Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I am not saying it is an exact science, or that it always happens, but there are too many glaring examples to ignore. Or is NBA officiating really just that completely awful? Because it is one or the other (or a combination of the two, which I would lean towards). Also, you keep talking about small markets, but the NBA is a superstar-driven league, and the stars bring out the ratings more than anything most of the time (unless they are non-flashy ones like Duncan in SA). Miami might not be as big a market as NY, but James is the biggest star in the league right now, and he is a guy many will tune in to hopefully see lose, so he is now a ratings magnet. And OKC might be a small market, but Durant and Westbrook are two of the best and most exciting young stars in the league right now, and holding them down would be counterproductive.I know, right? And how about the way they blatantly handed the Lakers those close games against another small market team, the Thunder, in 2012? That was totally unfair. No way the refs would help the Lakers get eliminated in five games in the conference semifinals in a bunch of close games that could easily turn on a call or two. They're not gonna get in the way of a LeBron/Kobe or Lakers/Celtics Finals, right?No, when a team is so good that they keep winning, there is nothing anyone can do about it (like Miami dispatching the Knicks in 5 in the 1st round), but in close games, a call here and a call there can influence the outcome of a game (like the Sacramento/LAL debacle in '02). For all you need to know about the Spurs and the league, go back to Game 4 of 2008 against the Lakers. Down 2, the Spurs attempt a 3 for the win, a Laker clearly fouls the Spur...and no call. Now, I do NOT think that Stern ever tells the refs to call games certain ways, but they work for him, and they know what will make him happy, and that is more games, ratings and money. The refs weren't about to get in the way of the Celtics/Lakers NBA Final back in '08, hence the no call on that 3 at the end. A Spurs win would have gotten them back in the series and possibly ruined the magical Boston/LA Final.Same arguments every single year. All conspiracy theories can be dispelled with two words: "The Spurs"
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