2022-23 NBA Thread: “you’ll never let me down like the Heat did”, Miami fan says to giant pile of cocaine (3 Viewers)

[PIK95]

@Stoneworker I think Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon are gonna have a big say in Denvers wins tonight. Quick foul calls will probably neutralize Braun. KCP needs to just keep the ball moving and play good D imo. He's been ice cold all around compared to two months ago.

Miami is also in trouble because it's hard to justify ANY foul call on Joker or Murray because of their style of play. Joker NEVER reaches in or goes over the back, and Murray only reaches when he has that bone head game every couple of weeks. League whistle is gonna have the biggest challenge imo.

Hopefully the league whistle thing won't get in the way of what's been real good competition so far. If it does, where I'm worried for Joker is offensive fouls. Some bizarre and inconsistent calls so far on him in that regard

NBA League Averages - Per Game | Basketball-Reference.com

NBA League Averages - Per Game

www.basketball-reference.com

these refs are out of control with the whistles. they're up 0.4 fouls per game since last year and up 0.7 per game since the season before.

over the past 8 years the NBA averages 20.0875 fouls per game. but 20 flat this year. a clear sign that the refs have been..... leaning on teams...... to tilt the scales.... i guess?

It's not the amount of fouls it's how they use them to shape the outcomes of games. Usually to extend series to maximize TV exposure. It's been going on since the 80's, but some years are just much worse. As our games involving certain players....Jordan, Kobe and Shaq, Lebron, and early Harden would get silly calls. It just cheapens the game imo.

the numbers, over the decades, don't support it.

if they manipulate by calling certain things and not others to impact the flow of a game then they are remarkably consistent across generations of referees, NBA executives, media members, etc. who would have cried foul about it by now.

They are very good at it. I called the Kings fix game in real time and was furious. So many other weird ones over the years, but certain refs are very good at getting certain teams over the hump. Recently they have done a better job taking guys out with a few fouls earlier in the games, even the first half. Then it's not as noticeable down the stretch. The no call in game two on the Bam goaltending is a decent example of one of those moments. The Lakers (whole season) free throw attempts was another example of feeding the TV gods. Everyone is making money so who really cares if they have to play an extra game or two.

 

[Moe.]

Porter Jr goes for 25 tonight.

Minutes?

 

[identikit]

You know how difficult it would be to keep a decades-long conspiracy secret?

Not buying it.

A blocked shot that should have been a goaltend is a human mistake made by human refs.

Just my opinion.

 

[PIK95]

You know how difficult it would be to keep a decades-long conspiracy secret?

Not buying it.

A blocked shot that should have been a goaltend is a human mistake made by human refs.

Just my opinion.

I get it Adam, but many of us just think it's the business model. Similar to WWE.
Cash Rules Everything Around Me

Coaching youth is so difficult, its not just because of the kids wanting to jack up three's non stop, or the crazy parents screaming at everyone, but it's also the officials who are just so wrong.

 

[mr. furley]

You know how difficult it would be to keep a decades-long conspiracy secret?

Not buying it.

A blocked shot that should have been a goaltend is a human mistake made by human refs.

Just my opinion.

I get it Adam, but many of us just think it's the business model. Similar to WWE.

no

 

[identikit]

You know how difficult it would be to keep a decades-long conspiracy secret?

Not buying it.

A blocked shot that should have been a goaltend is a human mistake made by human refs.

Just my opinion.

I get it Adam, but many of us just think it's the business model. Similar to WWE.

Someone would spill it. Even if it was as you say.

Pro wrestlers have come clean about it

 

[identikit]

I think we're approaching the lowest form of discourse again

 

[PIK95]

You know how difficult it would be to keep a decades-long conspiracy secret?

Not buying it.

A blocked shot that should have been a goaltend is a human mistake made by human refs.

Just my opinion.

I get it Adam, but many of us just think it's the business model. Similar to WWE.

Someone would spill it. Even if it was as you say.

Pro wrestlers have come clean about it

Millions on the line. There is a reason why certain refs are always put in certain situations by the league. Basketball refs just have way to much power over the outcome compared to the other major sports imo. It is what it is.

 

[PIK95]

I think we're approaching the lowest form of discourse again

Just killing time until tipoff.

 

[identikit]

You know how difficult it would be to keep a decades-long conspiracy secret?

Not buying it.

A blocked shot that should have been a goaltend is a human mistake made by human refs.

Just my opinion.

I get it Adam, but many of us just think it's the business model. Similar to WWE.

