Is the NBA both a rigged league and about to have Oklahoma and Indiana play in the NBA finals?

[NZB2323]

You act like you have all of the facts. You don’t. None of us do. You can’t put a few specific things together and claim that I’m stupid because of it. Maybe you’re just naïve.

We don’t know, so maybe aliens?

Again, take that condescending **** and go **** yourself. Disagreeing is one thing. Being a condescending prick is another. You are the latter.

My point is that “We don’t know if the NBA is rigged, so maybe it’s rigged,” is the same exact logic as “We don’t know if it’s aliens, so maybe it’s aliens.” There’s no proof, and it’s just baseless speculation.

I never meant it as a personal insult against you. I’m not sure why you take it so personally.

[NZB2323]

Again, making stupid reasons on why it is or isn’t rigged.

Did Lebron get drafted to Cleveland with the #1 pick? Seems like a fact to me.

Did Dikembe claim he was told Philly was gonna remain in the top 3? Another fact

Is this suspicious? Maybe yes to some. Or maybe not. You can explain why it’s not suspicious.

None of it is actually evidence (technically foreknowledge can be taken as evidence in court).

Has LeBron had greater longevity than any NBA player? Seems like a fact to me. Could he be an alien or a robot?

Obama supporting gay marriage is a fact. Could he be the antichrist?

The Thunder being close is a fact. Could they be having gay orgies in their locker room?

You looking at a child is a fact. Could you be a pedophile?

Lady Gaga supporting trans rights is a fact. Could she be a man?

These are all facts, and you have no evidence to disprove any of these theories.

Your right about the facts but your questions after the facts are lowkey straight jacket worthy

Is it a fact that your losing it?

My point is that “We don’t know if the NBA is rigged, so maybe it’s rigged,” is the same exact logic as “We don’t know if it’s aliens, so maybe it’s aliens.” There’s no proof, and it’s just baseless speculation.

My questions after the facts are silly on purpose. Yes, it’s a fact that the Cavs won the lottery, but it’s not proof that the league is rigged and is just baseless speculation. It’s a fact that the Cavs won the lottery, but that doesn’t prove that the league is rigged just like it doesn’t prove that aliens made it happen.

[Bush4Ever]

When you are cheating in poker or blackjack, etc...it's preferable to intentionally lose hands along the way to better mimic random variance and work against the perception of cheating (who cheats and loses?).

So you see my young Jedi, OKC/Indy in the Finals is actually proof of the NBA rigging. This is basically the NBA intentionally setting up a non-sexy Finals now so they can cheat and set up even more sexy Finals later.

You just have to take the red pill. Look outside the Matrix. Read the books THEY don't want you to read. Illuminati. Bilderberg Group.

[Dennis 37]

A league worth billions of dollars can’t even rig games properly. Is that what you’re trying to say?

The league is not rigged. Stop believing in conspiracy theories.

Explain Lakers free throw discrepancy over multiple years.

Unless the players are corrupt, league direction to refs isn't going to always get the desired results. I don't believe the players are corrupt.

Look at the top 10 teams for each season since 2022. Pelicans, Magic, Raptors, Spurs, Bucks, Suns, Jazz, Mavs, Rockets have all been on there. What’s the incentive to giving them an edge?

Once again, stop believing in conspiracy theories.

Look at the nba finals. Big Market teams, or teams with marketable stars, and therefore advertiser friendly and revenue generating teams in most of them.

2023-24 — Boston Celtics def. Dallas Mavericks, 4-1

2022-23 — Denver Nuggets def. Miami Heat, 4-1

2021-22 — Golden State Warriors def. Boston Celtics, 4-2

2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks def. Phoenix Suns, 4-2

2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Miami Heat, 4-2

2018-19 — Toronto Raptors def. Golden State Warriors, 4-2

2017-18 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0

2016-17 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1

2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors, 4-3

2014-15 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-2

[Broadcaster]

We don’t know, so maybe aliens?

