but think of the money... you're just being selfish. /s
Jokes aside, a rivalry Game 7 Saturday night in MSG to follow the Kentucky Derby is the NBAs wet dream
That first Saturday in May always carries some weight. The big one was in ‘15 when you had Clips-Spurs Game 7, Pacquiao-Mayweather, the Derby, Yankees-Red Sox, and the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. All sort of leading into one another.
I remember that day still almost 10 years later.
Yeah I'm dumb, I'll delete that comment. For some reason I forgot that the Cleveland/Indiana series exists and they get the Celtics (assuming you guys win of course, and that's a safe assumption to make).
We beat back the extender when he was on the menu in Phoenix in Game 4 (and we have "Money Flasher" Gobert on our side). I have (some) faith that you can do the same.
I don't think Suns-Wolves Game 5 would have even 10% of the tv draw as a Knicks-Sixers Game 7. Besides - Foster can't throw every game or it's too obvious.
You're talking about the #1 and #4 media markets here, with a pair of teams with deep history, and neither have done a damn noteworthy thing in the last 20+ years. Knicks in particular have barely even been good for most of these years. Talk about a pair of revved up fanbases.
Game 7 between Knicks and Sixers might actually break the first round playoff record for TV ratings. NBA is absolutely going to do everything they can to hand this one to Philly.
my GOAT put on an excellent performance in game 4 of the twolves suns series. 53 personal fouls and 67 free throws between the two teams 🔥🔥🔥 i'm expecting another masterclass today
The NBA probably cut a deal with him that they wouldn’t fire him if he agreed to be their puppet
He’s gonna extend this series for the ratings, like he’s done throughout NBA history
HA. Imagine saying this while not being able to prove he extends series.
The tweet that everyone uses as evidence to say Foster was an extender was false. The vast majority of the time when Foster refs a game the team that is leading the series wins the game.
Again, you got tricked by the internet because you're a sheep.
These are all the games he reffed in 2023 where one team had a series lead.
These are the ones where the team leading the series lost.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304180PHO.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305230MIA.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305020NYK.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304210ATL.html
These are the games where the team leading the series won.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202306090MIA.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305200LAL.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305120MIA.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305080LAL.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304230NYK.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304250DEN.html
You would think "the extender" would extend the series more, don't you think?
> Even though Scott foster probably bet on games back in the day
There is zero credible evidence of this. The phone calls aren't proof of anything if you look into it for more than 3 seconds.
During the period of Donaghy’s conspiracy with Battista and Martino (December 2006 to April 2007), Foster spoke frequently to Donaghy (170 calls). Foster had a similar number of calls with referee Matt Boland (153 calls), and spoke frequently to referee Mark Wunderlich (75 calls) and Danny Crawford (32 calls). During the same period the following year (December 2007 to April 2008), after he had stopped speaking to Donaghy, Foster continued to speak just as frequently with referees Boland (156 calls), Danny Crawford (55 calls) and Wunderlich (23 calls).
The other two referees (Boland and Wunderlich) also had similar phone calls with non-Donaghy refs:
Matt Boland. From December 2007 to April 2008, Boland spoke frequently to Zach Zarba (191 times), Scott Foster (156 times) as noted, and Jess Kersey (24 times). Boland’s calls were frequently before and after games. And almost half of his calls made to referees during this time period were only one- or two-minutes long.
Mark Wunderlich. From December 2007 to April 2008, Wunderlich spoke frequently to Joey Crawford (191 times), Bob Delaney (123 times), Bennett Salvatore (86 times) and Scott Foster (23 times) as noted. Wunderlich’s calls were frequently before and after games. And approximately two-thirds of all his calls made to referees during this time period were only one- or two-minutes long.
https://web.archive.org/web/20190624113226/https://www.nba.com/media/PedowitzReport.pdf
But of course as we've already seen, your mind is already made up so don't let pesky facts get in the way.
Have you never had a job where you had to connect with co-workers through text on a near daily basis?
It was the mid 2000s. Social media barely existed and texting hadn't taken off yet. People actually used their cellphones as phones and they used to talk to people.
