IfAt1st
Starter
I am a strong believer in sports conspiracy theories. I believe professional sports are rigged for the most part, for the betterment of the power players of the leagues (TV, owners, league offices, etc). I believe players are mostly pawns put on the court to perform their role, but superstar players are brought into the fold of the conspiracy and told what's up and given favoritism on the court by the refs for their complicity.
Each side simply pats each other's backs, it's just business after all.
And yes, I believe the Kings had their championship stolen from them in 2002 by this consipiracy.
Which brings me to this post, now.
I believe the Kings are now going to be more favored by the NBA for the foreseeable future.
In fact, I'm going WAY out on a limb and predicting it after seeing only 2 games of results.
I base this on a variety of observations:
* As history, most fans know how badly the Kings have been screwed in every way by the officials on the court the past few years. I watch games as objectively as possible, and I do NOT see calls as consistently bad and unfavorable to a team over the years as the Kings.
It has reached its apex with the ref's collective actions against DMC, who gets technical fouls (and therefore aggregate suspensions which is effectively a fine to him) literally for facial reactions. There has been a ref sitting there watching him like a hawk for any reaction, and when DMC is standing there watching the JumboTron playback, and then reacts in outcry like any player does, the ref staring at him waiting for any reaction, T's him up - that's a travesty of officiating IMO.
* With the recent NBA support for the Kings staying in Sac, and Commissioner Silver attending our game the first week in office, and the slavering over Vivek Ranadive and the entire NBA 3.0 international vision, it is a must that the Kings become a competitive team. India isn't going to get fans following the Kings unless they are a winner. Many people have predicted we may get preferential treatment - it has just waited until now to manifest (didn't want to make it too obvious from the beginning of the season?)
* The last 2 games the Kings have been the recipient of more favorable ref calls than I've seen in the past 7 years combined. <--only mildly hyperbolic
* I noticed something during Demarcus' recent injury-
He seemed calm on the bench as he was watching the game in streetclothes.
He seemed like he was doing his part, staying off the court.
Usually, he'd be internally seething, not getting that playing time and getting his stats to prove his case (that he's one of the best big men in the NBA).
I believe he was told to sit out his ankle injury much longer than he had to. I believe the Kings had to give him a hint that he's the rising star for the team and therefore a face of the international NBA 3.0 vision. I believe the Kings deliberately didn't want to win those 7 games because they have seen how solidly DMC and Gay (and IT lesser-so) are gelling together and they are afraid of winning too many games and losing a good draft spot.
* DMC should have been thrown out both of the last 2 games, if we are being objective and comparing to his history. It's not like he's been on better behavior - he has jawed plenty, he has had run-ins with Mike Dunleavy, and has deliberately initiated contact that previously has gotten him T'd up and thrown out of games. Against Toronto, he needlessly tried to spike Grevious in the backcourt while our PG was walking the ball up. This would normally have been watched intently by the refs and reacted to immediately. But the refs are now letting incidental dumb stuff go with Demarcus. That NEVER used to happen.
* It is HILARIOUS and vindicating to see other players (and teams) blowing a gasket when they are treated like DMC has been. Joakim Noah completely losing it and F-bombing with threatening gestures directly at the refs simply for getting ticky-tack calls shows that DMC isn't alone in not liking getting screwed by refs. I don't see the league and fanbase getting out their pitchforks and suggesting Noah seek psychological counseling after this on-court meltdown, do you? In fact, I don't remember DMC EVER being as bad as Noah was on the court - correct me if I'm forgetting him doing as bad to refs.
Kyle Lowry got himself tossed after a questionable call on the 3-pointer. Hell, it got to Tom Thibadaeu in his postgame conference, and he needed a team meeting the next day to recompose the team. Nice to see other teams have to deal with the absurd frustrations of NBA reffing for a change. It sure impacted the Bulls team, and they are supposedly paragons of NBA solidity.
* We are going to start seeing the rest of the NBA (other team's sportscasters, ESPN, national print media, etc) start writing positive articles about DMC, and spotlighting his good points more. This hackjob he's been getting for years and ridiculous over-focus on being a tough competitor will slowly lessen.