Again, take that condescending **** and go **** yourself. Disagreeing is one thing. Being a condescending prick is another. You are the latter.

My point is that “We don’t know if the NBA is rigged, so maybe it’s rigged,” is the same exact logic as “We don’t know if it’s aliens, so maybe it’s aliens.” There’s no proof, and it’s just baseless speculation.

I never meant it as a personal insult against you. I’m not sure why you take it so personally.

The overall tone is that anyone suggesting corruption lacks intelligence and is an idiot. You didn’t call me that directly but that is the insinuation of, “maybe aliens.” I’m not calling everyone who believes it’s legit a keener. It’s possible to have a discussion without simply rebutting with, “no, you’re stupid.”

Also, I don’t think it is the same logic. How uneven they are as a comparison also only heightens the insinuation that I’m stupid. They’re not an even comparison. Many businesses in the world are corrupt. It’s tried and true (and is even on brand with America but hey). Aliens, though honestly probable, are still uncovered ground. I’d more quickly believe a business is corrupt than jumping to the conclusion that something was an alien.

[VFX]

Yes.

NBA isn’t rigging outcomes of seasons.

They are rigging very specific player destinations occasionally when they can and it benefits the league.

[SOUL]

Read on Twitter

This tweet is what reading this forum is like

The fact that you are treating people who suggest that there could be corruption in this day and age like lepars says more about you than them. Same goes for everyone else. Do you not have any critical thinking skills? Do you genuinely think things in the world are free of corruption? Should I treat you like you’re an idiot because I disagree with you?

There's no problem thinking there are isolated incidents of cheating/rigging/etc. The NBA has shown that with players, refs, etc.

Thinking everything is a grand scheme is tiring argument to debate against because there's no cohesive reasoning. It's droves of skeptics throwing random theories at a wall. There were 10+ page debates that every team in the league was in on helping the Lakers and Mavs because they all make money and they don't care about how their team does because they're all rich, etc. Somehow the entire league is in on the rigging and all the fans know but nobody can prove it.

When you start thinking everything is rigged you start to sound like Jordan Peterson in a debate. "What do you mean by HOW am I doing?"

Everything ain't that serious. Sometimes your GM is just stupid. Sometimes the lottery works as a lottery does and then fans can give reasons as to why (insert team here) won, because you could force yourself into a narrative AFTER the fact.

[Broadcaster]

Read on Twitter

This tweet is what reading this forum is like

The fact that you are treating people who suggest that there could be corruption in this day and age like lepars says more about you than them. Same goes for everyone else. Do you not have any critical thinking skills? Do you genuinely think things in the world are free of corruption? Should I treat you like you’re an idiot because I disagree with you?

There's no problem thinking there are isolated incidents of cheating/rigging/etc. The NBA has shown that with players, refs, etc.

Thinking everything is a grand scheme is tiring argument to debate against because there's no cohesive reasoning. It's droves of skeptics throwing random theories at a wall. There were 10+ page debates that every team in the league was in on helping the Lakers and Mavs because they all make money and they don't care about how their team does because they're all rich, etc. Somehow the entire league is in on the rigging and all the fans know but nobody can prove it.

When you start thinking everything is rigged you start to sound like Jordan Peterson in a debate. "What do you mean by HOW am I doing?"

Everything ain't that serious. Sometimes your GM is just stupid. Sometimes the lottery works as a lottery does and then fans can give reasons as to why (insert team here) won, because you could force yourself into a narrative AFTER the fact.

I can’t speak for everyone but I definitely don’t think there is some grand plan in an Illuminati kind of way. I just don’t think they’re as clean as advertised. I do think they would have the gall to do something glaring right in front of the public.

I do agree with your last point. Sometimes things just are what they are and that’s fine.

[The Servant]

Correct.

[SOUL]

I can’t speak for everyone but I definitely don’t think there is some grand plan in an Illuminati kind of way. I just don’t think they’re as clean as advertised. I do think they would have the gall to do something glaring right in front of the public.

