Conspiracy or comeback? Did L.A. Lakers really win game seven of 2000 Western Conference Finals versus Portland Blazers?

April 15 09

Portland claims conspiracy. Los Angeles claims comeback.

Nine years has done little to ease the controversy surrounding game seven of the 2000 Western Conference Finals between the Blazers and Lakers.

Here’s a refresher on the circumstances. Heading into the fourth quarter of the deciding game, the Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and Shaquille O’Neal–led Lakers were down double-figures to a deep and talented Blazer squad.

Then things get murky. ‘Rip City’ has always felt the league ‘instructed’ the refs to help L.A. with several generous calls. Call it an Oliver Stone-David Stern style conspiracy. After all, big markets winning championships is good for the business of basketball.

Of course, the purple-and-gold nation believes Portland is suffering sour grapes. They claim their club mounted a miracle comeback, legitimately reversing a sixteen-point deficit to advance to the NBA Finals.

Whatever your perspective, the game was significant for both organizations. The Lakers, after their Western Conference win, went on to capture three straight NBA Titles. Meanwhile, the Blazers self-destructed, gaining notoriety for technical fouls, arrests, and practice donnybrooks.

What do you think: conspiracy or comeback? Is this the year fourth-seeded Portland finally gets revenge on first-seeded Los Angeles? Watch the clip and let us know in the comment box below.

Part of this article was used before by the writer in article that appeared on HoopsVibe. Photo courtesy of thedanger23.

29 Comments: Conspiracy or comeback? Did L.A. Lakers really win game seven of (...)

Posted by
PJ
on 11.5.2009

The guy that talks about Ignorance should take a cold hard look at himself in a mirror. Then say the word stupid. You are a moron. watch the game. Bill Walton called this game. Is he part of your so called conspiracy? I was at UCLA in the early 70’s. I met Mr. Walton. If he even smelled a hint of conspiracy he would have gone nuts and very public. This is a man set for life. Use your head if you have one. This was a simple come back on a home court combined with a colossal choke by Pippin and the Blazers. Pippin couldn’t carry MJ’s jock strap in Chicago and proved it in with the Knicks and the Blazers. Get over it. Go back to school. Finish the 8th grade. .

Posted by

on 07.25.2009

I am a true Blazer fan from Southern California. Our day will come when your lakers will not even be a challenge any more to the Blazers. Thank God I am leaving california I don’t have to see as many laker fans any more. Oh yeah they don’t speak english anyway. Can you say illegal aliens. .

Posted by

on 05.19.2009

So some in here are going to explain bs calls and a 16 point comeback against a team that had its foot on your throat? That comeback didn’t begin until after a few generous calls broke the momentum of Portland. Yes LA won that game, but they looked like puppy dogs about to be put to sleep until that sea of favorable calls. .

Posted by
NBAISRIGGEDPERIOD
on 05.15.2009

This whole series had the refs heavily favoring the Lakers. I watched it very closely, and there is no doubt in my mind this series was rigged. The calls throughout the series - over and over - were favoring LA, especially when it mattered most. In game seven, it was a blatant joke. They got Sabonis out of the game on two joke calls. Dick Bavetta was there in that game. Watch what he did. This league should be investigated, but I’m guessing there may be $$$ involved there somewhere also. This is not much different at all than the WWE. It’s about $$$. In my personal opinion. .

Posted by

on 04.28.2009

All NBA playoff games are rigged. Its nothing new. Any team looking to advance in playoffs needs to show the NBA their market value and have a popular star or two. Its the same as professional wrestling. In this playoff Portlands .

Posted by
Lok from the Chi
on 04.20.2009

none of those blocks was legal. every shot was on its way down then shaq would put his fat a-------hand underneath the basket and knock it out the goal. Kobe did the same thing on one play. I remember that year cuz portland was really gettin in that a-------thats why the end of the game did not come to a final possession because sheed woulda took over. I really dont like to beleive in conspiracies because i love the game too much but that game was crazy .

Posted by

on 04.20.2009

Deffo conspiracy, I mean shaq and kobe must be aliens or something cause their outta this world LA=CHAMPS .

Posted by

on 04.17.2009

for real how bout the mavs vs heat???if u wanna talk about conspiracies .

Posted by
kobefan
on 04.17.2009

cmon man the lakers won fair and square alot of you act like you never seen a team come back from being down 20 so why is 16 a big problem. it was a fair game alot of people jus are laker haters and cant stand the fact that there gonna win it this year..........its a new season kobes ready and is gonna s---on ne team in out way .

Posted by

on 04.17.2009

What about Mavs-Heat 2006 finals.? .

Posted by
Jack
on 04.16.2009

It’s common knowledge that the refs still favor L.A to this day. If refs called games down the middle, LA aren’t a 60 win team this season. I said it I’m not saying they are a bad team, they are the best in the WC, but to say they don’t is ignorant. And Portland won’t get revenge on them this year, the WCF is gonna be LA-Denver. .

Posted by
Steve
on 04.16.2009

Yeah, massive conspiracy, I mean there was a lid on the Blazers basket in the last qtr. Seen the game about 5 times and I reckon those 3’s that the Lakers drilled with hands in their faces was all computer generated. The ball didn’t keep going through the basket. Guess what, I also heard there was a shooter on the grassy knoll with a gun aimed above the Blazers basket and every time a shot was put up they shot the ball. I reckon it was the ghost of Lee Harvey Oswald. They had the Loch Ness Monster involved in there somewhere and I swear I saw a Yeti in the crowd behind the Blazers bench. And if you slow down some of the shots the Blazers took you can see Caspers Ghost come in and hit the player on the arm just as they released the ball. Lakers would do ne thing to win, even hire f’n Leprechauns. .

Posted by

on 04.16.2009

Conspiracy .

Posted by

on 04.16.2009

NBA Rulez this is a blog ... not a University English class, so deal ... do your thing writer. Conspiracy theory all the way! .

Posted by
max B
on 04.16.2009

SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!!!!! .

Posted by
NBArulez
on 04.16.2009

you should not be a writer. no evidence to back your stance. Instead of wasting your time doing this, take some community college courses and learn how to write a constructive essay. Man you got me excited about the article for nothing! .

Posted by

on 04.16.2009

The Lakers are fakers .. indeed. I think Portland deserved the NBA Title .

Posted by

on 04.16.2009

This was a conspiracy ... .

Posted by
Will
on 04.16.2009

Oly, you write catchy headlines...but your articles don’t say anything or prove anything...they are just merely wordy observations...and your video doesn’t show anything about the refs, which you have claimed people had a discrepency about...u catch me everytime writing those headlines but i always feel like i’ve wasted my time and read a pointless article .

Posted by

on 04.16.2009

There should be an asterix beside two of the Lakers NBA Titles ... ain’t that right PHIL Jackson .

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	About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Conspiracy or comeback? Did L.A. Lakers really win game seven of 2000 Western Conference Finals versus Portland Blazers?

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