NBA BEAT - NBA'S FIXED GAMES CONTROVERSY With the Los Angeles Lakers

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

We published in 2002: The Los Angeles Lakers continue to receive favoritism from NBA referees as they elbowed their way to a seventh ganme showdown after their 106-102 game six victory over the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles. The favoritism for the Lakers couldn't be more obvious than in the last minutes of the game.

Wednesday June 18, 2008

Were the Los Angeles Lakers Helped In Winning Three NBA Titles?

Yea, yea, sure, sure NBA Commissioner David Stern continues to insist that nothing is wrong with the refereeing in the league despite allegations of Tim Donaghy's who will be sentenced next month for fixing games in the past. The most controversial are the playoff series in 2002 and 2005 most notably the Sacramento Kings verses the Los Angeles Lakers game 6 and 7. Stern claims that only Donaghy is to blame but in our archives we noted several stories that questioned the integrity of the officiating and how the Lakers were given favorable treatment.

We pointed out specifically the favorable treatment given to the Lakers in game six of the 2002 series with our column Lakers ELBOW Their Way To Seventh Game: BAP, BAM BOOM.

In the column we noted, The Los Angeles Lakers continue to receive favoritism from NBA referees as they elbowed their way to a seventh game showdown after their 106-102 game six victory over the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers continue to receive favoritism from NBA referees as they elbowed their way to a seventh game showdown after their 106-102 game six victory over the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles. The favoritism for the Lakers couldn't be more obvious than in the last minutes of the game.

With 12 seconds left the Lakers Kobe Bryant smashed Sacramento's Mike Bibby in the nose with a flagrant elbow on an inbounds play from the Lakers end line. As Bibby fell backward he reached out and grabbed the onrushing Bryant who was trying to receive the inbounds pass. Bibby appeared to be trying to keep from falling on the back of his head and cracking his skull open, when he reached out and grabbed Bryant. The result was Bibby was called for FOULING BRYANT. BIBBY GOT A BLOODY NOSE.

The ESPN replay showed over and over the referee was looking right at the play during the entire time and IGNORED Bryant's fouling Bibby. The play should have been whistled dead at the time that Bryant smashed Bibby in the nose with his elbow. It was as if Bibby's nose infringed Bryant's elbow.

"The official was looking right at it," ESPN analyst Eric Clemons exclaimed in disbelief regarding the officials non-call.

After the play Bibby was wiping the blood pouring from his nose with a towel. The referees seemed annoyed that he would take time to do this. In boxing when a boxer has a bloody nose he can't breathe properly. Is it any different in basketball or the NBA?

To compound the inequities Lakers coach Phil Jackson wanted a blood control rule called.

But that's not all. Shaquille O'Neal continues to be allowed to back his giant body into a defensive man who is stationary and in defensive position. It's as though O'Neal portrays himself as a giant bowling ball that is knocking over little bowling (King) pins (pun intended). Conversely, when someone just touches O'Neal on the back they are called for a foul.

The smashing the opponent with an elbow mentality permeates down through the Lakers ranks. In the second quarter the Lakers reserve Devon George smashed a forearm to Vlade Divac's jaw after the Kings center made a basket and was running back up court. With 3:07 left in the fourth quarter the Kings Chris Webber was called for a foul after he made a basket. That prompted Clemons to comment on the official's inept calling of fouls; "I can't get a read on it."

At the beginning of the fourth quarter Scott Pollard fouled out of the game after Shaq BACKED INTO HIM. "That's about as cheap as they come with this physical play," commented Clemons regarding that foul being called on Pollard.

In game three Sacramento coach Rick Adelman complained to referee Steve Javy that O'Neal should NOT be permitted to back into defenders and get away with it. "You can't let him do that," Adelman said. Television replays clearly showed Javy replying, "I agree."

Clemons said at the time, "Shaq has done that much of his career and been able to get away with it."

O'Neal and Bryant are notorious for throwing elbows. It seems this is one lesson Bryant has learned from O'Neal. As great as they are as players it makes you wonder why they are given so much leeway to abuse their opponents unfairly. That was the series that is receiving the most controversy but we noticed irregularities from the first championship when the Lakers went on to win their three-peat experience.

We questioned after the Lakers won their first title defeating the Indiana Pacers in six games: Are The Lakers That Good Or Is The NBA That Bad? We went on to say: The Lakers won the championship by default. As poor as this team is there was NO COMPETITION in the NBA's post MICHAEL JORDAN era. WHY THE NBA IS THAT BAD.

The Los Angeles Lakers winning the title brought to mind are they the WORST team to have ever won an NBA Championship? Well OK there were teams in the early 50's this Lakers team could possibly defeat in a NBA Championship series but whom else? The Lakers are a poor excuse for a championship team. They won with just TWO PLAYERS, KOBE BRYANT and SHAQUILLE O'NEAL. The remainder of the elderly veteran squad filled in admirably but they weren't an overpowering threat as a total team. It basically was street/school-yard two-man basketball play of Bryant and O'Neal. It was like nobody on the opposition yelled out "They're playing two!" Thus they got away with it. I wonder if the opposition called picks.

In 2001 they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers and we noted LAKERS BLUDGEON 76ers For NBA Title. The refereeing seemed so one sided it had then 76ers star Alan Iverson almost was talking to himself though he did voice his displeasure. After the Sacramento Kings outlandish result in 2002 the New Jersey Nets were swept in the Finals by losing all four games. Their performance was as if they had no heart. Given the results of the previous Kings series the reality is now coming to light that they had no hope.

You can say what you want but the results bear out that something was wrong in the Lakers success. We've always questioned it. TV ratings have always played a big part in decision making as evidenced when games are delayed for TV time outs for commercials that pay the bills and produce a profit. Read these stories and weep. The Lakers past successes never smelled right and the stink is starting to surface once again.