I do agree with your last point. Sometimes things just are what they are and that’s fine.

Yeah, then we can definitely agree on a general point of it's healthy holding some doubt over things especially when it looks fishy. My thing is that certain skeptics start to look questionable when EVERYTHING is a rouse/farce/scheme though.

For instance, I think the way Rob Hennigan (old Magic GM) made a lopsided trade giving OKC Oladipo/Sabonis, got fired, then joined their front office a year later is complete BS. Do I think he did it on purpose? Not exactly, but because he joined their FO, you can realistically theorize him knowing he's already on thin ice, so he makes a trade to bolster a team he could get hired to. (Or re-join. He was there before Orlando).

[HotelVitale]

Explain Lakers free throw discrepancy over multiple years.

Unless the players are corrupt, league direction to refs isn't going to always get the desired results. I don't believe the players are corrupt.

Look at the top 10 teams for each season since 2022. Pelicans, Magic, Raptors, Spurs, Bucks, Suns, Jazz, Mavs, Rockets have all been on there. What’s the incentive to giving them an edge?

Once again, stop believing in conspiracy theories.

Look at the nba finals. Big Market teams, or teams with marketable stars, and therefore advertiser friendly and revenue generating teams in most of them.

2023-24 — Boston Celtics def. Dallas Mavericks, 4-1

2022-23 — Denver Nuggets def. Miami Heat, 4-1

2021-22 — Golden State Warriors def. Boston Celtics, 4-2

2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks def. Phoenix Suns, 4-2

2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Miami Heat, 4-2

2018-19 — Toronto Raptors def. Golden State Warriors, 4-2

2017-18 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0

2016-17 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1

2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors, 4-3

2014-15 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-2

That's almost no really 'big market' teams--one LA appearance is the only of the truly huge markets, and there's significantly more appearances by some very small markets (CLE, MIL, DEN). Also almost nothing from the next tier of big markets (Chicago, Dallas, Houston). There's plenty here from the medium-big markets like BOS, GSW, and MIA, but those are pretty middle of the pack as NBA cities/markets. definitely not who you'd 'rig' things for if you could.

Also yeah it's always generally taken an all-NBA type guy to lead you to the Finals. If you're really seeing really good players being in the Finals as some evidence of rigging/tampering, it feels like you've probably lost the thread there.

[Los_29]

Explain Lakers free throw discrepancy over multiple years.

Unless the players are corrupt, league direction to refs isn't going to always get the desired results. I don't believe the players are corrupt.

Look at the top 10 teams for each season since 2022. Pelicans, Magic, Raptors, Spurs, Bucks, Suns, Jazz, Mavs, Rockets have all been on there. What’s the incentive to giving them an edge?

Once again, stop believing in conspiracy theories.

Look at the nba finals. Big Market teams, or teams with marketable stars, and therefore advertiser friendly and revenue generating teams in most of them.

2023-24 — Boston Celtics def. Dallas Mavericks, 4-1

2022-23 — Denver Nuggets def. Miami Heat, 4-1

2021-22 — Golden State Warriors def. Boston Celtics, 4-2

2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks def. Phoenix Suns, 4-2

2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Miami Heat, 4-2

2018-19 — Toronto Raptors def. Golden State Warriors, 4-2

2017-18 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0

2016-17 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1

2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors, 4-3

2014-15 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-2

Kawhi is like the least marketable superstar in the league. Giannis isn’t even from America. He’s from Greece. Jokic rides horses as his hobby.

So either big market teams (with amazing players) or small market teams (with amazing players) win the championship?

Ground breaking news. Lol.

[NZB2323]

Again, take that condescending **** and go **** yourself. Disagreeing is one thing. Being a condescending prick is another. You are the latter.

My point is that “We don’t know if the NBA is rigged, so maybe it’s rigged,” is the same exact logic as “We don’t know if it’s aliens, so maybe it’s aliens.” There’s no proof, and it’s just baseless speculation.