Someone would spill it. Even if it was as you say.

Pro wrestlers have come clean about it

Millions on the line. There is a reason why certain refs are always put in certain situations by the league. Basketball refs just have way to much power over the outcome compared to the other major sports imo. It is what it is.

And it's not what it isn't.

Simple

 

[PIK95]

You know how difficult it would be to keep a decades-long conspiracy secret?

Not buying it.

A blocked shot that should have been a goaltend is a human mistake made by human refs.

Just my opinion.

I get it Adam, but many of us just think it's the business model. Similar to WWE.

Someone would spill it. Even if it was as you say.

Pro wrestlers have come clean about it

Tim D tried to fwiw. But that was gambling, I wasn't really talking about gambling this time.

 

[Tau837]

League whistle will be doing everything it can to extend this series.

It's not the amount of fouls it's how they use them to shape the outcomes of games. Usually to extend series to maximize TV exposure. It's been going on since the 80's, but some years are just much worse. As our games involving certain players....Jordan, Kobe and Shaq, Lebron, and early Harden would get silly calls. It just cheapens the game imo.

As others have said, this is ridiculous and, frankly, not credible. You are welcome to continue your conspiracy theory, but it is not based in reality.

 

[PIK95]

How do we explain the crazy free throw advantage the Lakers had all year? I mean, it's so obvious they needed them in the playoffs.

 

[identikit]

I think we're approaching the lowest form of discourse again

Just killing time until tipoff.

Unsure why you watch

If I believed that, I wouldn't watch

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I think we're approaching the lowest form of discourse again

Remember when?

 

[identikit]

I think we're approaching the lowest form of discourse again

Remember when?

Tuesday?

 

[PIK95]

I think we're approaching the lowest form of discourse again

Just killing time until tipoff.

Unsure why you watch

If I believed that, I wouldn't watch

I don't gamble. I just enjoy watching good basketball and I don't care about results mostly. If Denver wasn't in it, I wouldn't be watching. Well, unless the Celtics or Denver probably. I stopped watching for a lil while after the Kings got robbed actually.

 

[Tau837]

How do we explain the crazy free throw advantage the Lakers had all year? I mean, it's so obvious they needed them in the playoffs.

1. Lebron James
2. Anthony Davis

Seriously, in the regular season, the Lakers were #1 in average free throw attempts on paint touches. They were #6 in total paint touches (and note that Lebron and Davis missed a combined 53 games).

The "crazy free throw advantage the Lakers had all year" is because of their personnel and their offense, not due to some kind of officiating conspiracy. Come on, man, surely you don't really believe that.

BTW, I'm not a Lakers fan, so no bias here.

 

[ShamrockPride]

So tonight makes me nervous. As much as I am hoping for Denver to go up 3-1, I worry they spent so much mental energy in the last game, there is a chance they come out flat.

You have to approach this game believing that there is no way Murray and Joker can repeat their G3 effort. Joker maybe? You also have to believe there is no way Miami stays as cold as they are from three point land. These two variables offsetting will probably result in a very close game.

But I tell myself (and maybe it is the homer in me) MPJ has to show up. He is too good a player to pull a Ben Simmons here. I also want to believe KCP is due for a breakout performance.

I am thankful for alcohol for nights like these.

I don't think Joker allows for another mental lapse this series. Dude has always seemed hyper focused. Didn't care he lost MVP. Didn't care he won the West. This series is everything he's worked for in his life. He's going to keep the troops zoned in and not get too high or low off a single game.

 

[PIK95]

While I was bantering here I was grilling in the rain. My Buffalo chicken thighs and veggies just turned into a black smoke inferno and all got ruined. I had to pour baking soda in it to douse the flames. Grills probably getting trashed now. That was a first in thirty plus years of grilling. Yikes! Must have been the heavy rain somehow. There was crazy steam on the top all along.

Looks like Chinese food tonight boys.

 

[identikit]

While I was bantering here I was grilling in the rain. My Buffalo chicken thighs and veggies just turned into a black smoke inferno and all got ruined. I had to pour baking soda in it to douse the flames. Grills probably getting trashed now. That was a first in thirty plus years of grilling. Yikes! Must have been the heavy rain somehow. There was crazy steam on the top all along.

Looks like Chinese food tonight boys.

It's a conspiracy

Zero doubt

Or human error

Or the Chinese

 

[Courtjester]

Porter Jr goes for 25 tonight.

I took the over 11.5 at -115.

I believe!!!

 

[Mister CIA]

Calling it Denver by 15. I'll be pleased to see the Heat prove me wrong.