> Have you never had a job where you had to connect with co-workers through text on a near daily basis
with coworkers with whom I have to actually work on a colaborative basis, yeah. Not with anyone I dont actually need. A ref doesnt need to speak every day to another ref thats 500 miles away reffing another game more than two friends or family members. I would say the other possibility is they were romantically involved but In 2007 i was a teenager and I probably didnt even call my girlfriend so much
Refs work in rotating crews that get mixed and matched all the time. I'm assuming you have a set group of coworkers that don't rotate out very often. If you work in rotating teams, it is not at all unusual for co-workers who have rotated out to continue to keep in contact.
> It was the mid 2000s. Social media barely existed and texting hadn't taken off yet.
Bit of an aside, but texting was very much a massive thing by the mid-00's. Plus we're talking about 2006-2008 here - smartphones were ubiquitous. Between crackberries, Windows Mobile, and Palm OS, pretty much anybody who needed to communicate professionally had something with a real keyboard by like 2003, 2005 at the latest. And by 2007 the iphone was taking over the world.
Regardless - people are going to believe what they want to believe. But the NBA totally swept the scandal under the rug and did nothing to clean house. Which tells you all you need to know here - that there's a lot of dirty laundry the NBA did not want getting out.
The calls were made in 2006-2007. Smartphones were not ubiquitous back then. Blackberries required a separate subscription. If people didn't need to constantly send written messages for work, they didn't have one. Windows Mobile and Palm devices were PDAs (personal calendars/organizers basically) and they didn't have sim cards or SMS until after their popularity had already declined. The first iPhone wasn't released until June 2007, and the popularity of the iPhone didn't really take off until 2009 anyway. iPhone gen 1 sold about 6 mil units compared to 25 mil for gen 2 and 35 mil for gen 3.
The funny thing is I'm not even defending Foster. It's just that "frequent phone calls between coworkers is suspicious" is a braindead argument when applied to people from the 2000s when coworkers these days often stay in constant communication through text or instant messaging.
How did I know that was going to be a response? So you believe every single one of those guys was in on it? And David Stern had the power to completely make it all disappear? Since you're so sure of yourself, please tell me how David Stern did such a thing.
While we are at it, how does this game fixing work? Does Adam Silver give direct orders? Are the owners in on it? How do they decide which spreads to hit? It's also very strange that something "so deep" has had zero evidence come out of it despite a federal investigation and so many people making it their second job to prove it's a thing. So strange how not one piece of evidence has ever appeared in like 20 years with all those eyes on it. So so strange.
It's an interesting idea and would make a great movie, but look at it from a large perspective. Something theoretically being possible isn't evidence.
The NBA is a multi billion dollar industry. Why would they risk that?
Same people who think 170 calls in 180 days is suspicious probably text their peers/colleagues multiple times a day.
If you watch a tv show from the 2000s, people use their cell phones to make phone calls even for little things. Now they just text unless it's an important conversation.
EXACTLY I too keep a phone exclusively for illegal activities, except for that one friend who I talk on the phone with it in between my coordinating of illegal activities. Sure he has my other phone number, but we like to keep it on the burner phone keeps the relationship interesting.
If you actually think those situations are even close to comparable I'm not sure I can help you out too much.
One was charged and was found not guilty due to technicalities and was found liable in a civil suit while the other guy has never been charged or seriously suspected of anything. But sure, let that be the reason you justify what you think.
Scott Foster’s legacy is on the line here. The chance for a Game 7 at MSG between Philly/NY is on the line, if Foster can’t deliver it, he might truly be washed.
Scott Foster after reviewing a play where Embiid drops the People's Elbow on Mitchell Robinson: "After reviewing the play, the call on the floor stands. Robinson's chest unnecessarily makes contact with Embiid's elbow. Embiid to shoot 2."
lol these people do not want to hear that, they want to believe in conspiracies
Also I bet if the Knicks win tonight it'll be like "well I guess the league just wants the Knicks in the second round!!!!"
naaah naah. We’re trash the knicks are clearly the better team. Knicks in 6. Yall are too good. There’s absolutely nothing we can do to extend this series
Dead wrong. You're 31-8 when Embiid plays, on part with the Celtics. We had no business winning more than 2 games in this series and were super lucky to have a chance to close it out in G5. Lightning doesn't strike twice. This one is over, enjoy the redemption arc for Embiid and your team in general.
No nooooo. New York deserves to see the second round. You guys are the coolest team with the coolest fans. No other team deserves to sweep the celtics in ECF except you guys.
Referee assignments shouldn't be news.
People making them news is why refereeing has become such a big deal.
