about corruption.

[Voodoochile]

I think I'll just go ahead & move this to the basketball forum.

[Sigflanagan6]

Diz I joked about it being fixed until this year. I'm not saying it is fixed, but you can't tell me the deck doesn't get stacked in teams favor. The lengthy timeout last night was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. In case you are wondering, the NBA allows for a 20 second injury timeout, unless an extenuating circumstance occurs. I.E a stretcher is needed.

[TommyDee]

Jun 20, 2012 12:04:47 GMT -5 dizzle said:

I'm sorry but, there is no way the NBA is fixed. NO WAY. And there is no way that Stern is telling the officials "make sure this team or that team wins" With the way people run their mouth's and throw people under the bus these days, we would all hear about corruption.

[Sigflanagan6]

Yep, only one rogue ref in the entire league. Twenty years from now a book will be written about this series.

[dizzle]

Of course certain people have their own hidden agendas but as a league, there isn't a boss telling anyone to make something happen.

[Voodoochile]

Nope not fixed, it's still broken

[dizzle]

Jun 20, 2012 12:27:00 GMT -5 TommyDee said:

Jun 20, 2012 12:04:47 GMT -5 dizzle said:

I'm sorry but, there is no way the NBA is fixed. NO WAY. And there is no way that Stern is telling the officials "make sure this team or that team wins" With the way people run their mouth's and throw people under the bus these days, we would all hear about corruption.

Yes, because this one ref was trying to alter the outcome of the games, that means that the entire NBA and it's refs are doing the same thing? That's like saying all NCAA football defensive coordinators are child rapist because Sandusky is. Please tommy, don't

[Sigflanagan6]

Dizzle, you aren't saying that he was the only ref to be approached, and the only ref to agree to this are you? Come on man. The league is dirty. Is it fixed, not entirely. Is it dirty, and does it do things to maybe give an advantage to certain teams? I think so.

[Sigflanagan6]

In the second round of the playoffs, 3 out of 4 series were forced to play back to back games. One series had a 3 day layoff in between games that did not involve travel. The Heat just happened to be one of the teams that didn't play back to backs. Purely coincidence, right Diz?

[TommyDee]

Jun 20, 2012 12:46:32 GMT -5 dizzle said:

Of course certain people have their own hidden agendas but as a league, there isn't a boss telling anyone to make something happen.

Shit, NY needs to be revitalized in the sport. Answer? Give them Ewing.

Shit, Cleveland needs to be revitalized in the sport. Answer? Give them Lebron.

Shit, Orlando lost Shaq? Answer? Give them Howard.

Shit, Cleveland lost Lebron? Answer? Give them Kyrie.

Shit, nobody will buy the Hornets off of us unless we give them something. Answer? Give them Davis.

Dude it's a tainted league.

[Sigflanagan6]

The Heat are 15-3 in playoff games Dan Crawford refs, 50-40 in playoff games he doesn't ref since Wade era.

Lebron James decides to change his number 3 years ago after talking to Pat Riley. #23 was retired by the Heat, but yeah there was no collusion.

[dizzle]

Oh, the world is out to get me.

[tsaw]

Jun 20, 2012 13:06:59 GMT -5 Sigflanagan6 said:

The Heat are 15-3 in playoff games Dan Crawford refs, 50-40 in playoff games he doesn't ref since Wade era.

Lebron James decides to change his number 3 years ago after talking to Pat Riley. #23 was retired by the Heat, but yeah there was no collusion.

Russell Westbrook took 29 shots inside the 3-point arc, scored 43 points, and only had 3 free throw attempts in Game 4. I have a big problem with that.

yes, officials are influenced by home crowds, proven statistical work on this, but that's absurd.

[tsaw]

Why it's tough to win on the road:

Free throws in Games 3 and 4:

Miami 60, OKC 40

Free throws in Games 1 and 2:

OKC 53, Miami 45

Still think Wade gets benefit of too many calls. He's lost a step, has no jumper, and needs the FT line to succeed

[dizzle]

Harden and Scott Brooks must be involved in the NBA's scandal to let Miami win.

[Sigflanagan6]

Dan Crawford is reffing tonight. Heat are 15-3 in games he officiates in the playoffs. Somebody better get Lebron's ring size.

[tsaw]

Jun 21, 2012 11:37:18 GMT -5 dizzle said:

Harden and Scott Brooks must be involved in the NBA's scandal to let Miami win.

Yeah, Harden has been awful.

[acejack]

All the talk on ESPN is "Will LeBron silence his critics with a championship?"

My answer would be no, assholes win championships all the time.

[flats]

I thought Scott Raab made a good point when he wrote that he had absolutely no doubt James would get a ring after he left. Not because James is James, but because Cleveland is Cleveland. It's not enough to get the shit kicked out of us. We have to get spit on too.

[BrownstotheBone]

Didn't see 1 second of that "game" last night. Didn't even know who won until this morning.

Didn't miss a thing.

[TommyDee]

Jun 22, 2012 9:19:02 GMT -5 BrownstotheBone said:

Didn't see 1 second of that "game" last night. Didn't even know who won until this morning.

Didn't miss a thing.

I also didn't see one second of it. The only reason I knew they were winning was from texts I was getting.

It blows he won but my God that path for the Heat could not have been easier. Rigged or not.

In the end at least I can stop paying attention to him now. I don't give a shit how many he wins.

And to anyone that says they would take him back, you are out of your fucking mind. The guy is a front running, conceded asshole that shit on the city we all love. We've been waiting for a title since 1964, we can wait many more before we sell out and win with that clown. Loyalty.

[flats]

LeBron said it would be easy when he went there, and from what I've heard he was right (I didn't watch).

It's a GAME Lebron. The "hard" is what makes it worth anything.