Funny business in Suns vs. Spurs series?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

WofM...thought you might find this interesting.

Ya wanna bet?

One thing a whistle-blower should never say

Bob Young

The Arizona Republic

The scandal involving NBA referee Tim Donaghy. It allegedly involves mob ties, game fixing and possibly the Suns short-lived playoff run.

ESPN.com's Bill Simmons wrote this after Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, which the Suns lost to the San Antonio Spurs 108-101:

"Congratulations to Greg Willard, Tim Donaghy and Eddie F. Rush for giving us the most atrociously officiated game of the playoffs so far: Game 3 of the Suns-Spurs series."

He singled out one call late in the game, when the outcome already was decided, in which he said Manu Ginobili was called for reaching in on Steve Nash.

Simmons suggests now in a column posted Sunday that Donaghy might have been trying to fix the over-under outcome of games.

That's a proposition in which bettors can wager whether the total points scored by both teams will be over or under a predetermined number.

It makes sense.

That would be a fix that could be made without drawing as much suspicion because seemingly inconsequential calls late in games can pad the score. Ignoring stuff late in games can keep the score down.

And the questionable calls can go for or against either team.

Anyway, in that game, Simmons writes that the over-under was 200.5.

The call evidently in question came with 2:26 to play and the Spurs leading 104-93, so the total was still "under" the 200.5 line.

And Donaghy made the call (although it was actually against Bruce Bowen, who brushed Nash before Ginobili reached in).

We reviewed the video on Synergy Sports Technology's Web site to confirm it.

Trouble is, Nash didn't get free throws out of it. Ginobili was called for a foul with 1:18 to go against Nash, but that call was made by Willard, and again Nash did not shoot free throws.

At any rate, this will only fuel the debate about whether the Suns were, you know, manipulated out of a championship.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/ar...p2main0723.html

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[one...two...tree 2,762]

No bitter tears, here... but it will be interesting if any of the games Donaghy officiated were fixed, though.

[almaty 19]

probably, he bet on the winner.,..

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Remember when Donaghy got the Suns to jump off the bench in Game 4 ? That was classic. Not to mention how he made Nash's nose bleed for 30 minutes.

Spurs-Suns 2007 Playoff Series Foul Count

Game 1 Suns 23 Spurs 27

Game 2 Suns 14 Spurs 18

Game 3 Suns 24 Spurs 22

Game 4 Suns 16 Spurs 26

Game 5 Suns 19 Spurs 23

Game 6 Suns 22 Spurs 21

Total Fouls

Suns 118 Spurs 141

Almost 20% more fouls were called on the Spurs than the Suns and the Suns are a jump shooting team.

The Spurs are 8-3 vs Phoenix in the playoffs in the Nash era. One ref can't shave that many points.

Had there been a Game 7, Amare would have committed a lot of fouls, D'Antoni would have cried, and the Spurs would have won.

When will Suns fans face the fact that the Spurs had to beat the Suns 4 times to advance ? Their children and their children's children will be still be crying about the "stolen" 2007 championship.

And the Suns just got rid of the only guy who could sort of guard Duncan, not to mention two first round draft choices. Not very smart moves.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Remember when Donaghy got the Suns to jump off the bench in Game 4 ? That was classic. Not to mention how he made Nash's nose bleed for 30 minutes.

Spurs-Suns 2007 Playoff Series Foul Count

Game 1 Suns 23 Spurs 27

Game 2 Suns 14 Spurs 18

Game 3 Suns 24 Spurs 22

Game 4 Suns 16 Spurs 26

Game 5 Suns 19 Spurs 23

Game 6 Suns 22 Spurs 21

Total Fouls

Suns 118 Spurs 141

Almost 20% more fouls were called on the Spurs than the Suns and the Suns are a jump shooting team.

The Spurs are 8-3 vs Phoenix in the playoffs in the Nash era. One ref can't shave that many points.

Had there been a Game 7, Amare would have committed a lot of fouls, D'Antoni would have cried, and the Spurs would have won.

When will Suns fans face the fact that the Spurs had to beat the Suns 4 times to advance ? Their children and their children's children will be still be crying about the "stolen" 2007 championship.

And the Suns just got rid of the only guy who could sort of guard Duncan, not to mention two first round draft choices. Not very smart moves.

Stop...it hurts!

Seriously though, if Donaghy couldn't effectively throw a game, why would the Mob be willing to pay him? This is a terrible stain on the sport of basketball.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I don't know why. Seems like a pretty poor bet.

There have been complaints about horrendous officiating for a long time. And the Spurs have gotten plenty of ####### calls, too -- remember Tim getting ejected for laughing while on the bench ? I seem to remember the Mavs winning that game, which ended up giving them home court advantage in the playoffs.

But if this turns out to be true and the scandal widens and a lot more refs are implicated, it could get very ugly. Even possibly bring down the NBA.

And that would be a very sad thing.

Edited July 24, 2007 by wife_of_mahmoud