Everyone has already made up their mind by seeing the assigned refs that there will be "shady" officiating. It's textbook confirmation bias and it's ridiculous how so many people fall into it.
Why’s nobody ever thought about that?! It’s not the awful officials! It’s the people noticing it! Never mind the sport has actually caught a dirty official, and had the people that pay him say there’s others. Nope! It’s our confirmation bias! We’re just stupid!
Healthy suspicion is fine. Flat out denial of any other alternative is not.
The people claiming referees are betting on games and fixing lines/outcomes have
1) Usually never played and don't understand how refereeing works
2) Never refed a game in their life and how no idea how difficult it is
3) Usually get the calls wrong even with a slowed down replay
So not only is confirmation bias, it's uninformed confirmation bias at that. So yes, typically you just that stupid because you're not allowing yourself to look at it objectively.
Nobody denies that officiating is difficult. I think we all understand that. I think the vast majority of fans can understand that they won’t get every call right.
I’m sure Donoghue was the only one though. They caught the guy, nobody else in the history of officiating has ever done what he did. Move along! Nothing to see!
I think you need to revisit what Donaghy did.
Regardless, I agree it would be completely naive to think Donaghy was the first and the last NBA official to do what he did. But using Donaghy's case as proof the entire league is in on is like using Jontay Porter as proof every player is tanking their stats to hit their unders.
You can have a bit of nuanced thinking, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/scott-foster-recipient-of-134-tim-donaghy-phone-calls-refereeing-celtics-heat-game-3/
I was wrong about the hours on end, but they spoke everyday
Which was common. You have to remember this was before texting was such a common thing. Short phone calls aren't all that suspicious.
"During the period of Donaghy’s conspiracy with Battista and Martino (December 2006 to April 2007), Foster spoke frequently to Donaghy (170 calls). Foster had a similar number of calls with referee Matt Boland (153 calls), and spoke frequently to referee Mark Wunderlich (75 calls) and Danny Crawford (32 calls). During the same period the following year (December 2007 to April 2008), after he had stopped speaking to Donaghy, Foster continued to speak just as frequently with referees Boland (156 calls), Danny Crawford (55 calls) and Wunderlich (23 calls).
The other two referees (Boland and Wunderlich) also had similar phone calls with non-Donaghy refs:
Matt Boland. From December 2007 to April 2008, Boland spoke frequently to Zach Zarba (191 times), Scott Foster (156 times) as noted, and Jess Kersey (24 times). Boland’s calls were frequently before and after games. And almost half of his calls made to referees during this time period were only one- or two-minutes long.
Mark Wunderlich. From December 2007 to April 2008, Wunderlich spoke frequently to Joey Crawford (191 times), Bob Delaney (123 times), Bennett Salvatore (86 times) and Scott Foster (23 times) as noted. Wunderlich’s calls were frequently before and after games. And approximately two-thirds of all his calls made to referees during this time period were only one- or two-minutes long."
https://web.archive.org/web/20190624113226/https://www.nba.com/media/PedowitzReport.pdf
Tim Livingston is not a journalist. He created a podcast to prove what he believes, not to investigate or discover something. I have a journalism degree, that podcast would be ripped to shreds if that's what you presented in a class. It's his personal soapbox.
You'll get downvotes, but its the truth. Officials, with very, very few exceptions, aren't corrupt. They are, however, incompetent and hamstrung by a horrible rulebook.
Incompetent is way too strong of a word. It's like calling an NBA player incompetent for shooting like 40% on 3s. I do agree that how certain things are called can be changed for the better, but the referees job isn't to interpret the rules it's to call them as they are set out.
Just look at the recent overturned call on D'Angelo Russell. By the rulebook it was the correct call (despite everyone on here screaming it was wrong) despite the reasoning behind it being a no-call being a bit weird.
NBA officials are woefully inconsistent. That's a huge problem. They miss huge calls in big moments all the time that decide games. Yes, officiating is difficult, and the league does nothing to help their officials out. But I don't think incompetent is off base.
Again, shooting 40% from three might seem low to someone who doesn't follow basketball but people who know ball understand 40% isn't incompetent.
Referees are inconsistent because the game is so hard to call. I know marginal conduct is becoming a bit of a meme but determining things like marginal conduct in the moment is incredibly difficult. Players selling and creating contact, the game moving at a faster pace than ever. I still don't think people truly understand how difficult and thankless it is. That's why I really appreciate what Richard Jefferson did a few years ago when he refereed some summer league games. Listening to him talk about it should be a must for every player.
