Richard Sherman has built a reputation of being perhaps the most outspoken football player in the NFL.
But this offseason, he has taken his comments to a whole other sport, accusing the NBA of rigging the playoffs to ensure game 7s.
It’s not fun to watch these NBA games when the game is called one sided. It’s so obvious. If they just wanted a game 7 we could have skipped this
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) May 26, 2018
However, it is difficult to prove this conspiracy true. Both Golden State-Houston and Cleveland-Boston are very evenly matched series, and if rigging the playoffs for this sake was a thing the NBA did then this should not be the first time both conference finals are in a Game 7 since 1979.
Also, the numbers just don’t line up with Sherman’s claim. In Game 6 of the Celtics-Cavs series, Cleveland was actually called for one more personal foul then Boston. The difference actually was that while Cleveland shot 82% from the free throw line, Boston shot just 55%.
Before Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals last night, Sherman came out again with what he supposed was a bold prediction.
Let me guess now. Hou vs. GS goes to 7. The NBA already knows it so why make us watch it. Let’s just get to the deciding game and stop wasting our time.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) May 26, 2018
To be fair, the Rockets are without their second-best player in Chris Paul. That could really be the main reason for the Warriors’ victory last night, not lopsided officiating. As a matter of fact, last night’s game followed the same trend as the Eastern Conference, with the home team and the trailing team in the series actually getting called for more personal fouls.
Perhaps Sherman should focus more on learning the San Francisco 49ers’ system then contemplating conspiracy in the NBA.
