Tim Donaghy Interview

by Natronbacon on Dec 7, 2009 5:56 PM EST

Just watched the Donaghy interview on ESPN http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4720724. One thought jumped out at me (concerning the Magic). Donaghy claimed several players were targeted by referees for being what he called "troublemakers". The surprising name mentioned of course was Chauncy Billups. He claimed that Ref bias against these certain players was highly predictable and notably affected games. How does this affect the Magic? Fresh off a brutally foul marred contest in GS which was barely watchable I started to think about the steady rise of Dwight Howard's technical fouls and the surprising struggles he's had staying out of foul trouble this year. Last year (2008-2009) Dwight doubled his previous technical foul total from the year before (2007-2008), this year he is on pace to triple 2007-2008. Interestingly his minutes played has dropped in the last two years. On top of that his personal fouls are up by half a foul per game this year. Has Dwight become a target of the referees and is this costing the team significantly? Or is Donaghy a liar/moron/vengeful?

Personally I think there is a definite element of truth to this aspect of what Donaghy is saying. It is human nature to have some bias and the more Dwight carries on about calls the more I think it will be a problem for him. The playoffs are razor thin with margin for error, last year Dwight's antics cost him a game via suspension. What will it be this year, will the Magic be fortunate enough to win the game if he is suspended again, especially if refs start to harbor bias against him? Most vets start to get more calls in time, Dwight is headed in the wrong direction. Donaghy's story seems to offer proof there is ramifications.

This FanPost was made by a member of the Orlando Pinstriped Post community, and is to be treated as the opinions and views of its author, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

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He said it best on 60 minutes

The NBA culture that existed and still exists allowed him to be so successful on his bets. I think that if you’re more than a casual fan of the NBA, it’s easy to notice that the league favors situations where their most profitable investments will succeed. Stars will get favorable calls and a good playoff series will go longer than it needs to. Ref’s will also have biases, they’re human and unfortunately that’s our nature regardless of what the job is. Until we have the RefBot, this will go on.

The numbers don’t lie, there is a year to year difference in how they’re calling fouls against Dwight. It’s hard to say whether the ref’s are getting fed up with Dwight, the team, or SVG in terms of complaining. Ultimately, it’s out of anybodies hands except the ref’s and it’s impossible to pinpoint the reasoning for fouls. Hopefully the players and coaching staff have a better idea of what’s going on and adjust accordingly.

by bh_ on Dec 7, 2009 6:43 PM EST reply actions

Sadly, I have to agree.

The NBA is only truly concerned about it’s bottom line, and if a few rules have to be bent, or ignored entirely, so be it.

"I guess killing will have to be fun enough"-Homer J. Simpson

by Diosnomeama on Dec 7, 2009 7:39 PM EST up reply actions

Dwight hasn't been nearly as active defensively this year. A half-step slow can be the difference between an excellent stop and a silly foul

I don’t buy anything Donaghy says. He has nothing to lose by airing these comments, and money to gain. And he needs money, having lost his job and all. There’s no reason—none—to trust him, unless you’re naturally inclined to believe that refs influence games, in which case you didn’t need the whole Donaghy thing in the first place.

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by Evan Dunlap on Dec 7, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

I think the selection of refs can influence games

I’m not sold on the refs consciously influencing them, though. I think certain referees fall into certain areas within the grey portions of the rules, and some watch for certain infractions more specifically than others.

I’m not sold on Donaghy’s claims, since the empirical evidence doesn’t appear to be there to support his assertion. There have been atrocious calls (the Phoenix/San Antonio series remains the epitome of that for me), but I don’t see sufficient evidence of the individual referees having vendettas against particular players or teams, nor have I seen sufficient evidence of referees slanting calls to favor particular teams or to extend series.

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by The Dark on Dec 8, 2009 10:07 AM EST up reply actions

Money also seems to mean a lot to a monolithic corporation like the NBA.

I’m not saying Donaghy isn’t a scumbag or anything, but Stern’s nothing to see here move along folks attitude after the allegations was pretty suspect in my opinion.

