Claim: Two weeks prior to the game in #1, Donaghy claims "Denver had lost a game a few weeks prior because of a mistake made by the referees, a loss that could be the difference between them making or missing the playoffs. Bavetta told me Denver needed the win and that it would look bad for the staff and the league if the Nuggets missed the playoffs by one game. ... Bavetta looked at me and casually stated, 'Denver will win if they need the game. That’s why I’m on it.'" (Personal Foul p100, also here)
Background: The referee error mentioned was at the end of a February 25th Lakers-Nuggets game (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113744118.html).
For/Against: We don't have much to go on. The surface facts checked out but short of another league official speaking up, we'll never know.
Accuracy: Maybe
Showing posts with label Denver Nuggets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Denver Nuggets. Show all posts
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Claim #1: Spurs-Nuggets April 14, 2009
Claim: Dick Bavetta told the ref crew to favor the Spurs because they needed the win to win the division ('Personal Foul', page 101 - also here).
For Claim: According to the box score, the Spurs had a huge FT advantage (53-18) and foul advantage (34-23). The Associated Press account said "The Spurs scored 16 of their 32 first-half points against the Nuggets from the line, keeping them in the game" and "who finished with a season-high 53 free throws".
Against: The Spurs were a far better team. The Denver coach said “They had 53 free-throw attempts and I felt a lot of those were a result of our defensive mistakes.” According to the game thread on Nuggets Talk, Denver had nothing to play for and may not have been that motivated. No comments on the refs in that thread but then again it was one of those games that the fans didn't care about.
Effect: In the end nothing. The Spurs still would have had the 3th seed and the Nuggets the 8th.
Accuracy: Maybe. Will reassess if someone can find me video especially of the 1st quarter.
For Claim: According to the box score, the Spurs had a huge FT advantage (53-18) and foul advantage (34-23). The Associated Press account said "The Spurs scored 16 of their 32 first-half points against the Nuggets from the line, keeping them in the game" and "who finished with a season-high 53 free throws".
Against: The Spurs were a far better team. The Denver coach said “They had 53 free-throw attempts and I felt a lot of those were a result of our defensive mistakes.” According to the game thread on Nuggets Talk, Denver had nothing to play for and may not have been that motivated. No comments on the refs in that thread but then again it was one of those games that the fans didn't care about.
Effect: In the end nothing. The Spurs still would have had the 3th seed and the Nuggets the 8th.
Accuracy: Maybe. Will reassess if someone can find me video especially of the 1st quarter.
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