[Michael.S.Participant]

Remember when the NBA tried to change the game ball a couple years ago? If so do you think they should have kept it? Or do you think they shoud keep the same one as now? Or do you think they should change it again to a different type/color? any thoughts?

[torontoraptors10Participant]

Keep it plain and simple, the ball is fine the way it is. Why change it?

Everyone that plays basketball has used that ball when they play. It is going to be such a pain just trying to alter the ball.

[D HampParticipant]

I thought about making this a post yesterday…….. I remember when Shaq said, “This is the dumbest thing some basketball expert has ever come up with.”

Dhamp…the most intelligent basketball thinker in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.

[JNixonParticipant]

Yea they were saying the ball felt like a basketball that you get at Toys-R-Us. And it was sticking to their hands during games because of the sweat from their hands. That was going to be a huge pain to deal with if they didnt change the ball.

[Michael.S.Participant]

But didn’t the scoring from teams and individual scoring go up that year? haha

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

David Stern is one of the best commissioners in sports, but that was a dumb move. If I remember right, he didn’t even ask or poll the players on how they’d feel about the change. He made the right decision changing it back.

[llperez]

you know, I think the composite balls they tried to use were actually really good balls. I think it was just a matter of what the players were used to. If they had been using it for 3-4 seasons, then they probably wouldn’t want to change back.

It had way more grip wich allowed for better control, but it just felt different and had a somewhat different reaction on bounce passes, bank shots, or how it bounced off the rim.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

IDK… Not that my opinion matters, but I hated that ball. It just felt cheap. Nothing beats a leather ball.

[llperez]

I only used it once for a couple hours, and it does feel cheap. But I just felt like it had good control and stuck to your hand more. It was better for pulling up on a dime for a jumper because it wouldn’t slip in your hands. But I’ll take an nba players opinion over mine since I only used it for a little while. I believe it is the ball they use in international competitions though.

[Michael.S.Participant]

The ball doesn’t feel cheap at all IMO, it feels cheap to you everyone at first because the material is different, it was a superior ball, more grip, better feel, more seems, better color, everything was better, i still have mine i bought it in the NBA store for a buck and i regret ever playing with it, its a collectible now.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

Leave it alone

[KevinDurantRocksParticipant]

What do you guys think of David Stern

[Michael.S.Participant]

I despise Stern.

[QHaynes20]

why despire stern?

[Michael.S.Participant]

He wrote a letter to the refs in 2002 to extend the King’s and Lakers series when it was 3-2 Kings, he fiixed that, fixed the lottery so Ewing could end up a Knick…… im sure that wasn’t the only time, knew about the ref, scandal and never said nothing, he’s scum

[QHaynes20]

…..How do you know that?

[Michael.S.Participant]

I read into stuff……..

[QHaynes20]

Come on man….I thought you had proof.

Things happen man…..He does not fix stuff were all human

[Michael.S.Participant]

i know people , you don’t think he fixes stuff? don’t be silly. If it can put money in his pocket and help advertise his league hell do it, its a fact.

[HaleParticipant]

I hate Stern too, Cheap Shot Bob f*cked over my Suns, that was so stupid to suspend Amare and Diaw. Duncan left the bench earlier in that game and he wasn’t suspended. Stern is a f*cking punk.

[QHaynes20]

OK Here’s why I KNOW he did not fix anything….

Spurs were this decade’s dynasty

Spurs vs Pistons

Pistons won a title

Shaq to Miami, D-How to Orlando

Knicks have been bad for years

[Michael.S.Participant]

Spurs were this decade’s dynasty, there were 2 dynasties lets keep it real , L.A. had a 3-peat, Stern wanted to advertise Kobe as the new Jordan

Spurs vs Pistons. WOW come on

Pistons won a title.1 in a decade WOW

Shaq to Miami,Whats he gonna tell L.A. they cant trade him? D-How to Orlando, dont know what u mean

Knicks have been bad for years, He tried once we just suck

[QHaynes20]

From 1999 to 2009- 4 titles for the Spurs. 3 for LA….Spurs win.

The point is, you cannot blame someone for what happens. I mean, in the NBA you see different things happen. I mean, the Suns thing. If it were the other way around…you would say Oh, they should get suspended”

Overall Stern has done a amazing job and he has made the NBA better since his arrival in the 80’s

[QHaynes20]

From 1999 to 2009- 4 titles for the Spurs. 3 for LA….Spurs win.

The point is, you cannot blame someone for what happens. I mean, in the NBA you see different things happen. I mean, the Suns thing. If it were the other way around…you would say Oh, they should get suspended”

Overall Stern has done a amazing job and he has made the NBA better since his arrival in the 80’s

[HaleParticipant]

So you are saying what he did to Suns was fair QHaynes? We both know that is bs.

