2002 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 6: Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, May 31, 2002. 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. There has always been a group of people who believe in conspiracy theories, and there are some that believe the NBA is rigged in different ways. Do you have a blog? Instead, basketballs most notorious quarter transpired. Find out more. Would he have called the foul on Fisher at 1:27 that helped bring the Kings back within a point with plenty of time left? The series, it seemed, deserved nothing less. A Fine Analysis of the Referees' Performance in Game 6 of the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals, What you missed when Dwyane Wade put the Celtics to sleep, The Big Number: Draymond Green might be the best rim protector, What you missed when LeBron James dunked the Pacers right out of the Q, What you missed when when 'Iso Joe' Johnson clipped the Clippers in the clutch, TrueHoop Pod: Ethan & Allie - Warriors Game 1 thoughts, MVP takes, TrueHoop Pod: New Jack Steph Curry, last shot politics, Charlie Murphy, Everything you missed during the NBA season, TrueHoop Pod: The Friday Mailbag - Warts and all, TrueHoop Pod: Radio Ethan's House of Strauss Playoff Preview, TrueHoop Pod: NBA Awards, Timberwolves, League Trends, TrueHoop Pod: Playoff peeking, Cavs, Rockets, Chris Paul, Russ, TrueHoop Pod: The case for James Harden with Daryl Morey, TrueHoop Pod: Russell Westbrook vs. others, Steph hate, Radio Ethan, Roland Beech of 82games.com has spent serious time, Tim Donaghy has said was essentially rigged, the most damning referee critiques on record, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Bill Laimbeer was notoriously hated by everyone, especially the refs. Mutumbo sent out a tweet congratulating the Philadelphia 76ers on getting the first pick in the draft hours before the lottery was going to be televised. Sacramentos season ended just a few points short: Lakers 112-Kings 106. Instead the New Orleans Hornets moved up four spots in the lottery and got the number one pick. GOLDMAN: Scot Pollard played for Sacramento in the 2002 game. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Well, I don't think David Stern will complain. The theory here is that the NBA thought it would be best for the highly star powered Los Angeles Lakers to be the face of the league still in 1988. The game and the series ended not with a bang but with a free throw marathon whimper, as the Kings shot a lousy 16-30 from the free throw line, and saw their heralded role-players out-performed by the Lakers much mocked reserves. So, thats a fact. With five seconds remaining Jordans iconic jumper went through the net. The Cavs were heading towards going down three games to one in the best of seven NBA finals, and he had a tall task ahead of him to bring his team back. You might as well get his take before weighing in on the quality of his work. You couldn't knockLeBron Jamesover with that much force if you tried.". Then 88-84. 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. The Knicks shot the same number of free throws as times they were called for charging. A former referee at the center of a gambling scandal has alleged that NBA referees rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to seven games. The NBA lottery was much different in its first year than it is today. The Heat had a 28-5 free-throw advantage in the first half! Now Bernhardt did have the arguable turning point call of the game as it turns out at the 3:06 mark when Webber moved into the paint and made a basket only to have the shot wiped out with an offensive foul call. And the calls came. The Kings only attempted nine free throws throughout the quarter, making seven. His shot missed. The Cavaliers were a little lucky to have two chances at hitting the lottery, but the first round pick that they had acquired from the Clippers had just a 2.8% chance of converting into the number one pick after the Clippers finished with the eighth worst record in basketball. 93. And that's what happened in Game 7. In other words, they went to the line about as often as LeBron James flopped. Kurt Thomas was able to contain Tim Duncan enough to keep him from destroying them. If the refs would have gotten a single call right, the Pistons would have won the series. Donaghy claimed that the referee in question told him that he planned to favor the general manager's team in a game that night. Because there's nothing wrong with being angry when someone attacks your friend or teammate. Let's look at the 10 worst officiating moments in NBA history and what they mean in the grand scheme of things. It claimed two of the three officials of Game 6 intentionally altered its outcome, which became a national frenzy respected Washington Post columnist and ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon wrote that I still consider [Game 6] the single worst-officiated