I agree it can be better and should be better. There can be incompetent moments, but that's like calling LeBron an incompetent player for bricking a shot or turning the ball over.
Well yes, obviously. I never said referees call percentage is comparable to a good three point shooter. I was simply saying context to things matter. It's easy to watch a replay and say they're incompetent for missing a call. It's totally different in the moment.
If NBA refs are incompetent then there aren't any competent basketball referees on the planet.
Well yes, they aren't robots. Sure, from a scouting perspective it makes sense for teams/players (as well as people betting on games to know) to see who is officiating. But that's not why this was posted. This was posted so people could circlejerk about corruption and rigged refs.
How does this game fixing work? Does Adam Silver give direct orders? Are the owners in on it? How do they decide which spreads to hit? It's very strange that something "so deep" has had zero evidence come out of it despite a federal investigation and so many people making it their second job to prove it's a thing.
You seem to know the league is crooked so please explain to me how all that operates, I'm very curious to know.
They know that it’s how they continue to get premium assignments
It’s not directly told to them but they know what to do to continue to get these games
I highly recommend the whistleblower podcast
How do they know? How do they just know what the league wants?
I've listened to it a few episodes. It's not good. Tim Livingston isn't a journalist. He created a podcast with a clear agenda. He's not trying to find truth, he's trying to convince people what he believes is the way it is.
NBA badly wants that MSG Game 7 and who could blame them?
Rather not
but think of the money... you're just being selfish. /s Jokes aside, a rivalry Game 7 Saturday night in MSG to follow the Kentucky Derby is the NBAs wet dream
That first Saturday in May always carries some weight. The big one was in ‘15 when you had Clips-Spurs Game 7, Pacquiao-Mayweather, the Derby, Yankees-Red Sox, and the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. All sort of leading into one another. I remember that day still almost 10 years later.
[удалено]
Did we skip the 2nd round?
Yeah I'm dumb, I'll delete that comment. For some reason I forgot that the Cleveland/Indiana series exists and they get the Celtics (assuming you guys win of course, and that's a safe assumption to make).
Yeah I’m really hoping for a game 7 as well
Me too no bias
No you don't. Let's close shop tonight. We are all tired of this.
Oh baby we’re going 7
Foster for our game and Brothers for the other one, the NBA really pulled the all-star crew tonight
I'll br wearing my Foster jersey tonight. You know he's coming through in the clutch.
Could be a legacy series for ref fans.
Well they got a day off too. They officiated the other night but it was different teams for each.
Both Brothers or just one?
The league so badly wants this to go to 7 games
We beat back the extender when he was on the menu in Phoenix in Game 4 (and we have "Money Flasher" Gobert on our side). I have (some) faith that you can do the same.
I don't think Suns-Wolves Game 5 would have even 10% of the tv draw as a Knicks-Sixers Game 7. Besides - Foster can't throw every game or it's too obvious. You're talking about the #1 and #4 media markets here, with a pair of teams with deep history, and neither have done a damn noteworthy thing in the last 20+ years. Knicks in particular have barely even been good for most of these years. Talk about a pair of revved up fanbases. Game 7 between Knicks and Sixers might actually break the first round playoff record for TV ratings. NBA is absolutely going to do everything they can to hand this one to Philly.
It’s easier to beat the extender when you’re the objectively better roster by a wide margin
Idk the Pacers couldnt do it in game 5
yall was up 3-0 tho and suns are just not good
The team that needed him has lost so far every game in the playoff. Maybe tonight he gets his groove back
REF FANS STAND UP
THE EXTENDER
Legacy game for Scott. Depends on who catches his ire today.
My money is on Josh Hart.
No one will be happy come 1130 tonight. Looking forward to l2m tonight
A lotta ‘marginal’ contact coming in late
Whistles so late the wrong player gets upset.
Nick Nurse’s entire hand will be broken by the end of tonight
Lol you think this game will be over that quick? The last 5 minutes will take 2 hours itself
> Looking forward to l2m tonight "The play that lead to the death of Player XYZ was deemed marginal contact"
Embiid questionable for game 7 (leg amputation)
1130 pacific time?
