SB Nation User Blog: Big D

Warriors sign Maggette

Big D — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:50:41 -0000

Warriors sign Maggette

Apparently the Clippers are expected to make a hard run at Josh Smith now. I wonder if they'll go after Deng if they don't get him.

Elton Brand will sign with the Sixers

Big D — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:35:57 -0000

Elton Brand will sign with the Sixers

Dammit, Philly really looks good now. I was hoping Brand would stay in the West.

I wonder what Baron Davis is thinking right now.

Derrick Rose lives life in the fast lane

Big D — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:26:03 -0000

Derrick Rose lives life in the fast lane

Thankfully he's a better driver than Jay Williams, though.

Worst contract of the offseason (so far)

Big D — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:41:01 -0000

Worst contract of the offseason (so far)

$32 million over 5 years for Beno Udrih? That almost makes Nocioni's contract look good.

Elton Brand opting out of contract

Big D — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:27:09 -0000

Elton Brand opting out of contract

He says he wants to resign with the Clippers, but I wouldn't be surprised if Philly makes a run at him now.

Tim Donaghy: 2002 Lakers-Kings Game 6 was fixed

Big D — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:36:09 -0000

From ESPN.com:

In the letter submitted by Donaghy's attorney, the following "manipulation" is alleged:

"Referees A, F and G were officiating a playoff series between Teams 5 and 6 in May of 2002. It was the sixth game of a seven-game series, and a Team 5 victory that night would have ended the series. However, Tim learned from Referee A that Referees A and F wanted to extend the series to seven games. Tim knew referees A and F to be "company men," always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night, it was in the NBA's interest to add another game to the series. Referees A and F heavily favored Team 6. Personal fouls [resulting in obviously injured players] were ignored even when they occurred in full view of the referees. Conversely, the referees called made-up fouls on Team 5 in order to give additional free throw opportunities for Team 6. Their foul-calling also led to the ejection of two Team 5 players. The referees' favoring of Team 6 led to that team's victory that night, and Team 6 came back from behind to win that series."

Although no teams are specifically named, it is not hard to deduce the game in question. The Lakers-Kings series was the only one that postseason that went seven games, and the officiating in Game 6 was so questionable that consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader called for a formal investigation.

The Lakers attempted 40 free throws to the Kings' 25 in that game, and Los Angeles made 21-of-27 from the line while Sacramento converted 7-of-9 in the fourth quarter alone.

In addition, a foul was called against Mike Bibby of the Kings after he was shoved and elbowed by Kobe Bryant, denying the Kings an opportunity to try for a tying basket. Also in that game, Kings centers Vlade Divac and Scot Pollard fouled out, and Kings coach Rick Adelman was highly critical of the officiating afterward.

"My first thought [upon hearing Donaghy's allegation] was: I knew it," Pollard said Tuesday night. "I'm not going to say there was a conspiracy. I just think something wasn't right. It was unfair. We didn't have a chance to win that game."

The Lakers went on to win the 2002 NBA championship.

That was the worst officiated basketball game I've seen in my life, but I'm not sure what to think. If any NBA game was ever fixed, you'd think it would be that one. On the other hand, if you were facing jail time and you wanted to falsely claim that a particular game was fixed, that would be the one. Regardless, I think we're past the point where the league can just deny everything and expect people to believe them.

KC Johnson: It's down to Del Negro and Casey; decision could come Monday

Big D — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:43:57 -0000

Here

On April 17, the day he fired Jim Boylan, general manager John Paxson said he preferred but wouldn't mandate previous coaching experience for his hire as the next Bulls coach.

Weighing that very issue will come into play as, barring a surprise, Paxson will offer the job to former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey or Suns assistant general manager Vinny Del Negro.

Those two, plus a longer shot in Kings assistant coach Chuck Person, expected to know Paxson's decision late Sunday or sometime Monday.

What the hell is the hurry now? They've waited this long; are they now just scrambling to hire somebody because of the PR fallout from the Collins debacle? What a bush-league way to run a franchise. If they hire Del Negro, it's an insult to all the assistant coaches busting their ass in film sessions, hoping to get a head coaching job someday. I still don't know why they just can't wait a week or two and interview Thibodeau, but that's another story.

"The Bulls don't need Kobe Bryant!"

Big D — Fri, 30 May 2008 04:08:43 -0000

"The Bulls don't need Kobe Bryant!"

To be fair, I also thought this was a very persuasive argument by sbulls at the time. Just shows that even great arguments can end up being completely wrong. Hopefully I'm wrong about the Collins hire being a terrible move

Andres Nocioni better open up his checkbook

Big D — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:42:40 -0000

Andres Nocioni better open up his checkbook

Looks like the league will be fining players for flopping starting next season.

Josh Howard likes to smoke weed

Big D — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:20:37 -0000

Josh Howard likes to smoke weed

I don't care at all what he does on his own time - but how stupid does he have to be to publicly talk about this in the middle of a playoff series (especially one in which the Mavs are getting their asses kicked)? I guess pot does kill brain cells.