Blatantly Rigged officiating last night

[ManUp]

I don't think it was rigged, but there seems to be a consistent theme when we play the Magic.

Our big men always foul out and BBD is always stuck on Dwight in the 4th. The refs love bailing out Dwight and the fouls always catch up with us later. It sucks because right now BBD is the only healthy guy other than Shaq we can put on Dwight. BBD does a good job against Dwight on the block, but he can't stop him after a rebound and he can't stop the alley-oop plays.

[DRJ1]

It's good that several people mentioned that this kind of thing is widespread around the NBA, that it's not just the Cs getting the shaft, but lots of other teams too.

Besides the point spread angle, here's a quote from a 2007 USA Today article about another popular way games are fixed: "The 'over/under' is the total points scored by two teams in a game. A referee could inflate total points by sending both teams to the foul line early and often, says Franzese. He and his accomplices would scout for games with a low 'over/under' and bet the 'over' for big winnings."
Sounds sickeningly familiar, doesn't it?  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2007-07-26-illegal-bookies-help_N.htm

This is a very interesting and important scam -- because it means that in many cases, the refs DON'T HAVE A FAVORITE. They JUST WANT THE SCORES TO BE HIGH. Therefore, the observation that the refs were often bad in ways that HELPED your team too ONLY SERVES TO FURTHER BOLSTER THE CASE THAT BETTING IS INVOLVED.

But to show that sports betting is regularly involved in the NBA, you'd need to correspond betting patterns to refereeing over a large number of games. Even then, in the absence of inside information, it's pretty hard to know WHY the refs do what they do, as often as they do it.

I found this poster's statement most interesting: "Fixing NBA is totally legal."
Really? Where did you get that?

My own brief look into the matter revealed all of the following federal laws, EACH of which can be used in the prosecution of illegal sports gambling:
- Wire Act of 1961
- Travel Act of 1961
- Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia Act of 1961
- Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970
- Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) of 1970
- Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992
- Interstate Wagering Amendment of 1994
- Illegal Money Transmitting Business Act of 1992

And that's without even checking into state and local laws.

So... if fixing games is so legally dangerous, why would they do it? And why SO blatantly... where millions of people are screaming at their TVs every night. Is it 'The Big Lie' (a lie so big, nobody can believe it's not true)? I don't think they're smart or organized enough for that.

So the question remains: why would the refs do it - gamble on games, etc. - if it's so dangerous to their freedom?

I don't know. I do know that there's no reasonable way to explain the refs' behavior all around the league without invoking cheating. The "mistakes" they make are too often IMPOSSIBLE for an honest referee to make.

I also think it's safe to say that the link to sports betting 'looks likely.'

[guava_wrench]

While the officiating was spotty at times last night I was pretty sure it was Ryan Anderson absolutely torching Luke Harangody in the late first and early second quarter for 4 threes and 14 points that got Orlando back in the game last night, not the refs.

TP

Gody was really bad. Anderson was really good.

[NoraG1]

C's benefitted as well with Howard picking up 3 fouls with little/no contact, and KG's moving picks were consistent throughout, but he was only called once.

Fortunately, the Magic were playing very little defense, and Dwight's 72% ft line performance was wasted.

Um Howard had a total of one foul the whole game. What were you watching.

[pearljammer10]

Yeah maybe the refs brought orlando back into the game..... Or maybe it was the fact that they made 6 more three pointers than us in the first half, making them +18 right there.

 

[Finkelskyhook]

C's benefitted as well with Howard picking up 3 fouls with little/no contact, and KG's moving picks were consistent throughout, but he was only called once.

  KG's picks were no worse than Howard's and Dwight spends a boatload of time in the lane on both ends of the floor.

also, there's nothing "continuous" about Paul's lean in, get fouled, and huck it up there continuation - but who am I to complain?

Not to mention that he changed pivot foots about three times in the process after picking up his dribble

It does my heart good to see that others see the ridiculous call Paul consistently gets.  Not to mention the obvious travels.

Sad part is it makes rigged officiating easy having so many rulebooks.

[RAcker]

While the officiating was spotty at times last night I was pretty sure it was Ryan Anderson absolutely torching Luke Harangody in the late first and early second quarter for 4 threes and 14 points that got Orlando back in the game last night, not the refs.

Amen.

[Neurotic Guy]

Baloney.

NBA games could be rigged, but probably aren't.  Donaghey obviously proved that there can be a dishonest ref who manipulates games, but never has a conspiracy been revealed or a 'smoking gun' been exposed.  A conspiracy would require someone to take the risk of sharing malintent with another person.  That's a very big risk.   You are suggesting, I think, that multiple refs were party to this 'rigging'. 

I just doubt it. 

And as far as David Stern, or anyone in the NBA front office giving a directive to fix a game, well, there is just not a chance that such a directive would be hidden forever given the number of refs and the potential (and possible personal gain at some point)  for exposing the truth.  WAY to big a risk.  Smart people have done dumber things, true, but I just doubt it. 

Ask yourself -- have you ever witnessed a game where you were convinced that the refs were rigging the game in favor of the C's?  Please post a thread next time you see this happening.  Or perhaps everyone is against the C's.

Bad calls are simply bad calls.  And with one noted exception, bad refs are simply bad refs. 

[TheAuerbach]

Whenever you turn on a Celtics game against a team like the Lakers, Magic, Heat or any other team with a big name player, there's going to be foul calls. A lot of them won't be good and most wouldn't be called if it was the other way. If a player blocks Howard's shot and they call it a foul, 9/10 it wouldn't be  a foul if it was Semih Erdens shot.

To most of us it looks like the refs just assume the Celtics play the hardest and their first instinct is to foul, even when it's not. When Boston wins when the other team has a double digit advantage in free throws, it shows that the C's are a legit team.