This will be in full bloom by next year at this point in the season, after he's a legitimate (not injury-appointed) All-Star and the Kings have a winning record.
Feel free to ignore or ridicule as you will - I just had to get all that said.
Each side simply pats each other's backs, it's just business after all.
And yes, I believe the Kings had their championship stolen from them in 2002 by this consipiracy.
Which brings me to this post, now.
I believe the Kings are now going to be more favored by the NBA for the foreseeable future.
In fact, I'm going WAY out on a limb and predicting it after seeing only 2 games of results.
I base this on a variety of observations:
* As history, most fans know how badly the Kings have been screwed in every way by the officials on the court the past few years. I watch games as objectively as possible, and I do NOT see calls as consistently bad and unfavorable to a team over the years as the Kings.
It has reached its apex with the ref's collective actions against DMC, who gets technical fouls (and therefore aggregate suspensions which is effectively a fine to him) literally for facial reactions. There has been a ref sitting there watching him like a hawk for any reaction, and when DMC is standing there watching the JumboTron playback, and then reacts in outcry like any player does, the ref staring at him waiting for any reaction, T's him up - that's a travesty of officiating IMO.
* With the recent NBA support for the Kings staying in Sac, and Commissioner Silver attending our game the first week in office, and the slavering over Vivek Ranadive and the entire NBA 3.0 international vision, it is a must that the Kings become a competitive team. India isn't going to get fans following the Kings unless they are a winner. Many people have predicted we may get preferential treatment - it has just waited until now to manifest (didn't want to make it too obvious from the beginning of the season?)
* The last 2 games the Kings have been the recipient of more favorable ref calls than I've seen in the past 7 years combined. <--only mildly hyperbolic
* I noticed something during Demarcus' recent injury-
He seemed calm on the bench as he was watching the game in streetclothes.
He seemed like he was doing his part, staying off the court.
Usually, he'd be internally seething, not getting that playing time and getting his stats to prove his case (that he's one of the best big men in the NBA).
I believe he was told to sit out his ankle injury much longer than he had to. I believe the Kings had to give him a hint that he's the rising star for the team and therefore a face of the international NBA 3.0 vision. I believe the Kings deliberately didn't want to win those 7 games because they have seen how solidly DMC and Gay (and IT lesser-so) are gelling together and they are afraid of winning too many games and losing a good draft spot.
* DMC should have been thrown out both of the last 2 games, if we are being objective and comparing to his history. It's not like he's been on better behavior - he has jawed plenty, he has had run-ins with Mike Dunleavy, and has deliberately initiated contact that previously has gotten him T'd up and thrown out of games. Against Toronto, he needlessly tried to spike Grevious in the backcourt while our PG was walking the ball up. This would normally have been watched intently by the refs and reacted to immediately. But the refs are now letting incidental dumb stuff go with Demarcus. That NEVER used to happen.
* It is HILARIOUS and vindicating to see other players (and teams) blowing a gasket when they are treated like DMC has been. Joakim Noah completely losing it and F-bombing with threatening gestures directly at the refs simply for getting ticky-tack calls shows that DMC isn't alone in not liking getting screwed by refs. I don't see the league and fanbase getting out their pitchforks and suggesting Noah seek psychological counseling after this on-court meltdown, do you? In fact, I don't remember DMC EVER being as bad as Noah was on the court - correct me if I'm forgetting him doing as bad to refs.
Kyle Lowry got himself tossed after a questionable call on the 3-pointer. Hell, it got to Tom Thibadaeu in his postgame conference, and he needed a team meeting the next day to recompose the team. Nice to see other teams have to deal with the absurd frustrations of NBA reffing for a change. It sure impacted the Bulls team, and they are supposedly paragons of NBA solidity.
* We are going to start seeing the rest of the NBA (other team's sportscasters, ESPN, national print media, etc) start writing positive articles about DMC, and spotlighting his good points more. This hackjob he's been getting for years and ridiculous over-focus on being a tough competitor will slowly lessen.
This will be in full bloom by next year at this point in the season, after he's a legitimate (not injury-appointed) All-Star and the Kings have a winning record.
Feel free to ignore or ridicule as you will - I just had to get all that said.