[QHaynes20]

Listen…he did that because of the Ron Artest thing. The rule is you leave the bench, you get suspended

To I agree with it? No. But looking at the past…it was the best situation.

What if Horry threw a punch at a Suns player? I mean, blackeye for a league many people dont watch because of it’s “thuggish” past

[Michael.S.Participant]

Overall Stern has done a amazing job and he has made the NBA better since his arrival in the 80’s

Yea he’s been decent, but don’t you think he would do everything in his power to make sure thing’s go good for him?Im stating cold hard fact’sif you don’t believe me start opening your eyes up to reality, everyone care’s about money, Stern wanted to see Kobe be great, sooo he made sure he wins, in the Kings series, as well as Shaq, Watch the games if you don’t believe me …..the are truely SAD for Sac.

[HaleParticipant]

Then why wasn’t Duncan suspended? He left the bench earlier in the game. So that throws out your rule, that is just Stern being an a$$.

[QHaynes20]

I saw the Sac-LA series…I sae Peja miss everything. I saw the bench play small. I saw Divac flop and allow Shaq to score when he fell.

I hear you Yup, but that was not a issue when the game stop. The game did not stop when Duncan left the bench. When Stoudemire and Diaw got off the bench…it was during a issue

[Michael.S.Participant]

Actually you know what Q , You said then why did Dwight end up going to ORL. ? Wanna know why? here’s why SHAQ, didn’t Shaq go to ORL a while back?

[Michael.S.Participant]

HAHAHAHAHA

seriously …..seriously man all i saw was elbow elbow elbow

Remember when Bibby hit Kobe’s elbow with his chin in crunch time? HA

[HaleParticipant]

As long as you hear me, it’s good.

[QHaynes20]

Yea…But that’s Sac fault.

I remember watch Peja shoot…he couldn’t hit the hoop if it was the size of the ocean.

From that moment on…I thought he was overrated

[Michael.S.Participant]

Q hears people he just doesn’t Listen.

[Michael.S.Participant]

It’s Sac’s fault they were robbed and Fnucked?

[QHaynes20]

No, I understand people I just have different opinions.

I agree that rule is foolish but Stern fixing things is something I cannot agree with

[Michael.S.Participant]

ok man then i guess i can’t do anything more here, just open up your eyes to reality.

[QHaynes20]

….Your right Mike If Stern pulling strings

Why did Cleveland not get into the Finals last year?

Why didn’t New Orleans get into the Finals the year before?

You look too deep into things and sometimes you make up stuff that’s not there…Yea everyone loves money but then some teams will never be good.

Stern is not picking years to fix the NBA…..don’t be “that guy”

[Michael.S.Participant]

Why did Cleveland not get into the Finals last year?

Why didn’t New Orleans get into the Finals the year before?

Didn’t the F.B.I. get involved with the Donaghy scandal last time they were fixing games? You thing Stern wants anythingto do with the F.B.I. ? HELL NO

[QHaynes20]

So…he’s gonna fix games next year you think?

[butidonthavemoney]

Hey, I enjoy conspiracy theories as much as the next guy, but clearly QHaynes is right.

[Michael.S.Participant]

OK then, believe Q
everything falls into place the way I look at things

[QHaynes20]

But there are cracks to your statement IMO

No Offense but looking back at History….he could not have fixed things

[butidonthavemoney]

I don’t have to believe either one of you. You guys don’t know anything about the situation. It’s all speculation.

[Michael.S.Participant]

It is speculation 100% your right but do u really believe none if it is true at all
?

[QHaynes20]

I think to say he’s fixing stuff is wrong and unfair to say.

[Michael.S.Participant]

There is tons of speculation, do you really wanna believe all of it is make-believe? There are bunches of cases where Stern has been caught in the act.

[QHaynes20]

When? Tell me one where Stern has been caught telling guys to fix stuff?

[Michael.S.Participant]

Ref’s have admitted it

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3436401

[butidonthavemoney]

Nowhere in that article does anybody say Stern was responsible for fixing games…

[QHaynes20]

Exactly….

[Michael.S.Participant]

2 officials said it is in the best interest of the N B A if this series was extended to a 7th game, hold on ill get a better one

[Michael.S.Participant]

here is a brief statement i found

Controversy
Stern was accused by former NBA official Tim Donaghy of fixing the sixth game of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. In this game the LA Lakers shot 27 free throws in the fourth quarter alone as well as numerous questionable calls throughout the game. Donaghy also claimed that the 2005 Western Conference first round between the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks were fixed in the Rockets’ favor for the first two games before the next two were fixed in the Mavericks’ favor due to Mark Cuban complaining because of referees calling the game on one side. Donaghy’s claims were dismissed by Stern as a rogue official grasping at straws.