 

[Capella]

I think we're approaching the lowest form of discourse again

Me, every time I open this thread

 

[Capella]

How do we explain the crazy free throw advantage the Lakers had all year? I mean, it's so obvious they needed them in the playoffs.

Lebron is the best player in history at going to the hoop and getting calls and they weren’t really a jump shooting team?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Calling it Denver by 15. I'll be pleased to see the Heat prove me wrong.

I kind of feel like this is coming again tonight
Heat story ahs been amazing and the vibe here in South Florida incredible
That said, Murray/Jokic are just too much for this team

Hope Miami can make a game of it tonight, hope they can extend the Series but a 3-1 Denver lead going home is too much to overcome.

 

[AAABatteries]

My god Porter has little fight in him. Lose ball near his feet and he’s kind of watching it.

 

[Capella]

The Lakers had the 4th least amount of attempted 3s this year and had Lebron and AD. I’d be more surprised if they didn’t lead the league in free throws.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

@Stoneworker I think Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon are gonna have a big say in Denvers wins tonight. Quick foul calls will probably neutralize Braun. KCP needs to just keep the ball moving and play good D imo. He's been ice cold all around compared to two months ago.

Miami is also in trouble because it's hard to justify ANY foul call on Joker or Murray because of their style of play. Joker NEVER reaches in or goes over the back, and Murray only reaches when he has that bone head game every couple of weeks. League whistle is gonna have the biggest challenge imo.

Hopefully the league whistle thing won't get in the way of what's been real good competition so far. If it does, where I'm worried for Joker is offensive fouls. Some bizarre and inconsistent calls so far on him in that regard

NBA League Averages - Per Game | Basketball-Reference.com

NBA League Averages - Per Game

www.basketball-reference.com

these refs are out of control with the whistles. they're up 0.4 fouls per game since last year and up 0.7 per game since the season before.

over the past 8 years the NBA averages 20.0875 fouls per game. but 20 flat this year. a clear sign that the refs have been..... leaning on teams...... to tilt the scales.... i guess?

It's not the amount of fouls it's how they use them to shape the outcomes of games. Usually to extend series to maximize TV exposure. It's been going on since the 80's, but some years are just much worse. As our games involving certain players....Jordan, Kobe and Shaq, Lebron, and early Harden would get silly calls. It just cheapens the game imo.

the numbers, over the decades, don't support it.

if they manipulate by calling certain things and not others to impact the flow of a game then they are remarkably consistent across generations of referees, NBA executives, media members, etc. who would have cried foul about it by now.

They are very good at it. I called the Kings fix game in real time and was furious. So many other weird ones over the years, but certain refs are very good at getting certain teams over the hump. Recently they have done a better job taking guys out with a few fouls earlier in the games, even the first half. Then it's not as noticeable down the stretch. The no call in game two on the Bam goaltending is a decent example of one of those moments. The Lakers (whole season) free throw attempts was another example of feeding the TV gods. Everyone is making money so who really cares if they have to play an extra game or two.

Just to be clear, you feel the NBA games are rigged?
There was the NBA Ref-Donaghy that was rigging games so there certainly is precedence for it.
I know a lot of Miami fans were irate in Game 3 but I never thought the Refs gifted the game to Denver, sure I would have liked Gabe Vincent to avoid a couple calls in the 1st Half, wasn't anything in the 2nd Half that prevented the Heat from winning...only the Denver Nuggets themselves IMO

Cheers Pik

 

[AAABatteries]

Chris Tucker looks like he ate Jackie Chan.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Heat on track for about 15 points in the 1st Q, cannot hit open shots
Ringing theme for them lately in the Playoffs, the trend has been pointing down

Since they were up 3-0 vs Boston
2-5 in their last 7 Playoff games coming into tonight
Denver -2.5 must have been a steal

 

[AAABatteries]

Lol - nice defense Kevin

 

[Long Ball Larry]

WE HAVE A TRADE

The Thunder have traded their least favorable of potential four 2024 first-round picks, the 37th pick in the 2023 NBA draft and a 2024 second-round pick to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a protected 2029 first-round pick, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Yikes. A 2029 Pick! How far down the road are they allowed to go?

7 years

 

[Long Ball Larry]

While I was bantering here I was grilling in the rain. My Buffalo chicken thighs and veggies just turned into a black smoke inferno and all got ruined. I had to pour baking soda in it to douse the flames. Grills probably getting trashed now. That was a first in thirty plus years of grilling. Yikes! Must have been the heavy rain somehow. There was crazy steam on the top all along.

