Lakers Versus Celtics 2010 NBA Finals: The Case for a Rigged NBA

In the Western Conference Finals 2010 the Los Angeles Lakers opened up a 2-0 Lead over the Phoenix Suns. In the Eastern Conference Finals 2010 the Boston Celtics open up a 3-0 lead over the Orlando Magic. This was the case going into Sunday May 23, 2010. Then all of a sudden in both series, the other team which hadn't won yet in the series won the next two games. Then both the Lakers and the Celtics won each series 4-2. Coincidence? I think not. It seems the NBA is rigged!

I was engaged in both series of the 2010 Eastern and Western Conferences. However, this soon began to change as the series' both opened up. The Celtics won the first 3 games over the Magic by an average of 10 points. The Lakers won the first 2 games over the Suns by an average of 16.5 points. Thus both teams were winning by an average score of double digits.

At this point I was starting to think the Lakers and the Celtics were clearly going to the NBA Finals in 2010. I am sure everyone watching and the players and coaches were getting the feeling as well. Thus I believe National Basketball Association (NBA) commissioner David Stern made a call either on the night of Saturday May 22, 2010, or in the morning of Sunday May 23, 2010. The call was to let the Suns and the Magic each win a couple of games. More games means more money and media attention for the NBA. This would mean the NBA is rigged. The players, the referees, and the coaches must have some role in making sure the Suns and the Magic each won 2 games in the series. Some evidence for this is the ejection of Kendrick Perkins of the Celtics in game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals 2010. He receieved two technical fouls in the game and thus couldn't finish playing in the game. The following day the NBA took away one of his technical fouls. The NBA rescinded one of the technical but really both should have been.

Other people besides myself think the NBA is rigged. Doing a twitter search right now returns a lot of results. (Note I am writing this shortly after Game 6 was won by the Lakers of the Western Conference Finals and thus officially advancing them to play the Celtics in the Finals).

Some of the comments on twitter include the following.

ejheat says "NBA has become a complete joke in these 3rd round E-W series! NBA,where Stern orders rigged games&refs betting on games happens!"

TrendKill21 says "NBA is blatantly rigged."

What do you think? Is the NBA rigged? Did Stern make the call after the Celtics went up 3-0 in the series on the Magic and the Lakers also wen up 2-0 in the series on the Suns? Or do you believe that fatigue and other factors caused the Suns and Magic to each win 2 games a piece following this?

I am still looking forward to the 2010 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics and think the Celtics have a better chance at winning just like they did in 2008. I enjoy playing basketball and like watching the game but I think the NBA and Stern need to let the players play and not get involved for monetary reasons.