[butidonthavemoney]

That’s better. You should have cited your sources but I’ll let it go seeing as how you are still in High School, and well, citing sources sucks.

Tim Donaghy lacks the credibility to convince me that Stern is fixing games.

[Michael.S.Participant]

haha my bad i never even put a works cited page on my book reports, oh well

I believe him, do you really believe that Stern never did anything that would beefit the marketability of the NBA and put money in his pocket, He is shoddy

Too much accusations for me not to believe any

[CLYDE-frazier10Participant]

ive ever played with hands down. one of my friends go it to play indoors during winter. WOW. the grip on the ball was great. made passes a lot easier and made everything smooth. i mean if i remember kobe liked it, everyone shud like it. lol

[llperez]

hold up a minute. You all are sounding like some cry babies here. Stern fixed games my as.s. The NBA is a billion dollar industry. It is bigger then Lakers or the Knicks or any one superstar. Stern would blow everything if people found out that he was fixing things. You are truly delusional if you think Stern fixes stuff.

As for the Suns getting suspended, don’t leave the bench, period. It was a rule that had been in place and used for like 10 years, including in playoff games. Say what you want about the rule itself, but it was a widely known rule, and the Suns broke it. What I never got was why didn’t the suns fans ever get pissed at Amare for leaving the bench. It was obvious he wasn’t allowed to, but instead of calling him out for being an idiot, the suns fans just pointed the fingers at Horry and the league.

The NBA is a globalized game that has players making half the profits. They do a fair job of punishing players without being overbearing or unfair. They contribute to the comunity and continue to grow every season. If you are gonna call out Stern as a commisioner, you better have something better then, “my team got screwed in the playoffs”, because that is something a fan says when their team doesn’t get it done.

[llperez]

and to mikenike, Donaghy said he “believed ” Stern fixed those games, but he never had one even single remote ounce of proof. It was strictly his opinion, and he is not exactly a more trustworthy person then Stern.

[kidcanandaParticipant]

llperez22 the FIBA balls are leather and made by a company called Molten, although they do look similar to the 2 Panel NBA balls. But slightly a different version of the ball is stilled used in the D-league(blue writing not black).

[Michael.S.Participant]

i truly believe Stern has done a couple things, it was said that the N B A told the refs it would be in the best interest of the N B A if theis series was extended to 7 games…………..who do you think suggested that?
I dont know just the way he responded to to those allegations convinced me……….there are simply tooo much blame on Stern for none of it to be true……..but believe what you wanna

it wasn’t sooo cool to call me delusional for my belief but……………..ehh

[HaleParticipant]

Why would we get mad at Amare? He took what 2 steps? No on in their right mind would get mad at a guy for taking 2 steps off the bench to defend his teammate. That is just stupid to say. The Suns were screwed by Stern and yes it is his fault. This rule (which was not obvious) cost the Suns that series. If he really wanted to make it fair, then Duncan would have been suspended. Whether there was a stop in play or not.

[llperez]

I remember Amare being like 10 feet from the bench, it was more then 2 steps, plus he was very close to the action where the incident happened. I honestly don’t remember exactly what Duncan did, so I can’t coment on him. The rule had been enforced many times previously and thus you always see teams making sure each other stay near the bench during any on court altercation. Amare didn’t do that, and it hurt his team.

And to mikenike, I stand by my delusional statement, but don’t take it personal. I just think the league has way too much going on for Stearn to risk everything by trying to fix a game or series. I mean, there would be lawsuits, asterisks, loss of fans. It would be huge if it ever came out that the commisioner was doing any sort of fixing. That’s just my opinion, but’s it’s all good man.

[Michael.S.Participant]

Well go sniff a snickers………….

[SpencerIsHawesome]

Q aren’t you 14? If that’s the case you were 7 when that series happened, I doubt you remember much of that or understood much of it.

Regardless of whether it was a fix or not– that was the worst officiated game I’ve seen, and I’m sure a lot of you non-fix believers would agree.

I can’t sit here and say it was for sure, but I’d bet that it was. And Perez, you think it’s delusional to think that it’s possible that a commissioner would fix a game, a series, or the lottery? I don’t doubt it when the league/commissioner/refs all stand to make millions and millions of dollars.

Besides, as much as people hate conspiracy theorists, they bring accountability to the table. If something is questionable and nobody brings up the possibility of a conspiracy then if it really were they would get away with it easy and continue to push for more.

