Brutal whistle:
It’s never a wise idea to focus too much on the officiating or what appears to be a bad whistle. The old adage of “what goes around comes around” is often applied. But, for Thunder fans, the officiating of this game felt extremely one-sided. The calls throughout the game were essentially even but from the moment the Thunder tied the match with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter a sudden shift to every call seemingly benefiting the Spurs starts (and also happens to coincide with Adams twisting his ankle forcing him out of the game).
Case in point I offer the list of questionable calls made in the closing segments of the fourth quarter and in the two overtime frames.
Fourth quarter:
Ferguson inbound foul with :16 remaining in the game :
Ferguson was called prior to the inbound play sending the Spurs to the line while they kept the ball. You can argue whether TFerg fouled Belinelli or the Italian was over embellishing the play, but the bigger question is why the foul was called at all. This type of holding and fouling occurs by every single team in every game end. In a match so close it felt like this call should’ve been a play on. I’ve seen the call made just one previous time this season in Toronto on Serge Ibaka and it basically handed the Nuggets the win in a game which was headed to overtime.
:11.7 remaining in game with the score 128-130 Westbrook and George trap Belinelli with PG getting the steal and Schroder ahead of where White makes the foul. This should’ve been a clear path foul sending the Thunder to the line for two and giving them possession of the ball as well. The officials determine it was just a common foul. Seriously refs?
Second overtime:
George technical call (3:40):
Come on refs – this is a double overtime game tied at 143 points and you make that call. It sure didn’t appear as if George said any of the inappropriate words. Too often I see players allowed to scream in officials faces or act demonstratively without any infraction, so why are you calling this foul at this stage in the game? Not to mention George got fouled! This was also immediately followed by a play where Derrick White appeared to lower his shoulder, commit an offensive foul on his score at the basket offering an opportunity for the official to even up the bad call – but no call was made.
You can't call this tech in double OT 🤦♂️ https://t.co/FbtJzvCS8r
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) January 11, 2019
With the score 143-148 Derrick White blocks Jerami Grant at the rim but in replay it’s clear he gets all wrist and should’ve been assessed a foul.
:52.2 seconds remaining the ball appears to miss the rim and the call on the floor is a shot clock violation (not to mention the ball appears to off Aldridge). The refs stop the play to review and determine the ball hit the rim 🤦♀️and the refs determine it went off Grant and give the ball back to the Spurs.
25.2 seconds remaining in OT: Grant is called for a foul on what appears to be close to a clean block (and certainly less egregious than the noncall on White) which is Grant’s sixth foul. It sends LMA to the line and gives the Spurs a four-point lead.
11.4 seconds in OT: Paul George hits a 3-point shot while DeRozan fouls Adams. In replay, George is IN THE AIR as the foul is called, but the refs determine the foul occurred prior. Looking forward, why wouldn’t teams just foul the “Adams of the world” at game end every single game then? It would remove the potential for 3-point adept players to get off shots and send one of the less concise free throw shooters to the line.
One major takeaway here is White sure was afforded a ton of leniency for a sophomore. I can rationalize why Aldridge was afforded so much leeway, but for George and Grant to not be afforded the same consideration as White probably added to my fury.
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
If you’re keeping count that’s seven different calls which helped the Spurs and were for the most part either unnecessary whistles, bad calls or gave the San Antonio the edge.
Since the two minute report covers the end of games and overtime periods it sure will be interesting to see the creative camera angles the NBA will need to find in order to rationalize so many calls benefiting one team over another.
Look, I get it we all have our favorite teams and we all tend to see the game with a slight bias. Everyone is fallible so mistakes will be made. As fans, we understand and accept that. However, there were far too many 50-50 calls which went in the favor of the Spurs. And, when a game was as great as this one was and feels like it was decided by a whistle it’s a tough pill to swallow.
Okay, rant and whining over.
Despite the whistle, it was an incredible game and one the Thunder could easily have won (and most of us will feel like they should’ve). Check out Sinjin Snope’s post game grades and the ESPN box score here. Cross your fingers Steven Adams will be good to go Saturday because these same teams will tip it off again and will need Adams if they want to get revenge for the loss.