Nobody likes refs in any sport.
They’re supposed to enforce the rules evenly, but the balance of the game is often shifted because of the way the refs call it.
After nearly every game in the NBA, someone has something negative to say about the referees. Of course when players and coaches actually let loose they have to deal with hefty fines.
Largest Fines (Because of Officiating) of the 2023-2024 Season
The NBA has collected over $15 million in fines from players and coaches over the course of this season, including salary taken from suspensions, fines for technical fouls/flopping, tampering, and more.
Specifically focusing on the fines from criticizing officiating, all of those fines add up to about $420,000.
A few standouts are from the 76ers/Clippers game about a month ago, when head coach Nick Nurse and Kelly Oubre were furious about the lack of calls down the stretch, leading to them losing the game. Both the player and coach had to be restrained from going after the refs, and it’s pretty clear what Oubre was saying here if you have some experience in lip-reading.
Both were fined $50,000.
The largest fine that came from criticizing refs was handed to T-Wolves Center, Rudy Gobert, for insinuating that sports betting influences the way NBA officials call games. He was fined $100,00 for these comments.
Sure, players don’t like when they get called for fouls or fouls don’t get called on them.
The biggest issue players and coaches have with officiating is the inconsistencies.
With the Playoffs underway, those inconsistencies are now under a magnifying glass with players and coaches letting their frustrations be known.
Starting with the most egregious, the Knicks vs. 76ers series has been physical. It’s almost like both teams are attempting to pander to the refs. This series has been a beautiful (and hard to watch) mix of flopping and fouling that’s shifted the balance of games.
Joel Embiid is a great player with the potential to be an all-time great if he can flesh out the rest of his career respectively. The way he’s portrayed himself throughout this first round is despicable. He’s playing through injury, sure, but the amount of flopping and crying he’s done so far is irrefutable.
Here’s the play(s) Embiid is referring to:
The Last Two-Minute report (L2M) said that the refs missed three calls against the 76ers and one against the Knicks. Not their best showing to say the least.
After the 76ers filed a grievance for the poor officiating, everyone knew what Game 3 was going to be. It was going to be a hack-fest where the 76ers players were going to see how much they can get away with so the refs can serve them retribution for the unfortunate ending to Game 2.
Embiid went rogue Thursday night. He had 50, though, so the casual fan that was likely watching the NFL Draft at the same time probably saw the box score and thought Embiid played some good, ethical hoops. His jump-shooting and ability to score is awesome to watch, but he relies more on flopping and getting to the line in a way that makes me genuinely hate watching him play.
The worst offense would play this play:
Mitchell Robinson is about 280 lbs, so to drag him down in order to foul him because he’s a bad free throw shooter is ridiculously reckless and clearly not a basketball play. Fred Katz of The Athletic put it best by saying, “Maybe if it were the regular season, if a playoff series didn’t hinge on the presence of the reigning MVP, if the 76ers hadn’t just filed an unofficial grievance with the NBA about officiating, if Game 2 hadn’t ended frantically and a Last Two Minute Report marked up with red, officials decide otherwise. Maybe they consider Embiid’s swipe on Robinson a flagrant two, which would have earned him an automatic ejection. After all, he was not making a play on the ball.”
Here’s a few more instances of Embiid pushing the limits of what he could and couldn’t do Thursday night. I can’t believe this guy was able to finish the game.
Obviously, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was not happy about these plays, but didn’t necessarily blame them the loss.
Game 4 will be a great look at how the rest of this series will be called. In my eyes, they’re even now. The refs should be impartial from this point on. Unless the Knicks file a grievance, then all hell will break loose.
Lebron James also displayed some frustration with the officiating of Game 2 of Lakers/Nuggets.
James wasn’t happy with the refs not granting a foul on him in the last minute of the game, which the league doubled down on by releasing the L2M saying there wasn’t a mistake made on that play.
Lakers guard, D’Angelo Russell disagrees.
If nobody likes the refs, and everyone thinks the officiating is terrible, everyone should be on even ground, I guess? Complaining about the refs is apart of the game now, but let’s not make it the focus of each and every game.
Let’s make the most of this postseason.
-Dom