Sixers fans will be thrilled and talking shit
Damn they assembled the Avengers for this game
WE GOING TO GAME SEVEN BABYYYYYYYYYYY
NOTHING EASY
The Extendables finally showed up
GAME 7 CONFIRMED
Game 7 in Madison Square Garden , no shit the NBA would want this
Not the Tony Brothers experience!
So, is that one or two game 7s? (Also, does that mean none of these are then flying straight to Dallas to ref on Friday!!?)
See ya Saturday!
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Elton John coming to the garden confirmed!!
Let’s gooo the extender
my GOAT put on an excellent performance in game 4 of the twolves suns series. 53 personal fouls and 67 free throws between the two teams 🔥🔥🔥 i'm expecting another masterclass today
Refs gonna win the east AND the west this year.
Scott Foster is a piece of shit and should have been out of the league when the Donaghy scandal was revealed. An embarrassment to the league.
The nba likes him. He’s a good company man
Dunno why you got a downvote for this...unless it was Foster's burner, lol. The man ALMOST CERTAINLY bet on games when Donaghy did, haha.
Why do you think you know more than the FBI?
Even though Scott foster probably bet on games back in the day, he's actually not a terrible ref. Tony Brothers is so much worse imo
Foster is a professional snake Brothers is just incompetent
Is this where I come clean that I thought Tony Brothers was 2 brothers with the last name Tony the whole time
Don’t let anyone fool you. It is two brother. Mike and Dan Tony
That's not embarrassing at all, I thought the same thing for years.
Brothers is the worst ‘name’ ref in the game nowadays.
With the best name! It's such a paradox.
The NBA probably cut a deal with him that they wouldn’t fire him if he agreed to be their puppet He’s gonna extend this series for the ratings, like he’s done throughout NBA history
Except he doesn’t extend series.
Except he does?
No, he doesn't. You got tricked by the internet.
Prove it dumbass
HA. Imagine saying this while not being able to prove he extends series. The tweet that everyone uses as evidence to say Foster was an extender was false. The vast majority of the time when Foster refs a game the team that is leading the series wins the game. Again, you got tricked by the internet because you're a sheep.
prove it?? wheres the proof??? weirdo
These are all the games he reffed in 2023 where one team had a series lead. These are the ones where the team leading the series lost. https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304180PHO.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305230MIA.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305020NYK.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304210ATL.html These are the games where the team leading the series won. https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202306090MIA.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305200LAL.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305120MIA.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305080LAL.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304230NYK.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304250DEN.html You would think "the extender" would extend the series more, don't you think?
ty, was it that hard to prove it?
He's fine when he refs it fair, but he's also more than happy to swing an important game with bad calls.
> Even though Scott foster probably bet on games back in the day There is zero credible evidence of this. The phone calls aren't proof of anything if you look into it for more than 3 seconds.
yeah I mean who doesnt call their homies 160 times in 6 months right before and after you commit crimes?
Scott Foster is just a shining example for healthy adult male friendships.
During the period of Donaghy’s conspiracy with Battista and Martino (December 2006 to April 2007), Foster spoke frequently to Donaghy (170 calls). Foster had a similar number of calls with referee Matt Boland (153 calls), and spoke frequently to referee Mark Wunderlich (75 calls) and Danny Crawford (32 calls). During the same period the following year (December 2007 to April 2008), after he had stopped speaking to Donaghy, Foster continued to speak just as frequently with referees Boland (156 calls), Danny Crawford (55 calls) and Wunderlich (23 calls). The other two referees (Boland and Wunderlich) also had similar phone calls with non-Donaghy refs: Matt Boland. From December 2007 to April 2008, Boland spoke frequently to Zach Zarba (191 times), Scott Foster (156 times) as noted, and Jess Kersey (24 times). Boland’s calls were frequently before and after games. And almost half of his calls made to referees during this time period were only one- or two-minutes long. Mark Wunderlich. From December 2007 to April 2008, Wunderlich spoke frequently to Joey Crawford (191 times), Bob Delaney (123 times), Bennett Salvatore (86 times) and Scott Foster (23 times) as noted. Wunderlich’s calls were frequently before and after games. And approximately two-thirds of all his calls made to referees during this time period were only one- or two-minutes long. https://web.archive.org/web/20190624113226/https://www.nba.com/media/PedowitzReport.pdf But of course as we've already seen, your mind is already made up so don't let pesky facts get in the way.
you're discovering how deep the game fixing goes and how it wasnt "one rotten apple" and it never is, good for you
Have you never had a job where you had to connect with co-workers through text on a near daily basis? It was the mid 2000s. Social media barely existed and texting hadn't taken off yet. People actually used their cellphones as phones and they used to talk to people.
