Conspiracy Theory: Laker threw game 3

Ok, so it's come to this.

The "kids in the hall" (so to speak) have determined that game 3 was about as strange as game 6 of the 2002 WCF, and deserves analysis. Why not... it's a long time until Sunday (see Stern, this is what you get for making is wait 3 days).

I don't have a take one way or the other, but points I have heard are:

1) The refs tried to give the game to the Lakers, but the Lakers wouldn't take it... specifically 3 or 4 phantom fouls on Garnett sending him prematurely to the bench.

2) Horry's entry pass to Shaq which hit the side of the backboard (and the rest of Horry's game).

3) Kobe's missed free throw at the end of the game.

4) Shaq's lack of aggression in the paint which would ordinarily score more points and draw more fouls.

5) Phil's unwillingness to make coaching corrections to counter Saunders' strategy.

Anyone have any specific instances that just didn't jive? Or is it all absurd?

How about Phil Jackson putting in Pargo for defensive purposes in ONLY the 4th quarter???????? He seems to do this all the time. Why doesn't he put in Pargo more during the game so he can start scoring?! He's just as good as Fisher, maybe better, but still a developing rookie. What a better way for him to get better then by playing in crucial minutes in the playoffs?

yeah, the one other thing that was kinda obvious was when they didn't call a foul when kobe attacked the basket at the end of the game. the guy practically smacked him in his face, and there was no call. at the same time, the posession before, they called a tic-tac foul when kobe drew light body contact with mark jackson. and the other one, which isn't really that good of an example, is when shaq tried to miss the free throw at the end, but made it instead. but there was only 2.9 secs left anyway, so that wouldn't have given the lakers that much of a chance. lakers better come out strong in game 4. but then again, you never know what phil is thinking...

The Lakers don't have to throw games on purpose, they do a good enough job by mistake!

Snakell