game in the 28 years Ive been covering professional basketball. I'm willing to give a slight pass to the NBA for what happened in 1997. The Greatest Show on Court, Sacramento had enthused casual fans and NBA junkies alike since 1999 with legendary assistant coach Pete Carrils Princeton offense that produced a unique combination of flash and fundamentals. Jordan dribbled to his right then crossed over to his left, and also gave defender Byron Russell a slight shove to get an open look. Excuses can be made for bad calls on single plays. The New Yorks Knicks were about to lose Game 5 against the Bulls, and the loss seemed imminentwhen Hubert Davis clanked a shot off the rim with two seconds left. But still, I don't think there's any real chance that the NBA is actually rigged. Mr. DEREK FISHER (Basketball Player, Los Angeles Lakers): And I remember we won the game, but I don't remember at any moment during the night, their helping us out here. No sport is dictated more by the whims of a referee than basketball. If Games 4 and 5 served as the series zenith, and Game 6 as its nadir, Game 7 can best be described as its addendum. And yet--, Sacramento had the best team in the league, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy wrote in an email interview about the series. The Celtics had 28 more opportunities to score free points. Donaghy has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced next month. I called it the worst officiated game in NBA history. LosAngeleshas tobe the biggest or second biggest (New York) market in theentireNBA. The Bulls weren't losing in 1997. Even Jeff Van Gundy was stunned. Finals MVP: Shaquille O'Neal(36.3/12.3/3.8), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 8:19PM. At first I was in agreement with Bill Walton that this was a "terrible call" but having watched the play over ten times in slow motion I changed it from 'dubious' to 'maybe' in my grading since it's one of those plays where I believe a case could be made for a defensive foul, an offensive foul, or even a dual fault let them play no call. The New Orleans Hornets had just lost a superstar in Chris Paul, and the league knew that it had interfered in that transaction and had to make it up to the Hornets in some way or fashion. That's the game convicted former referee Tim Donaghy has said was essentially rigged, by the NBA, to be a Laker victory. The Magic two years later would be competing in the NBA Finals led by their young superstars in Shaq and Hardaway. Bibby and ONeal both performed masterfully. In the fourth quarter alone, the Lakers shot 27 free throws to Sacramento's nine. We just wanted to get back to our Cow Palace even. Then came a statement he repeated like a mantra throughout his interview. That is the mark of a true bad call. In a separate matter, Lauro is requesting a subpoena to obtain results of the NBA's internal investigation regarding Donaghy and other referees. The 76ers had the best chance at getting the first pick after finishing with the worst record in the NBA in 2015-16, but it was still strange that Mutumbo sent out a tweet and then apologized for the premature congratulations by retracting his statement. Tom Goldman, NPR News, Los Angeles. It was not legitimate, Pollard said, now out of the league and safe from being fined for criticizing the officials. He just does not see it. 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. "The NBA benefited from this, because it prolonged the series, resulting in more tickets sold and more televised games." Lakers vs Pacers Game 6 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. For now, the NBA hopes fans can focus on Celtics versus Lakers. Both Webber and Kings center (and former Laker) Vlade Divac nearly fouled out while the oftentimes foul-prone ONeal, the most physically dominant force in the game, was called for just two fouls while racking up 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. Stern has said the report will be made public after Donaghy's sentencing. One timeout and missed Bryant jumper later, Bibbys shot seemed like it would be the franchises defining moment, as the Kings were just one win away from the NBA Finals. We didn't have a chance to win that game. Even without Jordan, the Bulls seemed destined to make it back to the NBA finals. 