Discuss Excerpts from Tim Donaghy's Book Here

by Gils_Keloids on Oct 29, 2009 5:33 PM PDT Comment 15 comments

Tim Donaghy's book was pulled by the publisher because of "potential liabilities". This means the NBA will sue the pants off of them if it ever makes it to the book shelf.

But that hasn't stopped Deadspin from publishing excerpts of it on its site, titling it "The Book the NBA Doesn't Want You Read". It's juicy, with tales of refs betting on who will call the first foul, and ref sessions on how to officiate Kobe - Raja Bell matchups. Here's one tidbit:

If a player of Kobe's stature collides with the likes of Raja Bell, the call will almost always go for Kobe and against Bell. As part of our ongoing training and game preparation, NBA referees regularly receive game-action video tape from the league office. Over the years, I have reviewed many recorded hours of video involving Raja Bell. The footage I analyzed usually illustrated fouls being called against Bell, rarely for him. The message was subtle but clear — call fouls against the star stopper because he's hurting the game.

Or, maybe the message is that Raja Bell fouls Kobe a lot more than Kobe fouls Raja Bell.

There's also some damning statements about the Sacramento-Lakers playoff series. You can attack the messenger's credibility, but if you believe a shred of what he says, you will not watch basketball in the same way again.

Read the rest here and discuss.

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Thanks, gils.

This doesn’t affect the way I view he NBA, because I’m a closet conspiracy theorist who i intrigued by the financial implications of who does/doesn’t win.

That star treatment, tick tacky calls, or fouls on the wrong guy is something we all know. Even we don’t admit it, we are trained to think that way.

by wondahbap on Oct 29, 2009 5:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ultimately, this is good for the NBA.

1.) Donaghy pretty much admitted that the league didn’t openly “fix” games. It was “Subtle messages.” Who doesn’t think this anyway.

2.) The NBA will have no choice but to clean up officiating.

I wish I could read the whole book. Part of the reason I love professional sports, especially the NBA, is the story lines. This is why players are pros. When the money is on the line, who will come through? The refs are the tool of a league. They will make sure that chances are given and the best pros get it done when their number is called. Jordan was the best professional we ever saw. Kobe is made of the same ilk. When his chance is given, they comes through.

I could go on and on about this.

by wondahbap on Oct 29, 2009 6:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Refs are human?!

Who’d thunk it?!

Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.

by PeanutButterSpread on Oct 29, 2009 6:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No doubt about the makeup calls

There’s no doubt that referees will whistle players unnecessarily in order to make up for a bad call at the other end. Confirmed by Donaghy. There will also be makeup GAMES. In the 2002 WCF, the 4th quarter of Game 6 was a makeup game for the abysmal performance of the referees in the final 24 seconds of Game 5, when these three things happened in succession: (1) with the Lakers leading by one point and the Kings with possession, the ball went out of bounds, quite obviously touched last by a King. The refs awarded the ball to the Kings; (2) with about ten seconds left, the Kings inbounded the ball to Bibby, who went left around the most blatantly illegal pick ever set (by Chris Webber) and hit a 20-footer; and (3) the Lakers got the ball to Kobe, who put a move or two on Bobby Jackson and went up to shoot a jumper over him, but Jackson grabbed Kobe’s jersey and pulled it completely out of his shorts as he went up for the shot (no call).

All of the national whiners refer to Game 6, when the Lakers shot 27 FTs in the 4th quarter to 9 for the Kings (8 of those FTs came when the Kings fouled the Lakers intentionally at the end). Nobody ever talks about Game 5, when three obvious calls/non-calls in succession went against the Lakers in the final 24 seconds.

In addition, Game 2 was pretty blatantly one-sided against the Lakers as well. The Lakers had blasted the Kings in six consecutive playoff games at that point, and the entire starting lineup was in foul trouble in the first half (Kings benefited from a huge FT disparity). If not for the zebras taking over, the Kings would have been at a huge psychological disadvantage after getting blown out in 2000 1st Round Game 5, 2001 2nd Round in four straight games, and 2002 WCF Game 1.

