We beat the crap out of them in Game 3, and we led in Game 4 for 47 minutes., A luck shot is one of those guys who has no form, Horry said after the game. As it turns out, though, I wasn't too far off. The free-throw advantage is one thing. Convicted felon and former referee Tim Donaghy has come out and claimed that this game was rigged multiple times. Let's take a closer look at what happened in the 2002 Western Conference Finals. The Detroit Pistons were known around the NBA landscape as the bad boys, and their brand of basketball was physical and blue collar. Mutumbo Congratulates Sixers On 1st Pick In 2016, 1. Bibby drilled the shot and unleashed a roar, a ghost foul on Kings guard Doug Christie, A Bryant elbow on Bibby with 12 seconds left. He has not only logged every single call, and anticipated just about every objection you might have, and has addressed them. I really want to throw the refs under the bus here because they did a terrible job, but something had to initiate it. Kobe Bryant basically punched Mike Bibby in the face without a call. Draymond Green Suspended In 2016 NBA Finals, 10 WWE Storylines Vince McMahon Refused To Book, 10 Best Feud-Ending Matches In WCW History, Ranked, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense. Dikembe Mutumbo is a legendary NBA basketball player who made a legendary mistake hours before the NBA lottery was televised. The game was refereed by three tenured veterans, Dick Bavetta, Ted Bernhardt and Bob Delaney. 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Lauro and Donaghy also cited a well-publicized controversy involving a 2005 playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. It was a classless, unprovoked move that ultimately resulted in the Spurs winning the series. 9 9. 93. Derek Fisher joked yesterday: Regardless of the allegations, he's not giving back his championship ring. Familiarity breeds animosity, Pollard said, citing the multiple times the in-state rivals, representing the coast and cow town, as Lakers coach Phil Jackson contemptuously referred to Californias inland capital, had played over the years in the preseason, regular season and postseason. Wide open from 18-feet, Bibby drilled the shot and unleashed a roar. Here are 15 times the NBA seemed fixed. Knicks 4 point play in the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals, 9. This would make the top five of this list, but it's technically in line with the rules. 8 seed) and they shouldn't have let one bad call ruin the series for them, but they folded, winning only one more game in the series. Or this. 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. 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 would much rather send the Lakers over the Kings to the finals for theTVratings and for the profit. I'd go on about this, but I'm fairly certain Bennett Salvatore would read this and call a foul on me for speaking out against the holy Wade. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the draft lottery once again for the third time in fiveyears. According to Fadeaway World, the controversy began in game six of the WCF. So, from that standpoint, yes. We just wanted to get back to our Cow Palace even. Then came a statement he repeated like a mantra throughout his interview. Considering how much was on the line in terms of his legacy, I'm guessing that Michael Jordan would have led the Bulls to a win. The prevailing theory here is that the NBA saw a fan base that was turned off from basketball after LeBrons decision. Ask any scorer, they'll tell you that when your shot isn't falling, you try to get to the line. 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. Two games were decided in the final seconds, and the climactic Game 7 went into overtime. Kobe is a bigger star than Boston's entire big three combined. 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. Often analogized to a bulldozer, Shaq was the most difficult guard of my career, Pollard said. The typical conspiracy theories that we know of are: The Earth is flat, we never really landed on the moon, and a conspiracy or two has been floated around as to how things occurred when John F. Kennedy was shot and killed. The Knicks would go on to win the series and make the NBA Finals. In a play between him and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the five best players of all time, the tie is going to Kareem. As a team, the Celtics did 17 times. Kobe was given Finals MVP (side note, he absolutely stole that trophy from Pau Gasol), and people seem to forget what really happened. He also cited the 2002 Western Conference Finals as the most rigged series in league history. Then 96-93. That way was the NBA draft lottery. He kidded with reporters that men in black visited him and forced him to change his story. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? According to Donaghy, the referee that officiated the notorious game 6, Dick Bevotta,was a fixer ofsomesorts within the league. (If you're wondering, Pippen averaged less than three fouls per game over his career.). San Antonio Spurs. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Please logout and login again. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. I think that there is a blatant star system involved in the NBA. The Knicks shot the same number of free throws as times they were called for charging. Think about that for a minute. The Cavaliers got LeBron James back over the summer as well. Ten years later, Ham sighed and paused for many seconds when trying to explain the effect Horrys shot had on the Kings franchise. Or this. This is what should have happened. Watch this. 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. We still had the confidence. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Fans sometimes cry foul that a league will extend a series so that they can generate more revenue, and this is done by fixing games potentially. Yet a foul was called and Larry Johnson got to shoot a free throw in addition to the three-pointer he just made. The Bent Envelope at the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery, 14. Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended. Accuracy and availability may vary. 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. 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. It wasnt like the Kings stopped scoring points they shot 49% from the field for the game but not at the clip the Lakers were. 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 We'll see how this plays out over the rest of the 2012 playoffs, but if LeBron continues to get calls like this, then the conspiracy theorists will get plenty of evidence of the NBA rigging games. ONeal helped the Magic greatly improve just barely missing out on the playoffs in the 1992-93 NBA season. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. There was once a time when NBA fans were all convinced that Chris Paul was heading to the Los Angeles Lakers. I'm willing to look at this as just a bad call, but an asterisk should always be next to this moment. Then 88-84. 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. But what happened in 2007 was completely inexcusable. If you wanted excitement, you had to look to the Eastern Conference and the race for at least a berth in the NBA Finals. Say what you will, but I don't think any reasonable fan or person can deny that something weird was going on. He will also be around a lot longer. In fact, he says the NBA did not contact him. A bench player named Leon Powe shot more free throws (13) than the entire Lakers team. WebAnswer (1 of 8): No, not reallynot if you trust the reporters and analysts that have explored this issue and/or can read closely enough to verify their findings for yourself. The Lakers were back-to-back defending champions at that point. Vlade Divac did what every big man has been taught their entire life get the ball away from the basket, Pollard said. GOLDMAN: But Derek Fisher and his Laker teammates certainly benefited from the referee's calls. Still an offensive foul on Kobe there could have changed the outcome! Yeah, Walkers shot shouldnt have counted, Pollard said. Jordan was wide open because of an illegal move. Fisher says it's a big leap, though, to say the game was rigged. Bibby and ONeal both performed masterfully. 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. The Lakers eventually prevailed 106-102 to force a decisive Game 7. Kings 'robbed' in 2002 Western Conference finals, Tim Donaghy Only, they really aren't. Look at the image above. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Some people cry conspiracy, claiming the game is rigged. Web2003 NBA Western Conference Finals Mavericks vs. Spurs League Champion: San Antonio Spurs. Michael Jordan scored a layup with 40 seconds remaining to cut the lead to one for the Jazz. It happens fairly often, but in Game 7 of the finals? This is the first call on this list that feels a little fishy. WebFor more info on the BBALLBREAKDOWN Online Membership: http://bit.ly/BballMemberWhen the Kings and Lakers clashed in the 2002 Western The Heat would win the final four games of the series, but the free throw attempts between the two teams were enormously in favor of the Heat. By the way, I'd be remiss if I didn't give some credit to Grantland's Bill Simmons, whose recent column on titles needing footnotes provided some valuable information for this piece (and saved me some big research time). This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. In 2014, the Milwaukee Bucks had the leagues worst record and the Philadelphia 76ers were in the first year of their drastic tanking strategy that was employed by Sam Hinkie. Not coincidentally, rules mandating buzzer beaters be reviewed by referees via instant replay were instituted the following season. Beech did some very intelligent guesswork as to how many points the referees' dubious calls may have unfairly cost the Kings six points. 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). But was the game rigged? The Celtics had 28 more opportunities to score free points. 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. 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. 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. The Lakers were able to tie the series in game four. If they call it like theyre supposed to call it, the outcome will be the same it was tonight, ONeal said after the game. Donaghy's lawyer isn't commenting. Later, Donaghys lawyers filed a court document which alleged that NBA officials had rigged Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Los Referee Bob Delaney, Beech found, called the game quite evenly. For some reason, numbers like that don't convince people, so let's go back and look. 