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How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

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Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#31

Post by avn2109 »

jds375 wrote: post #21
harry8 wrote: post #7

The nba clearly wants the refs to be bent, it's a requirement. They actively encourage seeing it the home teams way, favouring the big stars and call it to keep it close as this is all good for marketing. The question is not whether the refs are bent it's merely who is paying them to be so. I doubt anyone thinks the nba refs honestly try to enforce the rules with an even hand. Do any adults think this? NBA is a mix o…

I don't think it's that simple and I don't see why it's a given that refs are bent. There is far more money at stake in maintaining the legitimacy of the the NBA (player salaries, tv deals, team valuations - all of these easily trump all the money made off of betting). Wouldn't that money fight a lot harder than any bent refs in order to fight corruption and maintain the legitimacy of the NBA? If a bigger story about…

This isn't a ref throwing games for kickbacks, but it's surprising that nowhere in this thread has anyone mentioned the most blatant game-fixing in league history, which was the 1984 Lakers-Celtics finals.

In this series, the league thought their predominantly-White fanbase needed to see Larry Bird (who is White) win the series. (Spoiler alert: Celtics won in 7).

Some of the highlights (lowlights?) of Magic Johnson blatantly throwing the series (especially the first play in this video, sending game 1 into overtime) are here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSlWNU5_JVc&t=91s

The comments on the youtube are interesting, lots of people call it game fixing. Nobody who has ever played even semicompetitive organized basketball could mistake this for an honest performance.

Downthread there is also a reference to the infamous "Phoenix Suns Free Throw Parade" 1993 game 7 WCF (in which the Suns went 57 for 64 from the line, not a typo), which was also overtly thrown by the league for revenue reasons.

Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#32

Post by throwaway06871 »

I worked for a tech company in the professional sports scene. A well known NBA official drunkenly provided details on how this stuff goes down and more importantly how critical it is for NBA's longevity as entertainment. He mentioned that most other sports are rigged, but NBA is the worst.

Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#33

Post by DigiMortal »

agarden wrote: post #25
hnrodey wrote: post #23

This story is years old - why is it back the news? What changed? The publish date on the article is February 19th, 2019.

The author put two years of work into reporting it. A lot more detail and strong evidence that contrary to what was claimed 12 years ago, Tim Donaghy was throwing games.

100% worthwhile to be in the news. The NBA I think is mostly alright. I wonder if James gets the Lakers into the playoffs, its LEBRON JAMES

Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#35

Post by Zimahl »

juddlyon wrote: post #27

This is a messed up story, but the idea that the NBA is rigged is patently ridiculous. The refs are humans and are biased to crowd noise, and you can bet it harder to stand up to LeBron James screaming at you than Quinn Cook. What evidence is there that they "actively encourage seeing it the home teams way?" What if a huge star is on the road, what's the call there? Of course they want the bigger media markets to do…

I'm with you. If the NBA was rigged, wouldn't the Knicks not be the tire fire they've been for the last, what, 30+ years?

Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#36

Post by geephroh »

hnrodey wrote: post #23

This story is years old - why is it back the news? What changed? The publish date on the article is February 19th, 2019.

I think the article makes a pretty persuasive argument for the relevance:

"It matters all the more now. On May 14 of last year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 1992 federal law that had forbidden states from legalizing sports gambling within their own borders. It's widely believed that the ruling will lead to a lifting of the interstate prohibition on sports betting, which, in turn, would give rise to a massive increase in the money wagered on American sports. At the same time, the NBA -- which once balked at gambling -- has now openly embraced legalized sports betting more than any other U.S. pro sports league. In 2014, commissioner Adam Silver penned an op-ed in The New York Times advocating for legalization. In July of 2018, he announced a multiyear deal for MGM Resorts to be the 'official gaming partner of the NBA.'"

Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#37

Post by kodablah »

If the calls are so subjective that one can't tell the difference between a ref accidentally being way off and on purpose being way off, then maybe your sport/rules are the problem when being way off is either excusable or indeterminable. (in the NBA and some other sports, you can basically call a foul every play)

Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#38

Post by kodablah »

juddlyon wrote: post #27

This is a messed up story, but the idea that the NBA is rigged is patently ridiculous. The refs are humans and are biased to crowd noise, and you can bet it harder to stand up to LeBron James screaming at you than Quinn Cook. What evidence is there that they "actively encourage seeing it the home teams way?" What if a huge star is on the road, what's the call there? Of course they want the bigger media markets to do…

You're arguing against it being absolutely rigged when what most people mean is minorly rigged here and there. You're reading an article about the rigging of games, yet you might have made this same comment in 2006. Unfortunately with the state of basketball, the problem is that a game can't be reviewed for a reasonably objective per-play foul count to determine accuracy. So you get to easily say "where's the evidence of subjective thing being done for reason X" and never get an answer, same as you could have about Donaghy until he was busted.

Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#39

Post by Gpetrium »

It is fascinating to see the crowd mentality that comes from sports team, political groups and other areas.

Rationally speaking, it is entirely possible for at least some games to be rigged from time to time. It does not mean that the whole game has to be rigged, just parts of them.

I think someone who is emotionally invested in a team will find it substantially harder to make objective assessment of a game that involves their team or a team they have cognitive bias towards.

Re: How Former Ref Tim Donaghy Conspired to Fix NBA Games

#40

Post by kodablah »

pnw_hazor wrote: post #26
itsallrelative wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How often do you watch games? I think that instances of this are much closer to an outlier than the usual. By nature of their jobs, refs only get talked about when there’s a controversial call. Superstar calls included(which is something that is as much a skill as it is bias), it’s extremely easy to say “they’re not making even handed decisions” if that’s the perspective you chose to look at it from.

They only throw the games when it is important. 1993 Game 7 WC Finals Suns had 64 free throw attempts. But it was important for the Suns to win because Chicago had won the East the day before and Barkley v. Jordan just had to happen. https://nextimpulsesports.com/2013/06/05/flashback-the-day-p...

There are games, e.g. in the 2006 finals, where one player shoots more free throws than the entire other team.
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