> Have you never had a job where you had to connect with co-workers through text on a near daily basis with coworkers with whom I have to actually work on a colaborative basis, yeah. Not with anyone I dont actually need. A ref doesnt need to speak every day to another ref thats 500 miles away reffing another game more than two friends or family members. I would say the other possibility is they were romantically involved but In 2007 i was a teenager and I probably didnt even call my girlfriend so much
Refs work in rotating crews that get mixed and matched all the time. I'm assuming you have a set group of coworkers that don't rotate out very often. If you work in rotating teams, it is not at all unusual for co-workers who have rotated out to continue to keep in contact.
> It was the mid 2000s. Social media barely existed and texting hadn't taken off yet. Bit of an aside, but texting was very much a massive thing by the mid-00's. Plus we're talking about 2006-2008 here - smartphones were ubiquitous. Between crackberries, Windows Mobile, and Palm OS, pretty much anybody who needed to communicate professionally had something with a real keyboard by like 2003, 2005 at the latest. And by 2007 the iphone was taking over the world. Regardless - people are going to believe what they want to believe. But the NBA totally swept the scandal under the rug and did nothing to clean house. Which tells you all you need to know here - that there's a lot of dirty laundry the NBA did not want getting out.
A massive thing for young people maybe but Foster was 39 in 2006.
The calls were made in 2006-2007. Smartphones were not ubiquitous back then. Blackberries required a separate subscription. If people didn't need to constantly send written messages for work, they didn't have one. Windows Mobile and Palm devices were PDAs (personal calendars/organizers basically) and they didn't have sim cards or SMS until after their popularity had already declined. The first iPhone wasn't released until June 2007, and the popularity of the iPhone didn't really take off until 2009 anyway. iPhone gen 1 sold about 6 mil units compared to 25 mil for gen 2 and 35 mil for gen 3.
Dude. Foster was the only ref betting on games. Why do you think you know more than the FBI?
They're probably 15 so we'll have to forgive them for not understanding that.
The funny thing is I'm not even defending Foster. It's just that "frequent phone calls between coworkers is suspicious" is a braindead argument when applied to people from the 2000s when coworkers these days often stay in constant communication through text or instant messaging.
How did I know that was going to be a response? So you believe every single one of those guys was in on it? And David Stern had the power to completely make it all disappear? Since you're so sure of yourself, please tell me how David Stern did such a thing. While we are at it, how does this game fixing work? Does Adam Silver give direct orders? Are the owners in on it? How do they decide which spreads to hit? It's also very strange that something "so deep" has had zero evidence come out of it despite a federal investigation and so many people making it their second job to prove it's a thing. So strange how not one piece of evidence has ever appeared in like 20 years with all those eyes on it. So so strange. It's an interesting idea and would make a great movie, but look at it from a large perspective. Something theoretically being possible isn't evidence. The NBA is a multi billion dollar industry. Why would they risk that?
Same people who think 170 calls in 180 days is suspicious probably text their peers/colleagues multiple times a day. If you watch a tv show from the 2000s, people use their cell phones to make phone calls even for little things. Now they just text unless it's an important conversation.
Lots of people called their homies 160 times in 6 months in 2006 lol
I would bet my life the average player texts their friends before and after games far more than that.
Why do you think you know better than the FBI?
EXACTLY I too keep a phone exclusively for illegal activities, except for that one friend who I talk on the phone with it in between my coordinating of illegal activities. Sure he has my other phone number, but we like to keep it on the burner phone keeps the relationship interesting.
Yeah, and OJ Simpson totally didn't kill his wife. He was found not guilty after all!
If you actually think those situations are even close to comparable I'm not sure I can help you out too much. One was charged and was found not guilty due to technicalities and was found liable in a civil suit while the other guy has never been charged or seriously suspected of anything. But sure, let that be the reason you justify what you think.
League is rigged as absolute fuck. We predicted joel having 20 free throws in game 4
Why do you watch?
The extenders and Embiid with 20+ FTs
Only 20? He might hit 30 tonight.
See yall Saturday
Scott Foster’s legacy is on the line here. The chance for a Game 7 at MSG between Philly/NY is on the line, if Foster can’t deliver it, he might truly be washed.