I never meant it as a personal insult against you. I’m not sure why you take it so personally.

The overall tone is that anyone suggesting corruption lacks intelligence and is an idiot. You didn’t call me that directly but that is the insinuation of, “maybe aliens.” I’m not calling everyone who believes it’s legit a keener. It’s possible to have a discussion without simply rebutting with, “no, you’re stupid.”

Also, I don’t think it is the same logic. How uneven they are as a comparison also only heightens the insinuation that I’m stupid. They’re not an even comparison. Many businesses in the world are corrupt. It’s tried and true (and is even on brand with America but hey). Aliens, though honestly probable, are still uncovered ground. I’d more quickly believe a business is corrupt than jumping to the conclusion that something was an alien.

I’ve never called you stupid.

But saying the league is rigged, but we’re having a Indy vs. OKC finals, and the lottery is rigged for the Mavs but we can’t explain how, and the NBA fixed the lottery for Patrick Ewing to go to the Knicks but not Melo, and the NBA has been rigging things since 1985 and for 40 years we haven’t had one leak from any owner, GM, coach, player, journalist, wife, or girlfriend, including Donald Sterling and his mistress has as much substance to it as saying that the Aliens built the pyramids.

[Broadcaster]

My point is that “We don’t know if the NBA is rigged, so maybe it’s rigged,” is the same exact logic as “We don’t know if it’s aliens, so maybe it’s aliens.” There’s no proof, and it’s just baseless speculation.

I never meant it as a personal insult against you. I’m not sure why you take it so personally.

The overall tone is that anyone suggesting corruption lacks intelligence and is an idiot. You didn’t call me that directly but that is the insinuation of, “maybe aliens.” I’m not calling everyone who believes it’s legit a keener. It’s possible to have a discussion without simply rebutting with, “no, you’re stupid.”

Also, I don’t think it is the same logic. How uneven they are as a comparison also only heightens the insinuation that I’m stupid. They’re not an even comparison. Many businesses in the world are corrupt. It’s tried and true (and is even on brand with America but hey). Aliens, though honestly probable, are still uncovered ground. I’d more quickly believe a business is corrupt than jumping to the conclusion that something was an alien.

I’ve never called you stupid.

But saying the league is rigged, but we’re having a Indy vs. OKC finals, and the lottery is rigged for the Mavs but we can’t explain how, and the NBA fixed the lottery for Patrick Ewing to go to the Knicks but not Melo, and the NBA has been rigging things since 1985 and for 40 years we haven’t had one leak from any owner, GM, coach, player, journalist, wife, or girlfriend, including Donald Sterling and his mistress has as much substance to it as saying that the Aliens built the pyramids.

Really feels like there is no reasoning with you so adios.

[HotelVitale]

I can’t speak for everyone but I definitely don’t think there is some grand plan in an Illuminati kind of way. I just don’t think they’re as clean as advertised. I do think they would have the gall to do something glaring right in front of the public.

I do agree with your last point. Sometimes things just are what they are and that’s fine.

Yeah, then we can definitely agree on a general point of it's healthy holding some doubt over things especially when it looks fishy. My thing is that certain skeptics start to look questionable when EVERYTHING is a rouse/farce/scheme though.

For instance, I think the way Rob Hennigan (old Magic GM) made a lopsided trade giving OKC Oladipo/Sabonis, got fired, then joined their front office a year later is complete BS. Do I think he did it on purpose? Not exactly, but because he joined their FO, you can realistically theorize him knowing he's already on thin ice, so he makes a trade to bolster a team he could get hired to. (Or re-join. He was there before Orlando).