Looks like Chinese food tonight boys.

Sounds like Weber got to your grill to make you pay for a new one

 

[identikit]

The bank is open

 

[identikit]

Magic bucket

 

[mr. furley]

@Stoneworker I think Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon are gonna have a big say in Denvers wins tonight. Quick foul calls will probably neutralize Braun. KCP needs to just keep the ball moving and play good D imo. He's been ice cold all around compared to two months ago.

Miami is also in trouble because it's hard to justify ANY foul call on Joker or Murray because of their style of play. Joker NEVER reaches in or goes over the back, and Murray only reaches when he has that bone head game every couple of weeks. League whistle is gonna have the biggest challenge imo.

Hopefully the league whistle thing won't get in the way of what's been real good competition so far. If it does, where I'm worried for Joker is offensive fouls. Some bizarre and inconsistent calls so far on him in that regard

NBA League Averages - Per Game | Basketball-Reference.com

NBA League Averages - Per Game

www.basketball-reference.com

these refs are out of control with the whistles. they're up 0.4 fouls per game since last year and up 0.7 per game since the season before.

over the past 8 years the NBA averages 20.0875 fouls per game. but 20 flat this year. a clear sign that the refs have been..... leaning on teams...... to tilt the scales.... i guess?

It's not the amount of fouls it's how they use them to shape the outcomes of games. Usually to extend series to maximize TV exposure. It's been going on since the 80's, but some years are just much worse. As our games involving certain players....Jordan, Kobe and Shaq, Lebron, and early Harden would get silly calls. It just cheapens the game imo.

the numbers, over the decades, don't support it.

if they manipulate by calling certain things and not others to impact the flow of a game then they are remarkably consistent across generations of referees, NBA executives, media members, etc. who would have cried foul about it by now.

They are very good at it. I called the Kings fix game in real time and was furious. So many other weird ones over the years, but certain refs are very good at getting certain teams over the hump. Recently they have done a better job taking guys out with a few fouls earlier in the games, even the first half. Then it's not as noticeable down the stretch. The no call in game two on the Bam goaltending is a decent example of one of those moments. The Lakers (whole season) free throw attempts was another example of feeding the TV gods. Everyone is making money so who really cares if they have to play an extra game or two.

Just to be clear, you feel the NBA games are rigged?
There was the NBA Ref-Donaghy that was rigging games so there certainly is precedence for it.
I know a lot of Miami fans were irate in Game 3 but I never thought the Refs gifted the game to Denver, sure I would have liked Gabe Vincent to avoid a couple calls in the 1st Half, wasn't anything in the 2nd Half that prevented the Heat from winning...only the Denver Nuggets themselves IMO

Cheers Pik

Donaghy is one guy out of hundreds (i have no idea the exact number) of NBA referees who have ever called a game. yes, he may have made calls now and again to influence games, but this is not proof of a widespread WWE-style conspiracy being participated in by everyone in the league to fix games.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Magic bucket

18-11 at one point?
I'm more impressed with them holding Denver to 20 than the magic bucket

 

[AAABatteries]

Lowry banks in an ugly 3 - “I’m hot!”

 

[msudaisy26]

Chris Tucker looks like he ate Jackie Chan.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE FOOD THAT IS GOING INTO HIS MOUTH?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

The bank is open

I didn't even realize he had to go back to the locker room
Didn't look serious, felt like they were just checking hm out

 

[mr. furley]

Lowry is a master at getting away with little unseen nonsense that drives people crazy

 

[PIK95]

@Stoneworker I think Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon are gonna have a big say in Denvers wins tonight. Quick foul calls will probably neutralize Braun. KCP needs to just keep the ball moving and play good D imo. He's been ice cold all around compared to two months ago.

Miami is also in trouble because it's hard to justify ANY foul call on Joker or Murray because of their style of play. Joker NEVER reaches in or goes over the back, and Murray only reaches when he has that bone head game every couple of weeks. League whistle is gonna have the biggest challenge imo.

Hopefully the league whistle thing won't get in the way of what's been real good competition so far. If it does, where I'm worried for Joker is offensive fouls. Some bizarre and inconsistent calls so far on him in that regard

NBA League Averages - Per Game | Basketball-Reference.com

NBA League Averages - Per Game

www.basketball-reference.com

these refs are out of control with the whistles. they're up 0.4 fouls per game since last year and up 0.7 per game since the season before.

over the past 8 years the NBA averages 20.0875 fouls per game. but 20 flat this year. a clear sign that the refs have been..... leaning on teams...... to tilt the scales.... i guess?

