[cleaveland]

This is one time when Stern or someone like him could get involved. I kind of expect to see Violet Palmer, Joe Crawford, and Dick Bevetta reffing this game.

[cleaveland]

Think about this game from the owner's perspective...Lin is a once in a generation story. This is a great chance to bring Asian fans in in droves not to mention the fact this story has everyone talking and Lin is the everyman's hero...He's a guy we all can relate to and he might make people believe in miracles again, so to speak.

If you were an owner or the NBA would want Lin to lose his ESPN debut? No.

The line movement for this game backs up my theory as well. Let's see who the refs are.

[Kalibongo]

This is one time when Stern or someone like him could get involved. I kind of expect to see Violet Palmer, Joe Crawford, and Dick Bevetta reffing this game.

I love Dick.

[cleaveland]

I love Dick.

I really see something like this coming:

http://www.sportsbookreview.com/forum/nba-basket...o-indiana.html

The Bulls were 11.5 point favorites at home in that game and they barely won. Rose had to play out of his mind to get a come from behind win, the refs had a lot to do with that.

The Lakers are in a really bad spot coming off a hard-fought overtime win, the refs could decide this game easily, really easily.

[cleaveland]

BTW, is it just me or does Bennett Salvatore look like a mafia guy?

[Kalibongo]

What time will they release the ref details?

[cleaveland]

What time will they release the ref details?

In about 4 hours, it's posted at covers.com. Somebody on the ESPN board knew the refs before covers.com had them the other so you may be to find them before that.

[rickydiesel]

Lin will struggle with bynum n gasol and plus Blake is back just had a big win they gonna beat NY just my opinion

[rickydiesel]

One more thing Knicks haven't been playin any solid team

[dmitean]

L.A. Lakers @ New York Ron Garretson Nick Buchert Pat Fraher

[cleaveland]

L.A. Lakers @ New York Ron Garretson Nick Buchert Pat Fraher

I don't know these refs, anyone else?

If this wasn't an ESPN game I'd be leaning heavily towards the Lakers but as I've said before, nationally televised games are frequently uncappable and with this trappy looking line, I'd rather try to find something else.

[ugabooga]

Knicks or no play for me. Looking forward to seeing Lin in action after every second thread on here about him lol

[dmitean]

Well, I think that Lakers is the only logic bet here for two simple reasons:
1) All the people that feel that the game is rigged drive the line down for LA and not for reasons on court
2) All this Lin hype got the line shorter than it should be.

As for all the conspiracy theories, I don't bite it. If you want to fix a game, you will take a game that no one watches, not a game on National TV. Nothing like showing refs deciding the game outcome to really bring new fan base to the league, right?

Lin can have his night, because he has Fish guarding him, but what that got to do with anything else? Basketball is 5 on 5 the last time I checked...

[cleaveland]

Well, I think that Lakers is the only logic bet here for two simple reasons:
1) All the people that feel that the game is rigged drive the line down for LA and not for reasons on court
2) All this Lin hype got the line shorter than it should be.

As for all the conspiracy theories, I don't bite it. If you want to fix a game, you will take a game that no one watches, not a game on National TV. Nothing like showing refs deciding the game outcome to really bring new fan base to the league, right?

Lin can have his night, because he has Fish guarding him, but what that got to do with anything else? Basketball is 5 on 5 the last time I checked...

How long have you been watching the NBA?

[ugabooga]

National tv = more money

These two teams are pub faves there will be a truckload of dough bet on this game.

[cleaveland]

National tv = more money

These two teams are pub faves there will be a truckload of dough bet on this game.

There's only been a handful nationally televised games I've seen this season that seemed unbiasedly reffed, off of the top of my head: Bulls at Heat, Suns at Spurs, 76ers at Heat, Nuggets at Clippers

There's only been a few I know of, the rest involved the refs heavily favoring one team, really obviously. I don't know how people call it a "conspiracy theory", it's conspiracy fact. I read Marc Jackson was on NBA TV crying about it after a recent game.

I don't want to burst anyone's bubble though.

Donahgy tried to explain it to a certain extent and how it's actually done, if people won't listen to him they won't listen to anyone.

[lonegambler]

thesee games are like watching a broadway show, the outcome is already decided , if knicks put up a fight tonight early and into second half u can bet ur life theres a 90 pct change they cover or win outright example last night i bet okc ov 103 1st half theres 42 points scored in 1st quarter and then all of a sudden the second quarter there was 70 pts scored landing on 112 for the half, then vegas comes out with 2nd half line of 101 to 100 after 2 teams come off 70 pt quarter and 112 pt half obvious the under was the play they came out with 101 to 100 for a reason all rigged

[cleaveland]

thesee games are like watching a broadway show, the outcome is already decided , if knicks put up a fight tonight early and into second half u can bet ur life theres a 90 pct change they cover or win outright example last night i bet okc ov 103 1st half theres 42 points scored in 1st quarter and then all of a sudden the second quarter there was 70 pts scored landing on 112 for the half, then vegas comes out with 2nd half line of 101 to 100 after 2 teams come off 70 pt quarter and 112 pt half obvious the under was the play they came out with 101 to 100 for a reason all rigged

People will believe what they want to believe, end of story.

[ephi408]

Think about this game from the owner's perspective...Lin is a once in a generation story. This is a great chance to bring Asian fans in in droves not to mention the fact this story has everyone talking and Lin is the everyman's hero...He's a guy we all can relate to and he might make people believe in miracles again, so to speak.

If you were an owner or the NBA would want Lin to lose his ESPN debut? No.

The line movement for this game backs up my theory as well. Let's see who the refs are.

Guys still have to make shots.

[cleaveland]

Guys still have to make shots.

My first instinct for this game was to take the Knicks team total under but I'm not comfortable with it, with the trappy line and with this being an ESPN game, that's double red flags.

[cleaveland]

My suspicion was correct, the league wouldn't allow Lin to lose this game. The thing that shocks me is that the Lakers really didn't show up meaning they gave this game away. This is the first time I'm almost certain that both teams conspired to get a certain result like this. Wow!

[YOUSENKO]

Lin will only start to lose when the squares start betting more and more on him.

[cleaveland]

Lin will only start to lose when the squares start betting more and more on him.

There's a lot more at stake than that. This story is worth millions and millions in free hype/interest. From a business perspective, it only made sense for Lin to win this game.

The Knicks are 7.5 dogs at the T-Wolves, with this current Knicks lineup that line is WAY OFF. I wouldn't touch that game the way this is going.

Talent wise and by normal standards the T-Wolves should win easily though.