Seconds after the miss a whistle blew. There is evidence of tampering within the game too,Ingame 6, the Lakers were awarded with shooting40 free throws in theentiregame, including 27 in the 4. quarter alone! Western Conference Semifinals. The referee crew assigned to Game 6 was Bavetta (whod overseen an ONeal-dominant game in Game 1), Bob Delaney and Ted Bernhardt. But part of being an NBA fan is questioning the refs, who make dozens of difficult, subjective calls that often change the course of a game. Bernhardt made no foul call on Christie's block of Kobe with the game tied at 3:56, gave Bibby a bailout call with the shot clock winding down at 2:34 with the game tied, and didn't call Webber for a foul on Shaq's basket at 0:52 which could have fouled out C-Webb and given the Lakers a look at a four point lead. This is what should have happened. Let's look at the 10 worst officiating moments in NBA history and what they mean in the grand scheme of things. Or write about sports? But that amazing "final" moment to Jordan's career wasn't real. The Celtics had 28 more opportunities to score free points. We still had the confidence. The Lakers had Kobe and Shaq. Chris Webber was playing just as well as Shaq. GOLDMAN: The Lakers went on to win the 2002 NBA title. Web2002 Western Conference Finals might refer to: The Western Conference Finals of the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs The Western Conference Finals of the 2002 NBA Playoffs This How often do we see calls made that long after the initial contact? NBA fans felt that it could be the year that Webber and the Kings won the championship. 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 6: The Elbow The Sacramento Kings were in the drivers seat to knocking off a young exciting Los Angeles Lakers team The Cleveland Cavaliers were a mess and it was all due to their best player in franchise history leaving the team for Miami in the summer of 2010. With five seconds remaining Jordans iconic jumper went through the net. The teams owners, brothers and businessmen Joe and Gavin Maloof, led the way from their courtside seats, running from section to section like hype men at a rap concert. When he heard about Donaghy's allegations this week, Pollard was quoted as saying: I knew it. My reaction to Game 1 of the 2012 Knicks-Heat first-round series was brash and premature. In Game 4James baited Draymond Green into a flagrant fouled by pushing him down to the floor and stepping over him. That way was the NBA draft lottery. While Kirkland ranks comfortably among the extensive list of referees , Zarba is right in the bottom-25, and Tiven ranked second to last. What is unfortunate is that in the NBA, refs get it wrong. Jordan was wide open because of an illegal move. Look at the replay again. Kings 'robbed' in 2002 Western Conference finals, Tim Donaghy But what happened during those four nights in 2006 left a mark on the NBA's historical resum so big that it can never really be erased. Data Provided By Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? But it seemed like the Kings Although the team names were withheld, Donaghy pointed to Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals as one such instance. They were hungrier. We live in a world where conspiracy theories run rampant. Why this gets an honorable mention is that it's the single dumbest rule in all of sports. Sacramentos season ended just a few points short: Lakers 112-Kings 106. The Lakers crowd seemed nervous, and it felt like another buzzer beater was in order. According to Lauro's letter: "Tim learned from Referee A that Referees A and F wanted to extend the series to seven games. Bill Laimbeer was notoriously hated by everyone, especially the refs. We knew we were the better team. Sacramento, which had never won a playoff game before in the Lakers Staples Center, broke that streak in Game 3, winning 103-90. Klay Thompson said he'd "never respect floppers." Say what you will, but I don't think any reasonable fan or person can deny that something weird was going on. Or, my personal favorite, this. 1988 NBA finals: The Detroit Pistons cheated out of a championship, 13. Excuses can be made for bad calls on single plays. This means that the more successful the big market teams are, the better off the NBA is in terms of revenue. The Sacramento Kings were in the drivers seat to knocking off a young exciting Los Angeles Lakers team that featured Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant, but the referees decided to take matters into their own hands. He will also be around a lot longer. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Of course not. The other notable non-call which I rated an "all refs" situation was on the inbounds at 0:12 where Kobe knocked Bibby to the floor with an elbow to the face, but Bibby was also grabbing Kobe at the time it happened so both were really guilty of infractions to some extent. The Kings only attempted nine free throws throughout the quarter, making seven. The officials awarded Wade free throws instead of an offensive foul, and the Heat went on to win their fourth straight game to win the title. Look at the image above. Having watched it live and seen the replays several times, I can say that it doesn't fade with time. That's right, they didn't get involved in the fights; they just stepped off of the bench. The Lakers went on to win the series and beat the Nets for their third straight NBA title. According to Fadeaway World, the controversy began in game six of the WCF. We'll remember the careers of Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Robert Horry and Amare Stoudemire differently because of it. So, Sacramento, permission granted to freak out. As we know, the NBA is a league that runs on revenue. Web2003 NBA Western Conference Finals Mavericks vs. Spurs League Champion: San Antonio Spurs. Scottie Pippen, in Hue Hollins' eyes, fouled Davis but in everyone elses eyes contested the shot cleanly and the Knicks stole Game 5 and eventually won the series. Patrick Patterson wondered, "What kind of league are we becoming?" Ted Bernhardt's calls slightly favored the Lakers, and Dick Bavetta's calls, especially late in the game, were more in favor of the Lakers than anyone. The refs knew this and had their whistles ready because of it. Kings coach Rick Adelman counter-lobbied the refs through the press, decried his rivals gamesmanship, and insisted NBA officiating was above making up calls from one game to the next. Copyright 2008 NPR. According to his Facebook page, he is working on a book entitled Honest to a Fault. If you look at the shot, it was straight form. Wide open from 18-feet, Bibby drilled the shot and unleashed a roar. Obviously when one team is shooting 21 more free throws than the other, it doesn't look very good. That is the mark of a true bad call. Do you have a blog? This series still sickens me. replays showing the shot left his hands after the buzzer sounded. He has not only logged every single call, and anticipated just about every objection you might have, and has addressed them. It was a fitting way for Michael Jordan to end his career. Here we have another case of the NBA favoring the big market team over the small market team. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? With Bibby and Divac leading the way, they shot 71% in the first quarter, and were up 46-22 at one point in the second quarter. It depends on the way the players are playing the game. Only, they really aren't. When the 76ers got the first pick in the draft later that night no one was surprised. Because of how many foul shots the Lakers attempted, many fans, especially Kings supporters, thought the NBA had fixed the game. So far, the series had been relatively normal. In Game 2 of the 2008 NBA finals, the Lakers shot 10 free throws. Then, late in the third quarter of Game 2, things changed. But both teams fell short. WebWhat if the 2002 Sacramento Kings were not screwed by the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals? It was allowed by the referees. He won a championship ring with the 2008 Boston Celtics, and retired at the end of that year. In the final quarter of their 106 to 102 victory, L.A. shot 27 free throws to Sacramento's nine. LosAngeleshas tobe the biggest or second biggest (New York) market in theentireNBA. But was the game rigged? There appears to be contact particularly on the fourth attempt. Now we're talking. Not coincidentally, rules mandating buzzer beaters be reviewed by referees via instant replay were instituted the following season. L.A.'s All-Star big man (Pau Gasol) only shot one. I think they know that certain players are expected to shoot a certain number of free throws, and I think they know, at least in the back of their mind, what is best for the league. When the Kings and the Lakers met in the 2003 preseason, the drama picked up right where it left off. The Lakers had beaten the Kings both of the previous years in the playoffs en route to titles, but Sacramento now had clutch-shooting point guard Mike Bibby on its already deep roster, and held home court advantage over their rivals to the south for the first timethe spoils of an NBA-best 61-21 regular season record. He just does not see it. This swung the 2007 title. Had an offensive foul been called, the Bulls would have lost Game 6 86-85 and been forced to play Game 7 in Utah. In 2002, the Sacramento Kings appeared to have the LA Lakers' number. - That a referee's relationship with one team's general manager "led to an attempt by that referee to influence a game's outcome" in 2004. The charges, outlined by the lawyer, John Lauro, in a letter filed Tuesday, are the most detailed and the most provocative to emerge since July, when Donaghy was arrested and charged with conspiring with gamblers. In a harbinger of things to come, the Lakers stormed back to cut a 27-point fourth quarter lead in half before the final buzzer sounded. - That NBA officials instructed referees not to call technical fouls on "certain star players," because it might hurt television ratings and ticket sales. Watch this. Remember, if not for a miracle three-pointer by Robert Horry and the travesty known as Game 6, the Kings would have won this series five games to one (I know that's impossible, but hang with me here). The claim came after the 2002 Western Conference Finals matchup between the LA Lakers and the Sacramento Kings. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. His sentencing is scheduled for next month. The oft-maligned Webber played with both resolve and desperation, apparently intent on shedding his reputation as wilting in the big moment, with 20 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. This would make the top five of this list, but it's technically in line with the rules. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. This was Phoenix's year. However, the Kings secured the 3-2 series advantage in a nail-biting game-five win, 92-91. Join our linker program. WebLOS ANGELES NBA executives and referees are accused of broad misconduct and outright manipulation of game results, including a highly disputed 2002 playoff series, in Ask any scorer, they'll tell you that when your shot isn't falling, you try to get to the line. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. The infamy surrounding this game is just too severe to ignore. Even what happened between the Lakers and Kings can be excused (slightly) by saying that it's only one game, the Kings had another chance to win the series. Accuracy and availability may vary. GOLDMAN: Scot Pollard played for Sacramento in the 2002 game. This match-up between the league's two greatest rivals is a dream for the NBA, though for the past couple of days, the dream has been interrupted by a recent referee-cheating scandal that just won't go away. Orlando Magic Somehow Win The 1993 Lottery, 12. As much as I love Michael Jordan, this has to be remembered. In 1985 all lottery teams had the same odds of getting the number one selection, and this system was put in place to stop the wide spread practice of tanking around the NBA. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 8:19PM. And yet--, Sacramento had the best team in the league, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy wrote in an email interview about the series. 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