Total-skeptic conspiracy thinking is a bad habit precisely because it lets the actual cheating and corruption 100% off the hook. Obvious example is something like Q Anon, which gets people to see most of govt and institutions as controlled by a secret conspiracy--which leaves none of those people looking at how actual politicians and institutions are carrying out their more mundane grifts or ways of getting and staying on top. Even when it's the incredibly obvious and brazen stuff that some people QA supports does. (I actually see more practical versions of this all the time in local politics (which is a big part of my work)--e.g. the entire agenda of our mayor in Philly is to build things to give out $ to her supporters in real estate and the building trades, she doesn't actually hide that fact and it's extrmely obvious if you're paying any attention to her legislation, but 90% of the city has no idea because in public she always talks about how she's protecting communities from outsiders or pursuing black excellence etc, so the city just associates her with those big things that have nothing to do with her day to day).

The NBA situation is obviously different, but if you hung around the NBA and various officials and owners etc, you'd probably know pretty clearly a few things they were angling for that they didn't want the fans to know too much about. And it probably isn't stuff like using one big secret power move to force a superstar from one quite large market (DAL) to a giant one with a fading star (LA). But if people are already accustomed to thinking 'meh the NBA's corrupt we all know it' then it makes it a lot easier for the NBA to push for the far less scandalous stuff.

[Broadcaster]

I can’t speak for everyone but I definitely don’t think there is some grand plan in an Illuminati kind of way. I just don’t think they’re as clean as advertised. I do think they would have the gall to do something glaring right in front of the public.

I do agree with your last point. Sometimes things just are what they are and that’s fine.

Yeah, then we can definitely agree on a general point of it's healthy holding some doubt over things especially when it looks fishy. My thing is that certain skeptics start to look questionable when EVERYTHING is a rouse/farce/scheme though.

For instance, I think the way Rob Hennigan (old Magic GM) made a lopsided trade giving OKC Oladipo/Sabonis, got fired, then joined their front office a year later is complete BS. Do I think he did it on purpose? Not exactly, but because he joined their FO, you can realistically theorize him knowing he's already on thin ice, so he makes a trade to bolster a team he could get hired to. (Or re-join. He was there before Orlando).

Total-skeptic conspiracy thinking is a bad habit precisely because it lets the actual cheating and corruption 100% off the hook. Obvious example is something like Q Anon, which gets people to see most of govt and institutions as controlled by a secret conspiracy--which leaves none of those people looking at how actual politicians and institutions are carrying out their more mundane grifts or ways of getting and staying on top. Even when it's the incredibly obvious and brazen stuff that some people QA supports does. (I actually see more practical versions of this all the time in local politics (which is a big part of my work)--e.g. the entire agenda of our mayor in Philly is to build things to give out $ to her supporters in real estate and the building trades, she doesn't actually hide that fact and it's extrmely obvious if you're paying any attention to her legislation, but 90% of the city has no idea because in public she always talks about how she's protecting communities from outsiders or pursuing black excellence etc, so the city just associates her with those big things that have nothing to do with her day to day).

The NBA situation is obviously different, but if you hung around the NBA and various officials and owners etc, you'd probably know pretty clearly a few things they were angling for that they didn't want the fans to know too much about. And it probably isn't stuff like using one big secret power move to force a superstar from one quite large market (DAL) to a giant one with a fading star (LA). But if people are already accustomed to thinking 'meh the NBA's corrupt we all know it' then it makes it a lot easier for the NBA to push for the far less scandalous stuff.

This is reasoning I can get behind.

[jkvonny]

Look at the top 10 teams for each season since 2022. Pelicans, Magic, Raptors, Spurs, Bucks, Suns, Jazz, Mavs, Rockets have all been on there. What’s the incentive to giving them an edge?

Once again, stop believing in conspiracy theories.

Look at the nba finals. Big Market teams, or teams with marketable stars, and therefore advertiser friendly and revenue generating teams in most of them.