It's not the amount of fouls it's how they use them to shape the outcomes of games. Usually to extend series to maximize TV exposure. It's been going on since the 80's, but some years are just much worse. As our games involving certain players....Jordan, Kobe and Shaq, Lebron, and early Harden would get silly calls. It just cheapens the game imo.

the numbers, over the decades, don't support it.

if they manipulate by calling certain things and not others to impact the flow of a game then they are remarkably consistent across generations of referees, NBA executives, media members, etc. who would have cried foul about it by now.

They are very good at it. I called the Kings fix game in real time and was furious. So many other weird ones over the years, but certain refs are very good at getting certain teams over the hump. Recently they have done a better job taking guys out with a few fouls earlier in the games, even the first half. Then it's not as noticeable down the stretch. The no call in game two on the Bam goaltending is a decent example of one of those moments. The Lakers (whole season) free throw attempts was another example of feeding the TV gods. Everyone is making money so who really cares if they have to play an extra game or two.

Just to be clear, you feel the NBA games are rigged?
There was the NBA Ref-Donaghy that was rigging games so there certainly is precedence for it.
I know a lot of Miami fans were irate in Game 3 but I never thought the Refs gifted the game to Denver, sure I would have liked Gabe Vincent to avoid a couple calls in the 1st Half, wasn't anything in the 2nd Half that prevented the Heat from winning...only the Denver Nuggets themselves IMO

Cheers Pik

Rigged from the standpoint that refs are encouraged to extend series to maximize games for TV. They are probably rewarded with the good assignments and the finals. Those same refs also realize that if Lebron or top guys advance, it probably also makes the league happy, and they will get rewarded for being a company guy. I guess that line of thinking makes me crazy.
Ironically I haven't seen much tonight that seems weird which is nice.

 

[msudaisy26]

Porter Jr goes for 25 tonight.

I took the over 11.5 at -115.

I believe!!!

If that is missed shots and not points you are golden.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Lowry is a master at getting away with little unseen nonsense that drives people crazy

He also misses a **** ton of shots, wide open looks, wide open runs to the rim

 

[msudaisy26]

@Stoneworker I think Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon are gonna have a big say in Denvers wins tonight. Quick foul calls will probably neutralize Braun. KCP needs to just keep the ball moving and play good D imo. He's been ice cold all around compared to two months ago.

Miami is also in trouble because it's hard to justify ANY foul call on Joker or Murray because of their style of play. Joker NEVER reaches in or goes over the back, and Murray only reaches when he has that bone head game every couple of weeks. League whistle is gonna have the biggest challenge imo.

Hopefully the league whistle thing won't get in the way of what's been real good competition so far. If it does, where I'm worried for Joker is offensive fouls. Some bizarre and inconsistent calls so far on him in that regard

NBA League Averages - Per Game | Basketball-Reference.com

NBA League Averages - Per Game

www.basketball-reference.com

these refs are out of control with the whistles. they're up 0.4 fouls per game since last year and up 0.7 per game since the season before.

over the past 8 years the NBA averages 20.0875 fouls per game. but 20 flat this year. a clear sign that the refs have been..... leaning on teams...... to tilt the scales.... i guess?

It's not the amount of fouls it's how they use them to shape the outcomes of games. Usually to extend series to maximize TV exposure. It's been going on since the 80's, but some years are just much worse. As our games involving certain players....Jordan, Kobe and Shaq, Lebron, and early Harden would get silly calls. It just cheapens the game imo.

the numbers, over the decades, don't support it.

if they manipulate by calling certain things and not others to impact the flow of a game then they are remarkably consistent across generations of referees, NBA executives, media members, etc. who would have cried foul about it by now.

They are very good at it. I called the Kings fix game in real time and was furious. So many other weird ones over the years, but certain refs are very good at getting certain teams over the hump. Recently they have done a better job taking guys out with a few fouls earlier in the games, even the first half. Then it's not as noticeable down the stretch. The no call in game two on the Bam goaltending is a decent example of one of those moments. The Lakers (whole season) free throw attempts was another example of feeding the TV gods. Everyone is making money so who really cares if they have to play an extra game or two.