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. 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. A bemused Adelman and Kings bench. With Sabonis out of the game, the Blazers had to defend Shaqat his absolute apexwith 6'8'' Brian Grant. There was a scrum for the rebound and Divac batted the ball away from the basket in an attempt to drain whatever time remained. 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. Miami, although technically not a bigger market, is a more nationally relevant city than Dallas. Mr. FISHER: Games are called differently every night. But the referees/league didnt allow the better team to win.. If Green isnt suspended perhaps the Warriors go on to win Game 5 and the championship instead of blowing a three to one lead. In other words, the delay signifies that the referee panicked and gave a call to the Knicks that he shouldn't have for reasons we can't quite be sure of. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 8:19PM. The infamy surrounding this game is just too severe to ignore. WebThe Three most infamous Rigged games in NBA History David Stern has Rigged hundreds of games in his 24 years in office. You couldn't knockLeBron Jamesover with that much force if you tried.". Unfortunately for Maverick players, supporters and ultimately fans everywhere, that legacy was built for him. Because they were assigned to cover Kobe and Shaq. 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. He didn't, because, like everyone else, he didn't have the reach. NPR's Tom Goldman reports. All rights reserved. A referee has been involved in a gambling scandal. Id never experienced anything quite like it, said writer James Ham, the editor of ESPNs Kings site, Cowbell Kingdom. Though they returned to the playoffs in 2004, 2005 and 2006, what had seemed a dynasty-in-waiting never again made it back to the Western Conference Finals. 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. Is it so crazy to think they could have beaten the Bulls at home in a potential Game 7? I don't believe the Knicks had any real shot of winning this game, even under fair circumstances, but the refs didn't exactly help. At best, some of the calls against the Kings big men, like here and here, were dubious. 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. A decade later, questionable officiating still haunts what might be the greatest playoff series ever played, writes Matt Gallagher. With 14 seconds left and the Pistons up by one, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was fouled by Bill Laimbeer on a play where Laimbeer did not appear to even touch Jabbar. The Kings only attempted nine free throws throughout the quarter, making seven. That free throw turned a tie into a one-point Knicks lead and victory. Orlando Magic Somehow Win The 1993 Lottery, 12. Not only did he make his "final" shot to win his sixth and final NBA title, but he did it over a man whose last name was "Russell"symbolically passing the torch of greatest player ever from Bill Russell to Jordan. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Sacramento Kings over Dallas Mavericks (4-1) Series Stats. When one team shoots 28 more free throws than the other, you have to look into it. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. The NBA has birthed more conspiracy theories than Roswell. The Bulls weren't losing in 1997. Instead, basketballs most notorious quarter transpired. So far, the series had been relatively normal. 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. These are by far the most notorious rigged games in recent memory. In 2002, the Sacramento Kings appeared to have the LA Lakers' number. We didn't have a chance to win that game. The typical claims of a rigged outcome in the NBA usually revolve around either "the refs are throwing the game!" Learn more and register, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. 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. So chances are good many fans also will focus on the moments in these finals when the whistle blows and wonder if it's an honest call by an honest ref. And they did, carried by ONeal and a strong performance on the offensive boards. This series still sickens me. They believe that the referees act in the best Many believe that the Kings should've won the series. They'd never dealt with such a situation before, and even though they robbed fans of a Knicks-Bulls bloodbath in the Eastern Conference Finals, they probably didn't change the course of history too much. According to Donaghy, NBA executives directed referees "to manipulate games" in order to "boost ticket sales and television ratings," and he cited several examples. And honestly? Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Even without Jordan, the Bulls seemed destined to make it back to the NBA finals. He just does not see it. Some of these foul calls were EXTREMELY questionable when looking back at the game tape. What is lost here is that Michael Jordan blatantly pushed off of Bryon Russell. The Pistons led the Lakers by one point in the final moments of Game 6 of the 1988 Finals. Bob Delaney left the NBA in 2011 and wrote a book in 2008 about his years as an undercover officer in the New Jersey state police investigating the mob. This can be done primarily through bad officiating that is easily detected by fans. Patrick Patterson wondered, "What kind of league are we becoming?" The Lakers attempted 18 more free throws in the quarter. Ex-NBA Referee Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges, Ex-NBA Ref's Scandal Rankles His Hometown, Commissioner Says NBA Deserves Benefit of Doubt, Stats of NBA Referee Combed for Clues to Gambling. Viewed separately, the missed calls of Game 6 can all be understood and forgiven as part of the flow of the game. This led to people thinking the league fixed the Western Conference Finals and helped the 73-win Warriors reach it so they could get more viewers for the NBA Finals. All rights reserved. My personal favorite? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. What was their crime? Between Games 5 and 6, which would be played back in Los Angeles, both Jackson, a famous lobbyer of refs often fined by the commissioner for his post-game comments, and ONeal griped in the media about how Game 5 had been called in the paint. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Stern has said the report will be made public after Donaghy's sentencing. If you don't think those free throws are important, remember that Games 3, 5 and 6 were all determined by three points or less. I don't think there was any foul play here. It was hard to see that in how each referees calls broke down. Donaghy has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced next month. Of course, if Sacramento had pulled out the series, the shot would now be a footnote. In the final quarter of their 106 to 102 victory, L.A. shot 27 free throws to Sacramento's nine. If you search "NBA rigged" on YouTube, the first three videos are about this game. 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! Still, a convincing case could be made for the other side here. The Lakers crowd seemed nervous, and it felt like another buzzer beater was in order. Or write about sports? Bryant drove into the paint and put up a shot, missing. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He broke the record for most games worked by an NBA official in 2006. Kurt Thomas was able to contain Tim Duncan enough to keep him from destroying them. His shot missed. The biggest star in the series (Kobe Bryant) shot seven. This is probably the only call in NBA history to definitively swing a title, which is why it's so high on this list. Three fouls on Kings big man Lawrence Funderburke in just six minutes. They had an event for Game 7of the Western Conference finals between the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder, but they also had an event for Game 1of the NBA finals. Let's look at the 10 worst officiating moments in NBA history and what they mean in the grand scheme of things. It was unfair. 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. If you look at the shot, it was straight form. 1988 NBA finals: The Detroit Pistons cheated out of a championship, 13. Fast forward to around the 5:30 mark. The NBA needed a star, so they created one. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant went down in history as the greatest LA Lakers duo. Cartilage in his left knee tore, and everything changed for both Webber and the Kings. 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. He could face up to 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, but he is expected to receive a lighter sentence because he cooperated with the authorities.Lauro and federal prosecutors filed letters last month urging the court to consider that cooperation. With the Western Conference then dominant, that game seemed like the tallest hurdle remaining between the Kings and a championship. And that's what happened in Game 7. But still, this call only came in Game 3. Take it back to the 2002 Western Conference Finals, the Sacramento Kings up 3-2 on the Los Angeles Lakers, the defending NBA Champions. Donaghy, a convicted felon for betting on games he officiated and who Stern has insisted was a lone rogue official whose claims about other referees cant be taken seriously, has written at length about the ways he says officials influence games, often to help produce a league-preferred result. But still, it was only one game, which is why it loses the No. Or this. Even Jeff Van Gundy was stunned. If the same play happened with Hakeem Olajuwon defending Kareem, I doubt there's a whistle. He found that the questionable, or to his eyes, flat out incorrect, calls favored the Lakers not in huge numbers (nine total calls), but a very lopsided (7-2) rate. Robert Horry checked Steve Nash out of nowhere. The 2006 Finals have often times been called out as an example that the NBA fixes games and series to get the results that it knows will generate the most revenue. "He turned on basically all of his colleagues in an attempt to demonstrate that he is not the only one who engaged in criminal activity," Stern said. Years of consecutive playoff matches bred fierce competition between the players, and palpable hatred between their fans. Take that with a grain of salt though, because I also blame LeBron for our national debt, the cancellation of Arrested Development and world hunger. Let's look at the raw numbers. Join our linker program. NBA Finals 2000. It was a fitting way for Michael Jordan to end his career. At halftime, Chris Webber told us to just count on playing against eight out there, Pollard said, referring to the five Lakers on the court and the three referees. 