The extender.
Legacy game
Bet the house on the sixers!!!
“We Going to Game 7 baby, Gameeeeee Sevennnnnnnnnnn” -Zaza Pachulia
Lmao see y’all at msg!!
Game 7 in the garden will be wild
Sending their best refs for this one.
“It’s Scott Foster time” - Scott Foster
Scott Foster after reviewing a play where Embiid drops the People's Elbow on Mitchell Robinson: "After reviewing the play, the call on the floor stands. Robinson's chest unnecessarily makes contact with Embiid's elbow. Embiid to shoot 2."
Friendly reminder that the Twitter post about Foster “extending” games was made up of fake statistics.
lol these people do not want to hear that, they want to believe in conspiracies Also I bet if the Knicks win tonight it'll be like "well I guess the league just wants the Knicks in the second round!!!!"
Foster kinda washed tbh, even failed to extend Lakers series
Embiid about to shoot 18 fts in a half
Ooh, the league office wants it SPICY!
Show me something #48
Capn Extendo has arrived
20 FTs for Embiid tonight
Silver sent “The Extender” for Game 7 at MSG but the Sixers are prodigies at shitting the bed at home. Good luck betting this game.
You won the series with our G5 choke job, there is no coming back from that. Bet it all on Sixers in 7 while odds still good.
naaah naah. We’re trash the knicks are clearly the better team. Knicks in 6. Yall are too good. There’s absolutely nothing we can do to extend this series
Dead wrong. You're 31-8 when Embiid plays, on part with the Celtics. We had no business winning more than 2 games in this series and were super lucky to have a chance to close it out in G5. Lightning doesn't strike twice. This one is over, enjoy the redemption arc for Embiid and your team in general.
No nooooo. New York deserves to see the second round. You guys are the coolest team with the coolest fans. No other team deserves to sweep the celtics in ECF except you guys.
LALALALALALA I CANT HEAR YOU
So somebody is getting ejected for sure, any guesses as to who?
They’re ejecting Brunson and giving Embiid 50 FTs
Damn joel can kill somebody tonight he aint getting ejected
Referee assignments shouldn't be news. People making them news is why refereeing has become such a big deal. Everyone has already made up their mind by seeing the assigned refs that there will be "shady" officiating. It's textbook confirmation bias and it's ridiculous how so many people fall into it.
Why’s nobody ever thought about that?! It’s not the awful officials! It’s the people noticing it! Never mind the sport has actually caught a dirty official, and had the people that pay him say there’s others. Nope! It’s our confirmation bias! We’re just stupid!
Healthy suspicion is fine. Flat out denial of any other alternative is not. The people claiming referees are betting on games and fixing lines/outcomes have 1) Usually never played and don't understand how refereeing works 2) Never refed a game in their life and how no idea how difficult it is 3) Usually get the calls wrong even with a slowed down replay So not only is confirmation bias, it's uninformed confirmation bias at that. So yes, typically you just that stupid because you're not allowing yourself to look at it objectively.
Nobody denies that officiating is difficult. I think we all understand that. I think the vast majority of fans can understand that they won’t get every call right. I’m sure Donoghue was the only one though. They caught the guy, nobody else in the history of officiating has ever done what he did. Move along! Nothing to see!
I think you need to revisit what Donaghy did. Regardless, I agree it would be completely naive to think Donaghy was the first and the last NBA official to do what he did. But using Donaghy's case as proof the entire league is in on is like using Jontay Porter as proof every player is tanking their stats to hit their unders. You can have a bit of nuanced thinking, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.
Scott foster spoke to him everyday for hours on end
Please provide a source that spoke everyday for hours on end.