[snowball]

Baloney.

NBA games could be rigged, but probably aren't.  Donaghey obviously proved that there can be a dishonest ref who manipulates games, but never has a conspiracy been revealed or a 'smoking gun' been exposed.  A conspiracy would require someone to take the risk of sharing malintent with another person.  That's a very big risk.   You are suggesting, I think, that multiple refs were party to this 'rigging'. 

I just doubt it. 

And as far as David Stern, or anyone in the NBA front office giving a directive to fix a game, well, there is just not a chance that such a directive would be hidden forever given the number of refs and the potential (and possible personal gain at some point)  for exposing the truth.  WAY to big a risk.  Smart people have done dumber things, true, but I just doubt it. 

Ask yourself -- have you ever witnessed a game where you were convinced that the refs were rigging the game in favor of the C's?  Please post a thread next time you see this happening.  Or perhaps everyone is against the C's.

Bad calls are simply bad calls.  And with one noted exception, bad refs are simply bad refs. 

obviously you haven't read Donaghy's book or listened to him talk
and answer questions, such as he has done on multiple Celtics
talk shows.
The refs all meet before the game where they discuss how the game
will be called. He goes into detail. Yes it comes from above.
This is not a maybe. Donaghy did hard time. The FBI did not charge the league only because fixing games is not illegal. Do you realize
that ? The only thing that was illegal was the gambling apart from Vegas part. Not the fixing.

[TheAuerbach]

Baloney.

NBA games could be rigged, but probably aren't.  Donaghey obviously proved that there can be a dishonest ref who manipulates games, but never has a conspiracy been revealed or a 'smoking gun' been exposed.  A conspiracy would require someone to take the risk of sharing malintent with another person.  That's a very big risk.   You are suggesting, I think, that multiple refs were party to this 'rigging'. 

I just doubt it. 

And as far as David Stern, or anyone in the NBA front office giving a directive to fix a game, well, there is just not a chance that such a directive would be hidden forever given the number of refs and the potential (and possible personal gain at some point)  for exposing the truth.  WAY to big a risk.  Smart people have done dumber things, true, but I just doubt it. 

Ask yourself -- have you ever witnessed a game where you were convinced that the refs were rigging the game in favor of the C's?  Please post a thread next time you see this happening.  Or perhaps everyone is against the C's.

Bad calls are simply bad calls.  And with one noted exception, bad refs are simply bad refs. 

obviously you haven't read Donaghy's book or listened to him talk
and answer questions, such as he has done on multiple Celtics
talk shows.
The refs all meet before the game where they discuss how the game
will be called. He goes into detail. Yes it comes from above.
This is not a maybe. Donaghy did hard time. The FBI did not charge the league only because fixing games is not illegal. Do you realize
that ? The only thing that was illegal was the gambling apart from Vegas part. Not the fixing.

I actually thought about this today. The NBA is after all, entertainment. If Stern wants to change the game so more people will watch, he will. If he wants a player to score a lot, he'll help. Will we ever know? Probably not. I wish someone would just make Stern fill us in on all the dirty little secrets in the league today.

[Neurotic Guy]

Baloney.

NBA games could be rigged, but probably aren't.  Donaghey obviously proved that there can be a dishonest ref who manipulates games, but never has a conspiracy been revealed or a 'smoking gun' been exposed.  A conspiracy would require someone to take the risk of sharing malintent with another person.  That's a very big risk.   You are suggesting, I think, that multiple refs were party to this 'rigging'. 

I just doubt it. 

And as far as David Stern, or anyone in the NBA front office giving a directive to fix a game, well, there is just not a chance that such a directive would be hidden forever given the number of refs and the potential (and possible personal gain at some point)  for exposing the truth.  WAY to big a risk.  Smart people have done dumber things, true, but I just doubt it. 

Ask yourself -- have you ever witnessed a game where you were convinced that the refs were rigging the game in favor of the C's?  Please post a thread next time you see this happening.  Or perhaps everyone is against the C's.

Bad calls are simply bad calls.  And with one noted exception, bad refs are simply bad refs. 

obviously you haven't read Donaghy's book or listened to him talk
and answer questions, such as he has done on multiple Celtics
talk shows.
The refs all meet before the game where they discuss how the game
will be called. He goes into detail. Yes it comes from above.
This is not a maybe. Donaghy did hard time. The FBI did not charge the league only because fixing games is not illegal. Do you realize
that ? The only thing that was illegal was the gambling apart from Vegas part. Not the fixing.

Your source for truth is a con man.  No, I don't believe it.
And I am not sure you are correct that fixing games is not illegal.  It would seem to me to be fraud perpetrated against all customers who were led to believe they were purchasing a legitimate product (i.e., an unfixed sporting event).  This is different from Pro Wrestling where the product is generally presumed to be fixed.   Even if not illegal, which I question, it would be unethical and would result, if exposed,  in a financial catastrophe. The exposure of a broad-based conspiracy to fix games is not in the NBA leadership's best interest either professionally, socially or financially.

[ejk3489]

Lets be real here, the Celtics foul a lot...they're a very physical team but it's what makes them great. Sometimes they'll get away with it more, and sometimes they won't.

Literally every teams fans complain about the refs. They aren't out to get the Celtics (unless of course your name is Dick Bavetta), they just suck at their job sometimes.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Didn't the ref-ing get worse AFTER donaghy was caught..."fixing" games......How much control do the NFL refs have.....you are right, none......why is that..? The NFL refs just call the game, then review it on tape. to get it right. No favs, no vets vs rookies...just calling the game, keeping it real.

[Edgar]

i hope i am not over critizizing it but soon,tv replays will be forbidden if calls are like yesterdays.. or todays....or like always