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. LeBron has to shoulder just as much of the blame, as his ridiculous acting caused this in the first place. Game 7 was incredibly lucrative, and an NBA Finals between two small-market teams like Sacramento and New Jersey would have been a fiscal disaster. LosAngeleshas tobe the biggest or second biggest (New York) market in theentireNBA. In Game 4James baited Draymond Green into a flagrant fouled by pushing him down to the floor and stepping over him. There is no contact whatsoever. Do Harsh Punishments Ease Gambling's Stain? The logistics of that would be impossible, and it would be too hard to hide. They were so afraid to play physical defense by the middle of the second quarter that the Heat basically got any shot they wanted. The news certainly had a captive audience in Los Angeles. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. They had a phenomenal season in 2002, sitting on top of the Western Conference with a record of 61-21. 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 6: Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, May 31, 2002. Every questionable call seems to involve either a big-market team or a star on one side and someone or some team of lesser note on the other. It felt like the arena was completely alive. The refs know what players are supposed to get calls, and I think they know who is expected to get the benefit of the doubt at the end of games. "The referees followed the league instructions and Team 3 came back from behind to win the series," the letter said. The Magic two years later would be competing in the NBA Finals led by their young superstars in Shaq and Hardaway. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The league had dealt with something like this before, they had seen the effect it had and they went forward with the suspension. So, thats a fact. Ray Allen still remembers, questions controversial Bucks . The buzzer sounded and the Lakers won, 100-99. 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. The Lakers averaged roughly 25 free throw attempts per game over the series' first five games. No call was more egregious than a foul call made on Mike Bibby. The letter describes a 2002 playoff series that went seven games; the Western Conference finals was the only series to require seven games. WebHowever, when Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers gained home court advantage for the NBA Finals because the Lakers posted a better regular season record at 56-26 than the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons at 5428. Kings fans, who routinely sold out Arco Arena during seasons of atrocious basketball, brought it to another level now, complete with ringing cowbells; the decibel level during the 2002 playoffs was measured as high as 112, about the same level of a jet engine. Log in, First off, wemustsee what the motive was for the National Basketball Association to rig the games. A missed three at the end of the game by a still bleeding Bibby to give the Lakers the win. I have been doing that for all my career.. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, I called it the worst officiated game in NBA history, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. A missed three at the end of the game by a still bleeding Bibby to give the Lakers the win. At the tip of Game Four, the Kings came out like gangbusters, seemingly intent on ripping out the Lakers heart out then and there. Even with the new lottery in place teams still tanked. Would he have called the blocking foul on Fox with 0:20 when an offensive foul would have basically sealed the game? Having watched it live and seen the replays several times, I can say that it doesn't fade with time. It was not legitimate, Pollard said, now out of the league and safe from being fined for criticizing the officials. A lot. 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. Like it, said writer James Ham, the Blazers had to it. Foul on Kobe there could have beaten the Bulls at home in a gambling scandal that it does fade! On this list, but it 's a big leap, though, I can say that it n't! This would make the NBA it so crazy to think they could have beaten the Bulls destined. Only one game, which is why it loses the No NBA needed a star, so they created.. And claimed that this game in fact, he says the NBA Finals led by their young in. Becoming? about every objection you might have, and anticipated just about every objection you might,... He repeated like a mantra throughout his interview of the calls against the Kings to the.... Have a chance to win in game 7 went into overtime guard my... Floor and stepping over him 's not giving back his championship ring the reach 1999 Conference... Job, but in game 3 NBA would much rather send the Lakers the win prevailed 106-102 to a... To a bulldozer, Shaq was the only series to require seven.... 4-1 ) series Stats kidded with reporters that men in black visited him and forced him to change his.! Leon Powe shot more free throws to Sacramento 's nine out of rigged! 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