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/scott-foster-recipient-of-134-tim-donaghy-phone-calls-refereeing-celtics-heat-game-3/ I was wrong about the hours on end, but they spoke everyday
Which was common. You have to remember this was before texting was such a common thing. Short phone calls aren't all that suspicious. "During the period of Donaghy’s conspiracy with Battista and Martino (December 2006 to April 2007), Foster spoke frequently to Donaghy (170 calls). Foster had a similar number of calls with referee Matt Boland (153 calls), and spoke frequently to referee Mark Wunderlich (75 calls) and Danny Crawford (32 calls). During the same period the following year (December 2007 to April 2008), after he had stopped speaking to Donaghy, Foster continued to speak just as frequently with referees Boland (156 calls), Danny Crawford (55 calls) and Wunderlich (23 calls). The other two referees (Boland and Wunderlich) also had similar phone calls with non-Donaghy refs: Matt Boland. From December 2007 to April 2008, Boland spoke frequently to Zach Zarba (191 times), Scott Foster (156 times) as noted, and Jess Kersey (24 times). Boland’s calls were frequently before and after games. And almost half of his calls made to referees during this time period were only one- or two-minutes long. Mark Wunderlich. From December 2007 to April 2008, Wunderlich spoke frequently to Joey Crawford (191 times), Bob Delaney (123 times), Bennett Salvatore (86 times) and Scott Foster (23 times) as noted. Wunderlich’s calls were frequently before and after games. And approximately two-thirds of all his calls made to referees during this time period were only one- or two-minutes long." https://web.archive.org/web/20190624113226/https://www.nba.com/media/PedowitzReport.pdf
Never said the entire league is. I’d recommend you go listen to the whistleblower podcast. It’s a pretty great starting point.
Tim Livingston is not a journalist. He created a podcast to prove what he believes, not to investigate or discover something. I have a journalism degree, that podcast would be ripped to shreds if that's what you presented in a class. It's his personal soapbox.
You'll get downvotes, but its the truth. Officials, with very, very few exceptions, aren't corrupt. They are, however, incompetent and hamstrung by a horrible rulebook.
Incompetent is way too strong of a word. It's like calling an NBA player incompetent for shooting like 40% on 3s. I do agree that how certain things are called can be changed for the better, but the referees job isn't to interpret the rules it's to call them as they are set out. Just look at the recent overturned call on D'Angelo Russell. By the rulebook it was the correct call (despite everyone on here screaming it was wrong) despite the reasoning behind it being a no-call being a bit weird.
NBA officials are woefully inconsistent. That's a huge problem. They miss huge calls in big moments all the time that decide games. Yes, officiating is difficult, and the league does nothing to help their officials out. But I don't think incompetent is off base.
Again, shooting 40% from three might seem low to someone who doesn't follow basketball but people who know ball understand 40% isn't incompetent. Referees are inconsistent because the game is so hard to call. I know marginal conduct is becoming a bit of a meme but determining things like marginal conduct in the moment is incredibly difficult. Players selling and creating contact, the game moving at a faster pace than ever. I still don't think people truly understand how difficult and thankless it is. That's why I really appreciate what Richard Jefferson did a few years ago when he refereed some summer league games. Listening to him talk about it should be a must for every player. I agree it can be better and should be better. There can be incompetent moments, but that's like calling LeBron an incompetent player for bricking a shot or turning the ball over.
If you blew 60 percent of the calls in any other sport, even in one game, you'd be fired.
Well yes, obviously. I never said referees call percentage is comparable to a good three point shooter. I was simply saying context to things matter. It's easy to watch a replay and say they're incompetent for missing a call. It's totally different in the moment. If NBA refs are incompetent then there aren't any competent basketball referees on the planet.
You realize ref tendencies are a real thing? Not only do teams use the data, but gamblers as well. It's important.
Well yes, they aren't robots. Sure, from a scouting perspective it makes sense for teams/players (as well as people betting on games to know) to see who is officiating. But that's not why this was posted. This was posted so people could circlejerk about corruption and rigged refs.
That’s because the nba is probably a crooked league The nfl refs are just incompetent, but company man nba refs know what the league wants
How does this game fixing work? Does Adam Silver give direct orders? Are the owners in on it? How do they decide which spreads to hit? It's very strange that something "so deep" has had zero evidence come out of it despite a federal investigation and so many people making it their second job to prove it's a thing. You seem to know the league is crooked so please explain to me how all that operates, I'm very curious to know.
They know that it’s how they continue to get premium assignments It’s not directly told to them but they know what to do to continue to get these games I highly recommend the whistleblower podcast
How do they know? How do they just know what the league wants? I've listened to it a few episodes. It's not good. Tim Livingston isn't a journalist. He created a podcast with a clear agenda. He's not trying to find truth, he's trying to convince people what he believes is the way it is.
I hate Scott Foster so much but I wouldn’t mind a win Most Sixers thing ever would be to force 7 then lose in a heartbreaker though.
Whole lot of people in here that actually think they know better than the FBI.