2023-24 — Boston Celtics def. Dallas Mavericks, 4-1

2022-23 — Denver Nuggets def. Miami Heat, 4-1

2021-22 — Golden State Warriors def. Boston Celtics, 4-2

2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks def. Phoenix Suns, 4-2

2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Miami Heat, 4-2

2018-19 — Toronto Raptors def. Golden State Warriors, 4-2

2017-18 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0

2016-17 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1

2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors, 4-3

2014-15 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-2

That's almost no really 'big market' teams--one LA appearance is the only of the truly huge markets, and there's significantly more appearances by some very small markets (CLE, MIL, DEN). Also almost nothing from the next tier of big markets (Chicago, Dallas, Houston). There's plenty here from the medium-big markets like BOS, GSW, and MIA, but those are pretty middle of the pack as NBA cities/markets. definitely not who you'd 'rig' things for if you could.

Also yeah it's always generally taken an all-NBA type guy to lead you to the Finals. If you're really seeing really good players being in the Finals as some evidence of rigging/tampering, it feels like you've probably lost the thread there.

LA, Dallas/DFW Metroplex, GS/Bay area, Chicago, Houston, NYC and Brooklyn, Toronto, Philly, Washington DC/DMV, Boston/New England, Atlanta etc are big markets.

[mariller]

yes your right, if i think the nba is sometimes giving picks to teams that do what they want...
then i obviously must believe in every conspiracy in existence.

yous are pathetic.
beyond the facts i just stated.
want proof...look at what happened. thats the proof.
dont believe it? i dont care.

these anti-conspiracy theorists cant stop acting like anyone that believes something they dont is a conspiracy theorist in every way.
also its these closed minded people continuously assuming that anyone who doesnt agree w/ them is crazy.
these are the conspiracy theories you've created in your own mind against the outside world.

okay.. so im really trying to give you guys a lot of chances to prove me wrong. im open to change my mind and change my opinion.

where is the proof? should i accept your statement "the nba gifted zion to the pelicans" as a proof? Thats not how evidence works my guy.
Show me something that proves your statement. im not gonna accept a random realgm posters statement as truth without evidence.

noone on here provides any proof or even plausible and reasonable indication. all i read is wild assumptions without much base.

Come on man, what kind of proof can be of something that "some guys", decided somewhere?
I'm actually "anti-conspiracy theorist" - but only for one reason - you cannot know which one of hundreds of conspiracy theories are true, but "some" of them are for sure true. Statistics says that if 1 in 100 conspiracy theories is true, then you are much better of not believing any of them.

But this???!!! We all agree that NBA is a business right? At this point, what 100s of billions of dollars? And you think that if someone says "this is too big of a business, they for sure try to move some things in the right direction to make more money" then this is impossible? You thing billioners wanting more money is something unheard of and requires proof? An maybe compare it to flat earth, moon landing and so on. As if those are even remotly comparable on the scale of how likely it is.
Now THAT is pathetic.

[mariller]

The Mavericks' odds of winning this year was 1.8%. The average odds of winning Powerball is nearly 1 in 300,000,000 or 0.0000003333% and yet seven people won the Powerball jackpot in 2024. The odds of all three of the Mavericks winning this year, the Pelicans winning in 2012 (13.7%) and the Cavaliers winning in 2003 (22.5%) combined is 0.055665% or approximately 1 in 1796, substantially greater than Powerball odds.

Sometimes, when dealing with a random process, things just happen.

You don't seem to know how statistics and chances work either.
It's only matter of number of tickets to have hign chance of winning. The chance could be 0,0000000000000000000000000000001%, if you buy enough tickets, you have high chance of winning, so it for sure must happen on some point.

But 1,8% chance should happen once in 50 years, and those things are happening a little bit to often. League is for sure trying to have things their way, Kings vs Lakers is all the proof you need. I believe rigging the lottery is not outside of realms of possibility.

[Black Jack]

NBA, along with all other big money sports, is sometimes rigged depending on who is involved. Mainly involving who goes to which team.

I think its more like nudging sometimes. If I was a commissioner and desperate to optimize revenue my mindset would be like, we need a star in Lakers uniform every generation. Need Wemby managed by Spurs, need Flagg in Dallas to calm the owner/fans down. We can't let Atlanta or Sacramento draft Luka. That type of thing. Don't overdo it by trying to actually control outcomes.