Thunder-Blazers aftermath: Choosing not to play the victim and criminalize a bad call
NBA referee Scott Foster missed the call. Replay clearly shows that Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge blocked Kevin Durant‘s layup before the ball hit the backboard, and with the ball still on the way up late in regulation. Watch it again for yourself.
But….
While you’re watching you’ll also hear that Blazers TV play-by-play man Mike Barrett thought it was goal-tending until he saw the replay. Unfortunately for the Blazers and Foster, the call was not reviewable under current NBA rules, though it probably should be in the future. It was a tough call that he missed, tying the game 103-103. OKC went on to win 111-107 in overtime.
To Portland’s credit, from players to coaches and even some fans, the response to Foster’s call has been refreshingly tame.
Here’s the Blazers on the goaltend/block, via OregonLive.com, The (Portland) Oregonian’s web site.
Coach Nate McMillian: “I thought it was a good block. The game should have been over.”
Aldridge: “I don’t want to sound rude, but it doesn’t really matter now. They made shots in overtime, and we didn’t, and they got some calls their way, and they win the game.”
“It could’ve been (a clean block) — it doesn’t really matter, does it? I’m not trying to sound rude today, guys, but it’s just when you lose a game like that, I don’t really want to go back and forth on if it was or if it wasn’t because that would’ve changed the game. They played better than us, I guess.”
Even this blog post, titled “Scott Foster Is Not The Enemy,” refuses to blame the loss on the call. Like I said, refreshing.
NBA referee Scott Foster, shown here talking to Stan Van Gundy, made the crucial goal-tending call on LaMarcus Aldridge's block of Kevin Durant's layup late in regulation of last night's game in Portland, Ore. The call tied the game 103-103 and the Thunder went on to win 111-107 in overtime. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO.
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Comments
Actually what needs to be looked at is the big picture here, calls like this NEED to stop happening. NBA officials NEED over-site. No only did Foster have the absolute worst angle possible to make that call he was the furthest away but he still made the call anyway instead of trusting the two other refs with better views. NBA officials have never been sanctioned in anyway for their “mistakes” and this makes them it possible for referees to go ‘maverick’ and make dubious calls. Will Foster be demoted in any way? Will Foster be fined or receive ANY sort of penalty? Not likely to either of those questions which is one reason the NBA is one of the most poorly refereed leagues in the US. I realize that it is a tough job, but how many jobs do you get carte blanche to make as many mistakes as you like without repercussions? Maybe it’s time to add another ref AND have some real over-site like the MLB or NFL.
I’m going to disagree with you on a couple points: 1. There’s no way the other two refs had a better view. The guy on baseline was looking through the backboard glass and had no possible way of saying it. The other official was on the same side as Durant’s drive, so he was looking at it form behind. Foster was viewing it from an angle, which is the better vantage point than the other two. 2. NBA officials are certainly evaluated and critiqued for their calls. That the league doesn’t make those critiques and evaluations public is part of its collective bargaining agreement with the officials union, and probably a good idea. Since the NBA came to Oklahoma City my appreciate for the quality of NBA officiating has gone up, not down.
One point, you specifically mention the referee directly behind Durant’s drive, he has the perfect view, as shown by the replay (look at 0:38 of the replay, you can see his arm). My love of the NBA has decreased as more and more of this stuff happens.
Doesn’t the ref on KD’s side have a depth perception problem that Scott Foster does not? How could he tell when the ball hit the backboard?
Actually Scott Foster is the one with the depth perception problem, looking directly at the basket it’s most difficult to tell which way a ball is moving except for movement toward the sides of the court. The movement to and from the backboard is most easily seen from the referee behind that particular play because it is not a matter of depth, it becomes a side to side movement. The most definitive part of the video is that same view that the referee on the sideline had (starting at 0:38 of the video posted). From that angle you can see the movement of the ball too or from the backboard clearly. Trying to use “depth” in that situation would have been the worst possible way to determine what happened.
Also Scott Foster’s view was blocked by the rim/net since he was on the opposite side of the basket from the play.
I’m not buying it. It wasn’t the right call. No one is saying it was. But to blame it on Foster’s positioning is wrong. He had to make a judgment in a snap second. You and I get to watch it on video over and over. If you want to make the case that the NBA should make this a reviewable play, I’m with you. I actually wrote that. But Foster didn’t miss the call because he was out of position or had the worst angle. I’m not buying it. If your love of the NBA is diminished by this, then I’d question whether it was love at all.
1) My point was that this is a perfect example of why something needs to be done with NBA officiating to improve it. If you think that NBA officiating is good you’re lying to yourself or you’re just not really paying attention.
2) I agree that they need to amend what is reviewable.
3) I also contend that the game has outpaced the adequacy of three referees officiating the game.
4) You’re funny if you think you know anything about me and how I feel about the NBA. In the mid-90′s through about 2005 I was an avid fan. I’d watch any game that was on, and I tried to consider the gaffs they made as just an occasional mistake, but it got harder and harder to do as the occasional became regular. Calls the baffled reason were just accepted and nothing seemed to change except that it got worse and worse. Not I can only stand to watch my local team plays and even then it’s painful. There are occasions where I try to watch other games but it’s just too painful.
5) Finally, to sum up: I don’t care which way the call goes, just get it right.
PS, if you need a reminder of how bad things can be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaZIAXJJDKQ
That referee that made that completely incomprehensible call went on to referee not one, but three of the finals games. Now that’s what you call fantastic!
Aldridge left arm was holding onto Durants right arm as he was going up, so at least there should have been a faul called. LOL