"I guess killing will have to be fun enough"-Homer J. Simpson

by Diosnomeama on Dec 8, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions

politely

I disagree… I think it is very much in Dwight’s hands. He needs to focus on the game. Talking to the officials is okay if you’re a diplomat like grant hill, but arguing gets you nothing and worse, seems to be a negative…

by Natronbacon on Dec 7, 2009 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

I also don't believe Donaghy too much

but… I do believe that if I guy is known for getting t’d up, refs are going to look for that… Dwight seems to be getting closer to that… I am not totally believing that he’s getting more fouls just cause the refs dislike him… but I am inclined to believe that with the t’s

by Natronbacon on Dec 7, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

dwight needs to learn from rashard

instead of whining in the middle of action rashard goes and talks with the refs when there’s a dead ball

Nah' mean, nah'm sayin

by Dr Things on Dec 8, 2009 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t believe in the fixing or direct manipulating of NBA games or playoff series, and I watched the interview and read some excerpts from the book. The only thing I can believe is the indirect manipulation that comes from some personal biases from refs. They’re only human, but they do their best to try to keep it fair. They can stand to try to gain more control against troublemakers and certain situations tho. And I don’t think it’s enough to affect games. The NBA is the hardest possible sport to ref in and refs can easily and legitimately foul out most players in quick time, so they simply exercise excellent and fair game control, keeping only the most foul prone players as such and leaving the game intact for both sides to play till the better one wins. They could learn to call big men better here too, but this is where Dwight needs to stop complaining and just stay out on the floor. The only other problem is star and flop calls that refs just kind of develop for certain players in every team but it’s improving I think.

by derekk on Dec 7, 2009 7:24 PM EST reply actions

Should Dwight just shut up and play? Yes.

But I seriously doubt theres some big conspiracy to give Dwight a hard time by the refs. Tim Donaghy’s claims should be taken with a grain of salt AT BEST.

by Kennedy K on Dec 8, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions

I don't see how this is news worthy-

Tim Donaghy is looking for a payday. Superstars get calls. Ref’s T up guys who constantly complain. We already knew these facts.

by The Stan 'Stache on Dec 8, 2009 4:08 PM EST reply actions

?

Ummmm. Because he’s saying refs openly discussed “taking justice into their own hands”. Not only do I think this is newsworthy. This should have caused much bigger waves than it has.

And for those of you who have a hard time believing this guy because he’s coming out with a book. Well, Philip Scala, the recently retired FBI supervisory special agent in charge of the Gambino squad, which uncovered Donaghy’s scheme of betting on basketball games he had officiated, said he believes the disgraced referee’s claims that other refs were dirty.

I think this is VERY news worthy.

by hoyamagic on Dec 8, 2009 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

It's newsworthy but not necessarily true.

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by erivera7 on Dec 8, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

LOL-

Donaghy said he acted alone in the gambling scheme. He also said he used officials BIASES to bet games. I don’t see how that incriminates other officials. The NBA is the touchiest pro league and the biggest “superstar league.” So if an official thinks a player is too aggressive or the NBA says “watch the traveling with Player X” this means there is an Ofificiating scandle in the NBA? Please. Donaghy didn’t say anything we didn’t already know.

“Taking justice into their own hands” isn’t that big of a deal. Like I said earlier, if a player complains a lot and talks trash the officials (and the NBA does nothing about it) of course the officials will take care of that and T him up. There is a reason why players get bad reputations… because they earn them.

Officiating is difficultin the NBA. And this whole Donaghy debate is gonna turn into a whine-fest for every team who feels their star player doesn’t get a call. And the last thing we need is more complaining about NBA refs (especially on 3QC).

by The Stan 'Stache on Dec 8, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

I forgot my main point.

Newsworthy is the wrong word. Pardon the cliche- but let’s take this with a grain of salt. The guys a liar and it’s been proven. And as it pertains to the magic, Dwight needs to play smarter and stop complaining (which he has on the current win streak). Let’s not use Donaghy as an excuse.

by The Stan 'Stache on Dec 8, 2009 6:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

agreed

You do have to take it with a grain of salt. But when I referenced taking justice into their own hands, I meant talking openly about screwing a player over BEFORE the game. If what he said is true, that to me is ridiculous.

by hoyamagic on Dec 9, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions