The case that the C’s were, and weren’t, screwed by the refs
Basketball Reference did a study to find out whether Celtics fans have legitimate beef with NBA Finals officiating. The results? While the number of fouls called were right around where they should have been expected to be, there was a discrepancy in the number of free throws taken.
That’s only half the story, though — free throws are where the conspiracy buffs really make their case, since the Lakers shot 51 more FTA than the Celtics did despite Boston taking more shots in the immediate basket area. Using the same methodology outlined above, except with FTA/Poss instead of PF/Poss, we see that Los Angeles took .259 FTA/Poss in a league where average was .263. Boston conceded .285 opponent FTA/Poss during the season, so we would expect L.A. to take (.259 / .263) * .285 = .281 FTA/poss in a series with the Celts; instead, they took .335 FTA/poss. On the other side, we would have expected Boston to have .244 FTA/poss against the Lakers, and in reality they had .249.
This result is unexpected — Boston essentially had just as many FTA/poss as we would have expected based on team tendencies, but Los Angeles’ rate of FTA/poss is dramatically higher than we would have expected. However, neither team’s rate of fouls per possession was unexpected, so the only real unexpected outcome of the Finals in the fouling department was the number of free throws Los Angeles shot per foul drawn.
If there really was a conspiracy against the Celtics my question is,why? Why would the league want the Lakers to win the NBA Finals? Why does the NBA benefit if the Celtics lose to the Lakers? I don’t see any reason, other than maybe (and this is a stretch) making Kobe’s star a little bigger than it already was.
As such, I’d like to think the free throw discrepancy was simply a case of the Lakers being more aggressive going to the basket… but who knows? What do you guys think: Were the refs out to get the Celtics?
On another note: Compared to World Cup refs, NBA refs look like they were genetically engineered to never miss a call. And can’t we all just stop talking about the goddamn Finals already? Every time I try to stop thinking about it, something keeps calling me back.
Related posts:
Celtics Blog | Jay King | June 29, 2010
Why the league would want LA to win? You have of course heard of Donaghy’s book, haven’t you?
http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-from-the-book-the-nba-doesnt-want-you-to-read?skyline=true&s=x
Although, seriously, I still think Lakers won it fair and square then because it would annoy me as hell if it was otherwise.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t trust a single word Donaghy says. He’s a lying piece of filth who has every reason to pass along untruths to the public. Read this:
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/16542/tim-donaghys-questionable-punditry
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t believe half of it actually (especially that BS about the NBA being rigged) but as a 2002 Sacramento Kings worshipper who saw every second of that series–which by the way ruined my childhood–I realize that yeah, the refs wanted Lakers to win then. Whatever their reason.
That said, nope, I don’t think there was a conspiracy against Boston in this year’s Finals. The Fakers are just better at flopping. Thanks for the link.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yeah, but it’s different once a series gets to the Finals. It’s in the NBA’s best interests to have LA win and move on, because it’s a bigger market. But in the Finals, there is no more moving on. So I just don’t see how it benefits the NBA anymore, ya know?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
How is it you claim the Lakers were more aggressive going to the basket, yet the Celtics took more shots in the immediate basket area (especially getting out rebounded)? How many times did PP drive in Game 7 and get nothing? No basket, no call, nothing! Game 7′s 4th qtr was the turning point on that game’s even calls to that point. How the Laker’s get 37 FTs in Game 7 and Boston gets 40 FTs in Games 5-7 makes me think the Laker refs were at work.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m probably in the minority of Celtics fans, but I didn’t think the officiating was all that bad in Game 7. Pierce went to the hoop and there were no calls, but I didn’t think there were any fouls on him. The Lakers were absolutely the aggressor, at least in that fourth quarter. The C’s went stagnant and the Lakers took advantage. Hold on, I’ve gotta go puke. I need to just stop thinking about Game 7.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
There IS moving on, I think, and that is toward the next season. Ya know, trying to gather more viewers worldwide. I live in the Philippines where most fans are bandwagoners (sorry about this) and the only team they know is Lakers and the only player they know is Hoe Be Cryant. Basically what I’m saying is that if Lakers didn’t win this, hell, we (they) won’t even bother checking out next season. Lol!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yes it was set up for LA to win in 7.
One and only reason. Market share.
LA county has what 16-18 million people, along with Orange County and it’s 4-5 million? You’ve got around 20 million people in the area of LA and Boston has what? 1 million? Obviously the fan bases don’t necessarily follow that number scheme but LA gets WAY more publicity on the World market.
For anyone who believes it wasn’t set up or affected by the officials, answer this:
How does a team shoot 30% from the field for the game, score 54 total points in 3 quarters, hit 2 field goas in the final 5 minutes of the game, and still get 30 pts in the final quarter?
Not to mention the C’s had 22 in that quarter so it wasn’t as if they were “out of gas” or “offensively inept”!
4th quarter Ft attempts: Celtic’s 6 – Laker’s 21. LA got more than half their points in the 4th from FT’s.
Sorry, that’s called rigged. C’s got jipped.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Why did market share have anything to do with a fix in 2008. I think the refs in the NBA start going for the home team in game 7′s. I don’t know if its subconsciously or what but they suddenly changed their style in that 4th quarter. We got screwed, but not because of market share.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0