[Michael.S.Participant]

yeah you pretty much summed it up right there,i would give you 100 pts if i could

[llperez]

The Nba commisioner is a millionaire. If he even so much as attempted to fix anything and it came out, do you realize how big a deal that would be. We are not talking about him just losing his position. He would probably spend the rest of his life in prison. There are millions of dollars that are bet on games every year in Vegas. Teams have millions to gain by advancing in a series and playing in more playoff games and the revenue that it brings. Teams have millions to gain by landing the appropriate player in a draft. If Stern messed with any of that, he would spend the rest of his life in prison on so many charges of conspiricy it wouldn’;t be funny. Lawsuits would be crazy and the whole game would be set so far back that through internal investigation of employees and officials alone, there probably wouldn’t even be a game played for about a year. If the league was fixed by the commisioner, it would be one of the biggest stories in the history of sports.

So ask yourself what’s more likely, that Stern put all that up for risk for some extra ratings, or that the officials just sucked in that game 6?

[SpencerIsHawesome]

It would never get out that Stern was the mastermind if it was the case. He’d have to be dumb to leave any trace of evidence it was him.

You look at the Tim Donaghy scandal, the Enron scandal. I mean if a big company like Enron has some huge scandal– why isn’t a possibility that the NBA would have one?

I mean look at all these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sporting_scandals

plus theres many more not listed there. We all know sports are dirty. From steroids, to illegal betting. You think it’s ridiculous to say there’s a chance that the NBA has fixed games in the past. I say it’s ridiculous to assume that it hasn’t. There are boxing fights fixed, tennis matches fixed.

Stern may or may not have been the kingpin behind the kings-lakers game 6 fix. But if the fix was on, then someone made a lot of money.

[llperez]

fair enough. No way to know for sure. but if there was some fixing of games or whatever, I would bet it had nothing to do with Stearn. It might be at a lower level with an official, a coach, a player or something. Even then I doubt it. But Stearn has too much to lose and too little to gain from taking part in a fix. And this whole thread started with Stearn changing the ball and then led to how we felt about Stearn as an commissioner, so I was primarily refering to him directly.

[HaleParticipant]

When has it ever been enforced other then that moment? At least in the playoffs. I can’t think of any. Sorry buddy but you are dead wrong to accuse Amare for that incident. Stern screwed the Suns, not Amare taking a few steps. He wasn’t near the action at all. I just looked at about 10 videos and didn’t Amare anywhere near the action or more then a few steps from the bench. This is just a video representing what happened that I found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbMEACw4RZ4

[llperez]

I can’t think of any off the top of my head where that rule was enforced, but I’m 100% positive it was enforced on numerous occasions prior to the Amare suspension.

I also took a quick peak for a video showing Amare walking towards the scuffle, and didn’t find one. But I remember quite clearly he walked towards the scuffle and he was not near the bench. That video you have doesn’t show anyting by the suns bench.

I did however find a video on youtube where Amare was intervied after the suspension and he said that by the letter of the rule he was rightfully suspended because he did walk onto the court. He also said that he could understand the difference between what he and Duncan did because he attempted to approach the situation on the court while Duncan just sort stepped off the bench.

Like I said, the rule can be called pathetic and unfair and I wouldn’t argue with you. But Amare clearly walked onto the court in an assertive manner and the rule, which had been around for about a decade was clearly broken. I think he had a serious lapse in judgement and it cost his team.

[QHaynes20]

LOL….Spence I’m 16 brah.

I remember that series on the count of that’s the 1st series I got to see from game 1 to game 7.

Like I said. I remember Peja not hitting anything. I remember the Kings causing themselfs to lose by leaving Bob Horry out there for a 3. I remember Vlade flopping like a pussy. I remember. Was it a great officated game? No. But dont act like Sacramento did everything right…and loss

And Mike….you act like everything is rigged, the NBA is pre-determined. Listen, things happen. Stern does not fix them

[HaleParticipant]

I know the video I posted doesn’t show the benhc. It is just my feelings towards the play. I saw the interview, but honestly what else is he going to say? He isn’t T.O. He will say whatever he is supposed to say for the public. The only players I saw near the incident on the videos I just watched were Barbosa and Bell.

[Michael.S.Participant]

I remember that series on the count of that’s the 1st series I got to see from game 1 to game 7.

Like I said. I remember Peja not hitting anything. I remember the Kings causing themselfs to lose by leaving Bob Horry out there for a 3. I remember Vlade flopping like a pussy. I remember. Was it a great officated game? No. But dont act like Sacramento did everything right…and loss

And Mike….you act like everything is rigged, the NBA is pre-determined. Listen, things happen. Stern does not fix them

Firstly Horry hit a 3 off a long rebound not a half court set, so yeah he was open. Vlade didn’t get fouled out from flopping he got called for B.S. fouls by the dumb refs, he played sooo well in that series all for nothing, Sa deserved to win that series they were the better team.

And no not everything is rigged, just some , the rigged stuff however is pre-determined, and I believe in my heart that Stern did do some stuff.

[QHaynes20]

Dude, No they did not.

1st off…Vlade tried to tip the ball as far as he can…sounds stupid to me. Vlade is known for flopping, I remember this dude getting up off the court on mose flops in that series. Plus like I said, The Lakers were the better team. The Kings didnt play very well and made boneheaded mistakes.

Didn’t Bibby hit Kobe in that series with no suspension? Yea, they deserved to win that series.

I just Diasgree with the Stern rigging stuff because I dont see any proof. Saying look at certain makes you sound more of a person who read more into things.

[Michael.S.Participant]

HAHAHAHAHA
No offense Q but u sound awefully clueless right now and I question if u ever even watched the series

Firstly the Kings didn’t play bad they were up 3-2 ……. They were playing great until Mr.Stern and company decided it was enough and they rigged games 6 and possibly 7

BIBBY HIT KOBE???????????? HAHAHA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhlGYvIMPgQ

[llperez]

mikenike, I’m assuming that clip you posted is of Bibby getting called for the foul when Kobe elbowed him in the face. It was a debateable call, but not ridiculous. The foul the refs called was before the elbow when Bibby had his hand on Kobe’s hip and was impedding his progress, which is why Kobe swung his arm through trying to get free.

The Kings did absolutley out play the Lakers through the first 4 games. But the Kings have no one to blame but themselves for that game 4 collapse when they squandered a 20 point halftime lead.

Game’s 5 and 6 were both poorly officiated with each team getting the benefit of the subpar officiating once.

There is no way you can argue game 7 was fixed. I lived in sacramento for 7 years, and I never heard one Kings fan argue game 7 was poorly officiated. Christie and Peja both had opportunities to bury the Lakers, and they failed. Not only did they fail, but they shot up open airballs. The Kings may have gotten screwed in game 6. They may have been the better team. But they lost on their own. Making excuses about a series that required 4 losses is not exactly the mentality of a champion.

[Michael.S.Participant]

yeah, you should watch it they are very eye-opening, I don’t know im optimistc about game 7 also, but i don’t know about that one for a fact, i would bet that game 6 was fixed though, BTW that elbow was dirty, before or after the whistle

[HaleParticipant]

After watching the video I have to agree the game was rigged. Maybe that is the only game ever, but it is for sure.

[QHaynes20]

Firstly the Kings didn’t play bad they were up 3-2 ……. They were playing great until Mr.Stern and company decided it was enough and they rigged games 6 and possibly 7

LOL…Reading the description of that video sounds like you made it. Now, I question you watching the series. I think you prob was watching NBATV and there were talking about this so you decided to talk about it. That’s why you despise Stern because you dont believe in comebacks. Im sorry but thats stupid.

……you say things and how he “fixed” the NBA and im sorry they dont make sense. Not at all.

Peja missing 3, Vlade Flopping, bench not stepping up….Thats why the Kings lost. It’s funny how you pick 1 series and not even the right series to question Stern.

[Michael.S.Participant]

LOL…Reading the description of that video sounds like you made it. Now, I question you watching the series. I think you prob was watching NBATV and there were talking about this so you decided to talk about it. That’s why you despise Stern because you dont believe in comebacks. Im sorry but thats stupid.

……you say things and how he “fixed” the NBA and im sorry they dont make sense. Not at all.

Peja missing 3, Vlade Flopping, bench not stepping up….Thats why the Kings lost. It’s funny how you pick 1 series and not even the right series to question Stern.

That’s kinda insulting, and very wrong why the hell would they talk about Stern fixing the NBA on NBATV? He runs NBATV silly. I despise Stern because dont believe in comebacks? Nah not even close, It’s because I am for whats right.
And once again, The Kings deserved that series, played their hearts out and got robbed.

[QHaynes20]

….you just dont get it imo

[SpencerIsHawesome]

True or False: Game 6 of the SAC-LA series was the worst officiating you have ever seen in an NBA game?

[Michael.S.Participant]

True

[QHaynes20]

LOL, I’m 16 now…

the series happened in 2002…..7 years ago

that makes me 9….gotta do the M-A-T-H

[Author]

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