How is this not the biggest story of the day?

Jeff Van Gundy ultimately backed off comments that a referee told him officials had targeted Yao Ming in the Houston Rockets' 2005 first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. Maybe Van Gundy was right after all.

A letter sent to the sentencing court on behalf of convicted former referee Tim Donaghy outlines just such a plan. It also alleges that referees helped alter the outcome of the controversial 2002 Game 6 playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings.

Donaghy's legal team is trying to demonstrate his cooperation with a federal government investigation before he is sentenced on July 14 on felony charges of taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games himself.

In other documents filed with the Brooklyn court, Donaghy's lawyers responded to the NBA's claim that he must pay $1 million in restitution to cover the cost of the league's private investigation.

The letter alleging referees altered games mentions a playoff series in 2005, and the circumstances make it apparent that it is referring to the Rockets-Mavs series.

"Team 3 lost the first two games in the series and Team 3's owner complained to NBA officials," the letter said. "Team 3's owner alleged that referees were letting a Team 4 player get away with illegal screens. NBA Executive Y told Referee Supervisor Z that the referees for that game were to enforce the screening rules strictly against that Team 4 player. Referee Supervisor Z informed the referees about his instructions. As an alternate referee for that game, Tim also received these instructions."

Mavs owner Mark Cuban complained after his team lost the first two games of the series, and Dallas went on to beat Houston in seven games. Van Gundy said that a working referee had told him about the league's plan. Donaghy's letter claims that Supervisor Z contacted the coach. Van Gundy was fined $100,000.

Looking at box scores from the series, however, the only game in which Yao fouled out was Game 1. He did average 4.4 fouls per game in the series.

The letter also details an incident in the 2002 playoffs in which Donaghy alleges that two referees, who were known as NBA "company men," wanted to extend a series to seven games. "Team 5" could have wrapped up the series in Game 6 but saw two players foul out, lost the game and ultimately the series.

Only one series went to seven games in the 2002 playoffs: Lakers-Kings.

In Game 6, the Lakers made 34-of-40 free throws to 18-of-25 for the Kings. In the fourth quarter alone, Los Angeles hit 21-of-27 from the line while Sacramento made 7-of-9. After that game, a 106-102 Lakers win, Kings coach Rick Adelman expressed his frustration with the officiating.

"Our big guys get 20 fouls tonight and [Shaquille O'Neal] gets four? You tell me how the game went," Adelman said. "It's just the way it is. Obviously, they got the game called the way they wanted to get it called."

The Lakers went on to win the championship in 2002.

Donaghy also alleges that team executives conspired with the league to prevent star players from being called for too many fouls or being ejected. He claims that league officials told referees that doing so would "hurt ticket sales and television ratings."

According to the letter, when an official did eject a star player in the first quarter of a game in 2000, he was privately reprimanded.

In addition to game-altering allegations, Donaghy's letter claims that many officials carry on "relationships" with team executives, coaches and players that violate their NBA contracts.

"Tim described one referee's use of a team's practice facility to exercise and another's frequent tennis matches with a team's coach," the letter says.

The NBA issued a statement on Tuesday from Richard Buchanan, NBA executive vice president and general counsel.

"According to Mr. Donaghy, all of his allegations have previously been made to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney, and they are clearly being disclosed now as part of his desperate attempt to lighten the sentence that will be imposed for his criminal conduct," the statement reads. "The NBA remains vigilant in protecting the integrity of our game and has fully cooperated with the government at every stage of its investigation. The only criminal activity uncovered is Mr. Donaghy's."

Lamell McMorris, head of the NBA referees union, also issued a statement:

"Tim Donaghy has had honesty and credibility issues from the get-go," the statement reads. "He is a convicted felon who has not yet been sentenced for the criminal conduct he has already admitted to. He may be willing to say anything to help his cause and he may believe these most recent allegations will help his agenda. I'm not aware of any improper conduct by any current NBA referee in the playoffs six years ago or any conspiracy by the NBA to affect the outcome of any game then or now. Frankly we're tired of Tim Donaghy's cat and mouse games."

Donaghy's attorney and federal prosecutors declined to comment to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Donaghy faces up to 33 months in prison.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Can't say I'd be surprised if everything he said was true.

That Lakers/Kings Game 6 thing is way too believable. I remember watching that game and even though i bet the Lakers i weas pissed off at how badly it was reffed.

I'm pretty sure I remember that game, it's amazing how infrequently Shaq was ever called for a charge.

I'm loving this. Hopefully the NBA tanks soon.

62-60 end of the 3rd. I missed most of the game because of the damn thunderstorm but seems like a Boston style game so far. Looks real good!

Wrong thread buddy.

Oh shit you're right my bad...little drinking here and there

I think this was all engineered by Gary Bettman.

I love how people are so dismissive of what Donaghy has to say, as if they are so increduluous that something like this could happen. After all, they were the same people that said that refs betting on and fixing games was ridiculous . . . before Donaghy got caught.

but the players all wear suits when traveling...so there's really nothing to worry about.

Anyone see Stern's smug interview at halftime last night acting as if its nothing but lies? What an ass.

i'm not sure why anyone would believe anything Donaghy has to say.

It is quite interesting he would bring up probably the most controversial series possibly this decade. The best one I've watched probably ever (I don't watch much NBA) and I remember feeling the Kings got robbed too.

It's not going to amount to much, and I'm never NBA conspiracy guy generally, but this series was a great one for Tim Donaghy to bring up in regards to this idea.

I'll believe this when someone else steps forward with info.

Until then,

i really have no idea what to think of this. if he's telling the truth than this is the biggest scandal in pro sports ive ever seen. if he's lying, well he has a history of that so its no big deal at all

i mean really, if we're to believe the league is manipulating playoff series to get the best possible ratings, how in the hell to we explain finals matchups like Spurs-Nets? Spurs-Pistons? Spurs-Cavs?

I think I heard somewhere that the Spurs owner's wife is buddies with Stern's wife. Totally unsubstantiated, though.

i wouldn't be that surprised, but i care that much

This is pretty much why I stopped watching the NBA after Jordan left.

I got sick of being stars get away with anything (Jordan included) and then that would be translated into the whiney spoiled "thug" image (since they could get away with it in a game, why not life) that the league is desperately trying to correct.