Just to be clear, you feel the NBA games are rigged?
There was the NBA Ref-Donaghy that was rigging games so there certainly is precedence for it.
I know a lot of Miami fans were irate in Game 3 but I never thought the Refs gifted the game to Denver, sure I would have liked Gabe Vincent to avoid a couple calls in the 1st Half, wasn't anything in the 2nd Half that prevented the Heat from winning...only the Denver Nuggets themselves IMO

Cheers Pik

Rigged from the standpoint that refs are encouraged to extend series to maximize games for TV. They are probably rewarded with the good assignments and the finals. Those same refs also realize that if Lebron or top guys advance, it probably also makes the league happy, and they will get rewarded for being a company guy. I guess that line of thinking makes me crazy.
Ironically I haven't seen much tonight that seems weird which is nice.

That is why they let LeBron get swept in the conference finals and Giannis go out in 5 games in round 1 and no game 7 between LeBron and Steph that might have set records for NBA ratings , and why the Knicks and Bulls have sucked for decades.

Come-on there are better ways to get our attention.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

@Stoneworker I think Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon are gonna have a big say in Denvers wins tonight. Quick foul calls will probably neutralize Braun. KCP needs to just keep the ball moving and play good D imo. He's been ice cold all around compared to two months ago.

Miami is also in trouble because it's hard to justify ANY foul call on Joker or Murray because of their style of play. Joker NEVER reaches in or goes over the back, and Murray only reaches when he has that bone head game every couple of weeks. League whistle is gonna have the biggest challenge imo.

Hopefully the league whistle thing won't get in the way of what's been real good competition so far. If it does, where I'm worried for Joker is offensive fouls. Some bizarre and inconsistent calls so far on him in that regard

NBA League Averages - Per Game | Basketball-Reference.com

NBA League Averages - Per Game

www.basketball-reference.com

these refs are out of control with the whistles. they're up 0.4 fouls per game since last year and up 0.7 per game since the season before.

over the past 8 years the NBA averages 20.0875 fouls per game. but 20 flat this year. a clear sign that the refs have been..... leaning on teams...... to tilt the scales.... i guess?

It's not the amount of fouls it's how they use them to shape the outcomes of games. Usually to extend series to maximize TV exposure. It's been going on since the 80's, but some years are just much worse. As our games involving certain players....Jordan, Kobe and Shaq, Lebron, and early Harden would get silly calls. It just cheapens the game imo.

the numbers, over the decades, don't support it.

if they manipulate by calling certain things and not others to impact the flow of a game then they are remarkably consistent across generations of referees, NBA executives, media members, etc. who would have cried foul about it by now.

They are very good at it. I called the Kings fix game in real time and was furious. So many other weird ones over the years, but certain refs are very good at getting certain teams over the hump. Recently they have done a better job taking guys out with a few fouls earlier in the games, even the first half. Then it's not as noticeable down the stretch. The no call in game two on the Bam goaltending is a decent example of one of those moments. The Lakers (whole season) free throw attempts was another example of feeding the TV gods. Everyone is making money so who really cares if they have to play an extra game or two.

Just to be clear, you feel the NBA games are rigged?
There was the NBA Ref-Donaghy that was rigging games so there certainly is precedence for it.
I know a lot of Miami fans were irate in Game 3 but I never thought the Refs gifted the game to Denver, sure I would have liked Gabe Vincent to avoid a couple calls in the 1st Half, wasn't anything in the 2nd Half that prevented the Heat from winning...only the Denver Nuggets themselves IMO

Cheers Pik

Rigged from the standpoint that refs are encouraged to extend series to maximize games for TV. They are probably rewarded with the good assignments and the finals. Those same refs also realize that if Lebron or top guys advance, it probably also makes the league happy, and they will get rewarded for being a company guy. I guess that line of thinking makes me crazy.
Ironically I haven't seen much tonight that seems weird which is nice.

That is why they let LeBron get swept in the conference finals and Giannis go out in 5 games in round 1 and no game 7 between LeBron and Steph that might have set records for NBA ratings , and why the Knicks and Bulls have sucked for decades.

Come-on there are better ways to get our attention.

Lakers-Kings in 2002 was rigged. I’m not saying there is a grand conspiracy stretching across decades, but any non-Laker fan who watched that series knows what happened.

 

[identikit]

Frickin Lowry

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Jokic makes you just want to give up
Disheartening every time the Center drains a 3 from beyond
Miami is hanging around but it feels like Denver could hit the gas any time they want and pull away

Aaron Gordon, what a beast
Looks like Miami is giving away 6 inches in height to just about every Denver Nugget

 

[Capella]

I too think the finals between a team from Denver with a European star and the Miami Heat with 15 guys who were drafted in round 5, are rigged.