40 free throws for the Lakers over the course of the game. Ed Malloy, who is one of the refs that will work the NBA Finals this year, is notably at the top of the list for incorrect non-calls per game, averaging 2.5 INCs during the regular season. Let's look at the raw numbers. What was their crime? All rights reserved. If the same play happened with Hakeem Olajuwon defending Kareem, I doubt there's a whistle. What probably happened was that the Lakers had an easier time getting inside because of the injury to Kendrick Perkins. As much as I love Michael Jordan, this has to be remembered. As it turns out, though, I wasn't too far off. Stern vehemently denied the allegations when the book was released. I wear it and consider it a Celtics/Kings championship ring.. His flopping was so blatantly obvious that multiple NBA players actually tweeted about it. David Stern the NBA Commissioner was a native New Yorker and he allegedly bent the Knicks envelope so that he would know which envelope to choose, and this assured Ewing would go to the Knicks. Michael Jordan was on a mission to win his sixth ring, but late in Game 6 the Utah Jazz looked poised to push the series to a seventh game. Although the team names were withheld, Donaghy pointed to Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals as one such instance. So, from that standpoint, yes. Yet there is a fair amount of left arm push off from Webber and Bernhardt was right on top of the play with a good angle. The game caused such immediate and public blowback that even consumer advocate and perennial Presidential candidate Ralph Nader got involved. 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. The Lakers led at halftime but Thomas scored 25 points in the third quarter despite severely spraining his ankle in that same quarter. Unfortunately for Maverick players, supporters and ultimately fans everywhere, that legacy was built for him. This means that the more successful the big market teams are, the better off the NBA is in terms of revenue. In the waning moments of Game 5 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, Charles Smith was blocked four times on potential game-winning layups. League-preferred being, of course, the result that generates the most revenue. I don't think he actively tries to rig NBA games, but I also believe he does nothing to stop refs from making it seem like he does. GOLDMAN: The Lakers went on to win the 2002 NBA title. As bad as the refs were, the Blazers blew it. Another Western Conference Finals between the two archrivals felt destined when they ended up on opposite ends of the bracket come playoff time, the Kings as the 2 seed and Pacific Division champions and the Lakers as the 5 seed and reigning NBA champions. In Game 5 of the 1997 Eastern Conference semifinals, Charlie Ward and P.J. The claim came after the 2002 Western Conference Finals matchup between the LA Lakers and the Sacramento Kings. Some people cry conspiracy, claiming the game is rigged. In his book Personal Foul, Donaghy wrote that As soon as the referees for the game were chosen, the rest of us [other NBA refs] knew immediately there would be a Game 7. Asked to elaborate, Donaghy wrote me that Bavetta would always say he was the NBAs go to guy and he would always help make the series go another game he said [this] to me before the game in L.A.. Kings 'robbed' in 2002 Western Conference finals, Tim Donaghy To be fair the actual lottery happens in a back room hours before it is televised, but still Mutumbos actions brought many fans to the conclusion the lottery was rigged. This can be done primarily through bad officiating that is easily detected by fans. The argument for the NBA being rigged is typically made after an NBA Draft Lottery, NBA draft, a trade, and the main argument games being fixed. His sentencing is scheduled for next month. Do Harsh Punishments Ease Gambling's Stain? 2016 Western Conference Finals Rigged? If they call it like theyre supposed to call it, the outcome will be the same it was tonight, ONeal said after the game. In a second letter filed Tuesday, Lauro said that the league was asking for $1 million in restitution from Donaghy, presumably to cover the costs of its internal review. He went to the free-throw line 15 times. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. It's believed this week's allegations are a way to show Donaghy is being cooperative with investigators. It happens fairly often, but in Game 7 of the finals? Lauro and Donaghy also cited a well-publicized controversy involving a 2005 playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. This is probably the only call in NBA history to definitively swing a title, which is why it's so high on this list. In his most recent letter, Lauro stated that he was providing the new details because the prosecutors failed to provide all of the relevant information in their filing. Viewed together, and paired with the context of the series and the amount of money the NBA stood to gain from a Game 7, a different picture emerges. In 2002, the Sacramento Kings appeared to have the LA Lakers' number. . According to Donaghy, NBA executives directed referees "to manipulate games" in order to "boost ticket sales and television ratings," and he cited several examples. 3. @ Los Angeles Lakers. The two teams had swapped road wins, and the higher seed had a one-game edge and a chance to put the series nearly out of reach with a Game 4 win. They were hungrier. 2. But when 12 of those fouls come at the expense of the guys responsible for holding down the opponent's two biggest stars, it starts to look really suspicious. Two games were decided in the final seconds, and the climactic Game 7 went into overtime. 