Also, everyone I’m sure is familiar with the 2008 NBA Finals. In Game 2, halfway through the 3rd quarter, the Celtics had shot 25 FTs to the Lakers only 2!!! And this occurred in a game where the shot chart showed a nearly equal amount of shots taken within five feet of the rim for both teams. So in Game 3 in LA, the Lakers drove to the hole and had a huge FT disparity in their favor as the refs called fouls on the Celtics for EVERYTHING.

by The Dude Abides on Oct 29, 2009 8:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think you're inferring a lot of stuff

Sure what you have could be considered “evidence”, but it’s an awful big accusation without much proof. Did Donaghey specifically discuss any of this?

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Oct 29, 2009 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I to am a big believer in conspiracy theories..

These sort of things are not that hard to believe that they do happen. You can micro manage something as big as the NBA but there will always be things that slip through the cracks.

"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 29, 2009 8:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As flawed as the refereeing can be...

I don’t think it’s enough to swing or change an outcome of a series, especially a 7 game series. The best team will win, and that usually has nothing to do with the refs.

Or am I being too nice to the refs?

by PeanutButterSpread on Oct 29, 2009 10:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If they really wanted to, refs

can decide the outcome of a game. Especially a series. But I agree with you about the best team. The best team will win out, because talent can adjust.

How many people here play(ed) basketball? How many times have you felt your team isn’t getting a fair whistle, but instead of whining, you tell your teammates to play through it and adjust to the whistle? The best team will, and that’s why they are better. That is what makes the difference between a good amateur player, and a good professional. Adjustments. Why do you think Kobe is as great as he is? Because when the money is on the line, he can score with defenders draped all over him, he can hit big shots in hostile environments, and make his free throws. The Lakers were the best road team last year because they could handle, good or bad, whatever the refs gave them and adjust.

by wondahbap on Oct 30, 2009 4:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now it makes sense why the league is doing all these video-replay rule modifications

So the officiating looks slightly more honest :P

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Oct 29, 2009 11:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow...just read it all...

…there’s some very meaty stuff in there and its quite disappointing. I still will continue to love the sport, but I’d be lying if i said this won’t totally change my outlook on the game. Anyways, a lot of it will be easy to prove or disprove because donaghey cites very specific games and calls. How does Stern handle this?

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Oct 29, 2009 11:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i don;t see it as really disappointing.

Whether we know it or not, we are all used to this. It’s ingrained in basketball fans. You deal with make up calls at every level. High school, rec leagues, NCAA, and the NBA.

As far as refs controlling the flow of the game, we know this too. Who here doesn’t know that when in Utah, the Jazz will get the early whistle, then it tends to even out in the 2nd half? Or hoping the series returns to LA for “home court advantage.” I have no problem with 50/50 calls going to the home team.

Donaghy really didn’t tell us anything we don’t know. Some of you think it may change the way you view the game, but like the change of the “traveling” rule, it really shouldn’t change anything.

by wondahbap on Oct 30, 2009 4:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

makeup calls don't really bug me but..

…refs making games/bets involving calls, certain refs having special interests, and those kind of things are what bothers me.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Oct 30, 2009 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes.

by wondahbap on Oct 31, 2009 7:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shoals hitthe nail on the head today.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/41020/donaghy_revelations_valuable_to_casual_nba_fan;_to_true_fan,_not_so_much

by wondahbap on Oct 30, 2009 9:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Umm some interesting stuff from Tim's books thanks for the link Gils BUT

As always I know ref miss calls and I think they all SUCK and now the league will have to look into these allegations and improve their refs. I think replay should be used more or more refs need to be assigned to each game or something because this doesn’t change my view of the game but NBA will want to make it seem like Tim is wrong so they will look to make adjustments or improvements to keep their market value.

There are basic Fundamentals that are needed to move forward in this game. Always keep your guard up at all times to avoid being caught in a trap. Overcome the fouls that will be commited against you REBOUND AND PRESS ON. ADJUST to the LimeLight: ALL-STAR PLAYERS ARE ALWAYS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. Know what your role is and play your position. Find a game plan and execute it. REMEMBER YOU ONLY GET OUT OF THE GAME WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.

by BrittneyM on Oct 30, 2009 2:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs