Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy believes that the NBA suspended Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green to help the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I think when you look at the overt acts that Green has committed before, they were definitely more severe than this act, and yet he’s gonna end up with a flagrant foul and suspension because of it,” Donaghy told Sports Illustrated.
“In the past, I believe it was disregarded because [the Warriors] were down in the series. Here, they’re up in the series, so I think it’s a situation where, with that, it gives Cleveland a better chance of prolonging the series,” (SLIDESHOW: Baller Bab
Green was suspended after a physical confrontation with Cavaliers star LeBron James in game four of the NBA Finals. (RELATED: Cleveland Cavaliers Rock The Golden State Warriors In Game Five Of The NBA Finals)
Donaghy drew on his experience as an NBA referee to back up his theory.
“Definitely indirectly with the tape sessions that took place and how they would show you plays that they wanted you to concentrate on in the game that. It was always a situation where the team down in the series was going to benefit from those calls,” he added. (SLIDESHOW: This
Donaghy was removed from his role as an NBA official and served prison time after it was revealed that he had participated in a gambling scandal.