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. Hundreds of reporters are here for the finals, and many of them descended on two players at yesterday's media sessions. Brown got into a fight. One of those had to do with whether or not the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals were rigged. The Detroit Pistons were known around the NBA landscape as the bad boys, and their brand of basketball was physical and blue collar. But was the game rigged? L.A. converted only five field goals for the entire quarter. 9 9. But it seemed like the Kings were on the verge of dethroning the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Anyone can read what you share. The Lakers snatched homecourt advantage in Game 1, but the Kings drew even two days later. In its own way, that's worse, but still, I think for the time being we can feel pretty comfortable with the notion that NBA games are least intended to be determined by the players. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Think about that for a minute. I personally think that the fourth block was a foul, and it was a bad non call, but I'm not going to cry over this one. I really want to throw the refs under the bus here because they did a terrible job, but something had to initiate it. And people wonder how the Blazers blew that game. But the mother ship of NBA conspiracy theories remains Game 6 of the classic 2002 Western Conference Finals between the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and the upstart Sacramento Kings. 25 free throws for the Kings over the course of the game two less than the Lakers shot in the last quarter alone. Webber took what appeared to be such a harmless little step, with no other player even close to him. Stern never publicly responded to Naders call, but the four-time presidential candidate says he did speak with the commissioner, who offered a whitewash.. The Orlando Magic had just won the draft lottery in 1992, and as a result drafted Shaquille ONeal with the first pick in the 1992 NBA draft. Bibby was clearly elbowed in the face by Kobe Bryant, but that did not stop Bryant from getting a foul call on Bibby and knocking down two free throws to win the game for the Lakers. 2002 Western Conference Finals On the court, the games between the two teams were definitely intense, culminating in the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals, which featured Robert Horry's famous last-second three-pointer to beat the Kings in Game 4, a 1 point Kings win off of a Bibby field goal in the waning seconds of Game 5, a They didnt come back because of all the shots they were knocking down though, and instead it was the 27 free throws that the officials gifted the Lakers in the 4th quarter that decided the game. Jeff Van Gundy, then the Rockets' coach, was fined $100,000 after saying that a referee had told him that Rockets center Yao Ming would be singled out for setting illegal screens. As a whole, these plays suggest to me the refs were calling the game honestly, if perhaps not well. Kobe is a bigger star than Boston's entire big three combined. 1 Dallas, and then an underwhelming Cavs team in the finals. Donaghy is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14. When the 76ers got the first pick in the draft later that night no one was surprised. 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. In 2002, the Sacramento Kings appeared to have the LA Lakers' number. Doubtful. Chris Webber and Mike Bibby were Sacramento's star duo. The poster boy of the NBA is LeBron James, and things were not looking up for James and the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals. Fast forward to around the 5:30 mark. The officiating seemed so uneven, it prompted consumer advocate Ralph Nader to call for an investigation. The league had dealt with something like this before, they had seen the effect it had and they went forward with the suspension. The Los Angeles Lakers shot 40 free throws in that game - 27 in the fourth quarter - and beat Sacramento, 106-102, forcing a seventh game. Former NBA referee, Tim Donaghy, outright said that the NBA rigged the series, specifically game 6. Wide open from 18-feet, Bibby drilled the shot and unleashed a roar. But it seemed like the Kings After successfully winning the first two rounds of the 2002 playoffs, it was time to settle the score between the Kings and Lakers. The Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant-led Lakers were the defending NBA champions, while the Kings, with star Chris Webber and a superb supporting cast, seemed poised for a breakthrough. Roland Beech of 82games.com has spent serious time detailing every single call of the notorious Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. We had a chance and we blew it.. 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