First off, I'd like to point out that if called correctly, Brent Barry clearly traveled - he moved both feet before Bibby jumped - and it would have been a turnover... again, if the play was officiated according to the rule book, which it clearly was not.

That being said, I think NBA officials have the toughest job in sports, and this doesn't help. Studies have shown that people see things differently depending on initial biases, and whenever that's the case, you're going to have this problem. I know of very few ways to fix it, but making the referees association an independent entity with NBA oversight would be a good start. As with any organization, more transparency into the inner workings would help deter crooked activity, including in this case making public all assessments of referee performance. You'll never get rid of all allegations of corruption, but if everyone is allowed to see all steps being taken by all parties to minimize, it would undoubtedly help the image problem that the NBA now faces.

No longer being a fan of the NBA, and its meaningless “travelling” exhibition, I will list the comment that should put fear into the hearts (if there is such a thing) of NBA executives. Who cares?

The Lakers got a ton of free throws in Game 3 because they were doing something they didn't do in Game 2 at all: attack the basket. The Celtics got fewer free throws because they settled for jump shots far more often.

But, as for this comment

And if you're going to conjure up an accusation that the NBA fixed games, wouldn't you choose the game everybody remembers for the losing team getting worked?

If you're going to conjure up an accusation that a conspiracy was behind a political assassination, wouldn't you choose to start with JFK?

The officiating in that Lakers-Kings game was so horrendously bad that people had to wonder how any refs could be so incompetent. And when it comes to light that at least one official was on the take, it is logical to think that there may have been more.

NBA officiating is atrocious. But what's worse is that David Stern maintains the fiction that there is no problem. When bad officiating is rampant, it becomes much easier for corruption to insert itself. What's really troublesome about Stern's denials is that it is exactly the same tune he sang before the Donaghy affair came to light.

He is a marketer, not a commissioner. Can anyone say this game is better now than it was a decade ago?

It's become silly and cartoonish as the league stresses stars over teams (except this year when they could use Lakers-Celtics as a nostalgic marketing tool), re-engineering the game to accentuate a select few players like Kobe and LeBron, the latter being no better than the 6th best player in the NBA (behind Kobe, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and Kevin Garnett). But Lebron is promoted as the best - despite having a very Iverson-esque career so far - because he is YOUNG AND MARKETABLE. He'll be in NY soon because that increases his marketbaility.

At the end of the day, it is not about the game. It is not about the US fans. It is certainly not about TV ratings, you can see that in the Nielsens.

Stern is about getting people in China to become NBA fans. If he has to further destroy the game to do it, so what? It is more profitable if teh base expands.

Typical. And now that Godell has over-loaded the T-Giving day slate and marginalized NFl Films in favor of Stuart Scott and Chris Berman idiocy, get ready for the next step...the move from 1p and 4p games to 4p and 7p. Then a decade later we move to 7p and 10p games. Another sport ruined because of a dolt commissioner who just cares about the cash.

I walked away at the start of the fourth quarter. It's become cartoonish. Professional wrestlingish. I once heard an author talk about a book he'd written about Division II and III basketball atheletes. The author loved the guys he'd profiled because they loved the game. They didn't need a Jordan "love of game" clause. They played away with no chance of "money for nothin' and chicks for free." I hate when players like LeBron and Kobe talk about "my guys." I hated when Jordan talked about "my supporting cast." I'm not so stupid that I need a team reduced to one player. I remember the starting five for the '69 Knicks. The '72 Lakers. And lots of other teams that were teams.

In 20 years, ask me who played for the '08 Cavs and I'm likely to say, "LeBron and his guys."

Is there a fix? Maybe. Probably. Money is more seductive than Brad Pitt.

You reason well.

We've been saying this for years. While the NBA isn't entirely crooked, it's not entirely legit and above board either. It's a business.

From what I can remember Stern has danced around the accusations Donaghy has made, questioned Donaghy's credibility and never flatly denied his allegations. That bothers me. It makes the whole situation stink worse.

The shift to star based promotion in the NBA has hurt the game. There are fewer team focused stars than there were before. If Lebron is the shining example of future players, a player that is more interested in self-promotion than being the best he can be then I think the NBA will ultimately fail.

I hope you ran this column past a lawyer first.

You are clearly out of your depth -- Media can't discuss accusations that are in the public discourse? You are seriously crocked if you think that is sound (or legal) logic. As a column dealing with a public trial and information readily available to anyone, the piece merely discusses the merits of the possibility. As for evidence, I would say that the testimony of a former emplyee of the company, under oath, is pretty good evidence.

Secondly, even if the Donaghy matter was not a matter of public discussion, the potential for corruption, the topic is clearly a matter of public interest. And anyway, I don't think the NBA would look too good if word got out that they were silencing coumnists unter threat of legal suit.

And why are you trying to angily defend the NBA? What is up with you?