Integrity of the Game in Serious Question

I have been questioning NBA referees now for going on 3 years. The Donaghy case added some serious evidence to my case as to why they are so bad. But now there is more, and really this should have been expected. We should have known something more would come out of this case. The NBA was extremely good at keeping this scandal quite, consistently pointing to Donaghy as a lone bad apple. But at half time of Game 3 of the the 2008 NBA Finals I watched intently was Stewart Scott reported on the allegations Donaghy is now making as he works through his sentencing hearings.

He indicted two more referees and the entire NBA front office of fixing games namely in the 2002 playoffs and the 2005 playoffs. David Stern made a strong statement at halftime, but I tend believe that there is a great deal of truth to these allegations, and that more will come out to severely hurt the league. I do doubt the NBA was involved in fixing games, but the referees are a serious problem and have irrevocably damaged the integrity of one of our favorite games. As I listened to the Michael Kay show, the most prominent Sports Talk show in NYC, which hires 3pm-7pm est. weekdays, I heard two good points that lend me to believe that Donaghy is not fabricating a story with these new allegations.

1. Why would Donaghy, in attempt to lower his sentence, make accusations that could prove, if found false, to extend his sentence? These accusations will only help him if they are found to be true; if they are found false it will doom him.

2. It is quite ludicrous to believe that Donaghy's gambling was a one man show, I highly doubt he was the only referee involved in gambling and effecting games.

The NBA is in some serious trouble as the truth will surely come to light.

To read more got to

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3436401

Diagnosis of a Champion

Call me a Monday Morning QB, or just late with a prediction, but my money would be on the Celtics.

Yes Kobe has looked strangely like MJ in purple and gold as he and the Lakers marched through the Western Conference in these 2008 playoffs. But will he ever reach the status of Jordan? From the looks of games 1 and 2 I think not.

Even with the exciting comeback in game 2 where the Lakers went on a 31-9 run and made 7 threes in the fourth quarter, Kobe and the boys from abroad couldn't pull it off. They showed some serious grit; some grit that has been evident the whole way along their journey to the finals. Just ask Tim Duncan or any NBA fan in Central Texas. The San Antonio Spurs suffered two comeback losses at the hands of the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers fought back from deficits of 20 points and 17 points in games 1 and 5. And it looked like a similar recipe they were cooking up for game 2 on Sunday night in Boston. But alas, it was not to be. Too little too late. The Lakers shooters waited too long to get going, and when they did there just wasn't enough time left. Plus the Lakers Defense couldn't contain Paul Peirce, and let the Boston bench put on a high flying show of hustle points with Leon Poe as their star.

Kobe maybe as Mr. Stewie said, Jordanesque. He has the talent but he still lacks a team to support him. Pau Gasol was a great addition but that move was not enough. Through the first two games Garnett has dominated Gasol and Ray Allen has been the shooter we all knew he is. Also as I watched Kobe go off at the bench in the 3^rd quarter of game 2, I couldn’t help but think he still doesn’t have the leadship skills, and may never learn them. His ferocity and competitiveness is unquestionable, but maybe his way of leading just sucks the confidence out of his weak minded team.

Yet, the main difference through all of this is the defense. The Celtics have continued to play the best defense the league has seen since the Pistons of the late 80s. Their communication and team oriented defensive play has contained Kobe keeping him out of the lane for the most part and challenging every three pointer he hoists. They are only letting him get off in the mid range jumpers, and that is not gonna do it. Boston has also been exceptional at intimidating the Lakers; specifically the European players.

Bottom-line, the Lakers are soft and if they are intimidated then they lose confidence and shoot poorly. Further is that that intimidation factor translates to the offensive end, that is why Poe was able to break loose. Also, Paul Peirce has been one of the best players in the league for the last 7 to 8 years. He is almost as unstoppable as Kobe, in truth Kobe is the only one that can hope to keep him in check. With Kobe plying that type of defense he looses alittle on the other end, is worn down, or like in game 2 gets in foul trouble.

So Pierce is one slight step below Kobe as a player, but can have almost the same impact; he has a team to back him up physically and mentally. No doubt things will change when the series moves to LA, and I would not be surprised to see the series at 2-2, but this plays into the real deciding factor, one which we can all appreciate. The Home Court. The energy of the fans. That may very well be what crowns a champion in the NBA this year: fan support. And what better? To watch these two very good teams with historic pasts and to see the fan energy push the home team over the top to a world Championship, who could ask for more?