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Thunder in the News: Ref error punctuates need for coaches challenge

ByTamberlyn Richardson|
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- DECEMBER 29, 2017: Russell Westbrook
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- DECEMBER 29, 2017: Russell Westbrook

OKC Thunder in the News for December 30 is buzzing over the last two minute referee report.

If you happened to catch the OKC Thunder versus Milwaukee Bucks game last night you’ll know the team lost on a controversial no call. It’s happened before and it will happen again, the bottom line is mistakes happen.

For those who missed the game it began with the Bucks jumping all over the Thunder. With paul George out due to knee soreness Billy Donovan elected to play Alex Abrines. That decision was curious on it’s own given who the team needed to match up against.  I’ll cut Billy D a little slack since the Bucks entered the night as the worst perimeter defenders in the NBA. But, why not insrt Josh Huestis or better still Patrick Patterson. Either could offer more defense and both can stretch the floor although Patterson would do both. Flash forward to the end of the quarter and the Bucks were up twenty points leading 38-18.

Westbrook delivers another MVP-like performance:

It looked as if the Thunder could forget about their win steak and this was just going to be one of those nights. Right – that’s if your team doesn’t have Russell Westbrook. The Brodie went on to score 40 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists along with some extremely crucial plays. Those included a thunderous dunk over 7′ Thon Maker:

Russell also scored the last five OKC points which should have sent the game into overtime. Until the controversial call, or rather no call happened. If you missed the game the playback in full motion time clearly shows Giannis Antetokounmpo steps out of bounds.

Officials decide game outcome:

Since stepping out of bounds is not one of the 15 items the referees are allowed to review the game ends with the Thunder losing.

Or course the two minute report was release today noting the error. However, these reports are becoming more and more of a problem for the NBA since they do nothing, but incense the fan base who knows the error occurred.

Although we can’t know for sure if the OKC Thunder would have gone on to win the game, the momentum was clearly in the Thunder’s favor.  Ultimately, the Thunder take the loss all because of an incorrect call. Hmmm, does that sound familiar. It should remember this?

Some will say no big deal. But, it is a big deal especially if at year end the Thunder end up not getting a home court seed because of these two missed calls and worse have to play the Warriors a round earlier. At this point in the season the goal (aside from constantly improving) should be to get either the second or third seed. That way the Thunder can set themselves up to potentially wait until the Conference Finals to play the Warriors. Granted they would have to get through conceivably the Rockets or Spurs first, but that is still the preference. It also allows whoever meets the Warriors prior to wear them down in the semi finals.

NBA needs to modernize and add coaches challenge:

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So, I’ll jump on my soapbox yet again (for those who haven’t heard this rant from me before – it’s a common refrain)…. Adam Silver HELLO – it’s time you move the NBA into the 21st century and add a coaches challenge. The NBA is the only major league sport without this practice in place.

This week alone has proven how antiquated the NBA system is. It’s bad enough referees have as much control as they do in games electing to change how they call calls mid game, but for officials to be the determining factor in so many outcomes (across the league) is not what the NBA should be about, or should be happy to be about.

Insert two coaches challenges per team per game. If the coach is correct, they retain the challenge. It’s that simple. It’s time the NBA modernized and ended these ridiculous situations and results.

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