Golden State Warriors v Memphis Grizzlies - Statistics

I was watching the Warriors v Grizzlies game and it occurred to me that this game conformed with my claim that NBA games are rigged. I started tracking two of my claims, that players get easy looks and when the favoured team falters on an offensive play, they're handed the ball back, usually off an off-the-ball foul.

I started taking Stats from the 8:10 mark in the third quarter, the score was 74-60; the Warriors up by 14. I kept tracking the game until the end, 122-107 to the Warriors.

This is the way it looked:

Off all offense which resulted in a shot being made: Memphis took a shot in 3 or fewer passes 92% of the time, while Golden State took a shot 79% of the time.

What I am saying is that room is made for the shooter to get an open look, on average off the second or third pass after the ball crosses the half way line, or from when the ball is passed inbound from the sideline in the front court. The next step will be to refine this some more, separating out open looks from contested looks. But I think this is pretty conclusive and prima facie evidence of rigging.

I was also looking for suspicious calls when the favoured team faltered on an offensive play, and this happened twice. The first time was when an off-the-ball foul was called during the third quarter. Golden State had fumbled, their offense had no structure and the referee quickly blew his whistle and gave the ball back to Golden State.

The next time something happened; it was the fourth quarter and Kevin Durant was fouled forcing a shot from beyond the three point line and he went to the line to shoot three. This was a dumb foul as the Warriors offense had stalled and the shot clock was running down. Was there collusion? Hard to say in this case, I didn't get to hear if Durant called to the defender to move into him. But the earlier example, where the referee relieved the pressure for the Warriors was exactly what I'm saying happens frequently.

Memphis finished the game roughly where they stood with 8:10 to go in the third quarter. They took many shots, most with no chance of success, they simply did not want to win. Meanwhile, Golden State expected to win and the referees obliged.

If this game wasn't rigged, how should Memphis have approached the game? They should have made every possession count that's what, not flung shots will nilly. They were within reach if they stayed disciplined and picked away at the score. Players that experienced know to pick up all shooters, fight over all screens or if you have to switch then do so quickly, not leave wide open space for shooters to line up.

I'll follow one or two more games, but I know what the result is going to be, shooting takes precedence over defense; the spectacle being more important than the result. The teams set out to entertain, not to win. And seeing as there must be a winner, then the favoured team usually wins, the referees see to that.