What did the NBA have to say in response to LeBron James’ criticism over Thursday’s missed call?
After LeBron goes off, criticising the officiating of the Lakers’ 119-115 double-overtime loss to Dallas, the league’s response both gives and takes away.
At the end of the game on Thursday, coach Darvin Ham was insistent that Troy Brown Jr had been fouled attempting a game-winning three point shot at the end of regulation. “It looked clear as day that it was a foul.”
LeBron James was much more adamant, telling reporters “That’s a fucking foul!”
Social media lit up with discussion, as even Mavs owner Mark Cuban agreed with LeBron’s criticism of the quality of refereeing. Cuban pointed out that from the Dallas perspective, Luka Doncic was fouled pretty much all night with impunity.
The NBA released its Last Two Minute Report on the game and it seems that they are willing to both give and take away.
The report stands by the Troy Brown Jr no-call, referring to it as high-five contact, but then turns around and gives ground to James by admitting that they blew a call on him.
At the end of the first overtime and with the score tied at 108, James went for what would have been a game-winning layup that was blocked by Christian Wood. There was no call at the time, but the NBA admits that it should have been given.
To answer Mark Cuban’s concerns, the report also indicated a mind-boggling four missed calls that should have gone Dallas’ way. Given that the report only deals with the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and each overtime period, that is an astounding amount.
With a report that scrutinizes only six minutes of basketball and manages to come up with five missed calls, there is no doubt that this game was never really in hand. Both teams were taking shots and snipes at each other and everyone left the floor feeling hard done by.
Never one to shy away from a fight, LeBron has waded into the fray with some strong words via Twitter, saying, “And all year they keep telling me to my face on the court, ‘I didn’t see it’ or ‘It wasn’t a foul’. It’s not making sense to me seriously! Frustrating as hell man!”
With the quality of officiating on display Thursday night, the fans are just as frustrated as King James is. The NBA really must address this problem, and soon.