Does the NBA officiating scandal make the Spurs championship tainted?

Question

"Until further notice, the de facto championship series between San Antonio and Phoenix is tantamount to tainted.

Donaghy made one of the worst calls of the playoffs (a
phantom, delayed foul on Manu Ginobili in a key late third-quarter run that awarded the Spurs three free throws), and he was part of an officiating crew that sent Suns star Amare Stoudemire to the bench with foul trouble, leaving him available for only 21 minutes in the game. Beyond that, there were plenty of missed calls, and dubious whistles. That game hangs over the league like an anvil now. "

that's the opinion of one yahoo writer...what do the fans think?

Answer 1

Yes, of course it taints the series and as such, the championship of the Spurs.

I'll say now that I'm a Suns fan and I dislike the Spurs, but if SA was the better team through no controversial calls or anything of the sort, I'd be just fine with it. Disappointed, sure, but I wouldn't call them cheaters or anything like that.

If Game 3 turned out to be one of the games on which Donaghy bet, then it will likely be the biggest scandal in the NBA's history. This was a great series that was already considered tainted by some for the controversial suspensions of two Suns players who simply got off the bench during an altercation. They did not throw a punch or do anything to make the fight worse, yet they were suspended. It resulted in rewarding dirty play.

So even without this most recent scandal, the series was already considered tainted by some. Had Amare and Diaw not been suspended, I'd guess the Suns would've won game 5. And if this ref DID call it San Antonio's way, then the Suns maybe should've won game 3 as well. That would put them as winning the series, and advancing to the WCF.

I don't see how this could NOT taint the victory of the Spurs. I doubt anyone on here is saying San Antonio is a bad team or not worthy of a championship, but if they won thanks to a referee, then how is it NOT a tainted victory??

Answer 2

Give it a rest already! The Suns lost the series, they lost four games to the Spurs. The Suns actually were playing better without Amare in the game. Kind of like game 5, the Suns were playing well and couldn't finish. Amare needs to learn to not commit stupid fouls that will take him out of a big game.

What I find amazing is how the Suns fans won't give it a rest. In 2006, when the Mavs received a great call at the end of regulation to tie the game on free throws, no one was saying the Spurs got screwed.

I guess only the Suns and Mavs have been screwed over the last two seasons.

Donaghy is a loser that has tainted the game. How many regular season games did he change? How did that change the playoff seeding?

Answer 3

The game with the hard foul that Horry gave Nash occurred in Game 4 not Game 3.

Who's to say the Suns should have been playing the Spurs? I just read on here how the Suns were beneficiaries of the ref in Game 4 of their series. Had the Lakers won the series would been 2-2.

Why pick on one team or one game?

NBA fans should be commiserating together instead of turning on each other. We were all hurt by this ref.

Answer 4

Oh def. It will be, but it shouldn't be. The Spurs have owned the Suns in the postseason, and everyone assumes that would have stopped this yr but we don't know. According to stats, San Antonio is now 7-1 in game 5s with the series tied 2-2. So they probably win that game anyway. Two, the series was back and forth up to that point. Both teams had won on the others floor, and no one had won 2 games in a row. If you want to know what's scary, its that Amare and Diaw come back in Game w/ 6 with a chip on their shoulder, and (despite his statistics) the spurs are still without a valuable member in Horry. My personal opinion is that the Amare and Diaw's suspensions did nothing to affect the outcome of this series, it'll go seven, and ultimately the best team will win.

Answer 5

I agree that the Spurs just plain outplayed the Cavs. But now we start to think if it should have been the Suns playing Lebron and company. There lies the injustice. The Suns, particularly, need an explanation -- and an apology if need be. For the Spurs, yes, this probably puts a damper on the celebration. Now there is a cloud of doubt. Are they wearing a hollow crown? Yes, the Spurs are worthy champions, but if you told me the Suns won the championship, I wouldn't have been surprised, either.

Answer 6

Ummm, I think the Suns, Spurs and bad ref would like Amare out of the game.

Points scored with Amare IN THE GAME
San Antonio=46 Phoenix=46

Points scored with Amare ON THE BENCH
San Antonio=57 Phoenix=55

Both teams score MORE with Amare on the bench.

San Antonio had a whole 2 point advantage with Amare out.

Tell me again how having Amare out HURT the Suns?

Answer 7

Tainted Conference Championship against the Suns, though no fault of the Spurs. The Finals were a cake walk for the Suns or Spurs.

Answer 8

I think it may be tainted as far as their series with the Suns goes, however, regardless if there was some questionable officiating in the Finals, there was no way the Cavs were going to beat the Spurs.

Answer 9

It absolutely taints the series. It does NOT mean the Suns would have won (as Spurs fans seem to think others are implying). But it does mean the Suns didn't quite get a fair shake at it.

I fully expect Spurs fans to give "thumbs down" for any answer that doesn't glorify the Spurs.

Answer 10

Before we ever know it was tainted, the suspensions were unfair. In the same game Amare and Boris left the bench and got suspended a game a piece. Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen got onto the court for some similar reason. The confrontation however, came from two NBA duds so they didn't speculate on Tim and Bruce. Everyone knows it would've been a 7 game series, but the NBA screwed it up.