NBA referees make mistakes more often than you think. Some decisions greatly affect the outcome of matches.
Artemy Berstenev May 2, 2024, 14:15 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Using the example of the last playoff game.
Yesterday, May 1, the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers played their fifth game of the first round of the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs, where Philadelphia won in overtime by 112:106. It was an exciting game and, thanks to a heroic performance by Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, the visitors continued their postseason run as they prepare for Game 6 in Pennsylvania. However, there is a moment looming that, it can be rightly said, would have dashed Philadelphia’s hopes had the judges given the correct assessment in the first place.
NBA – playoffs. 1/8 final. 5th match
May 1, 2024, Wednesday. 02:00 Moscow time
The New York Knicks
NY
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia
New York Knicks: Brunson – 40, Hart – 18, Anunoby – 17, McBride – 14, Divincenzo – 9, Hartenstein – 6, Robinson – 2, Achiuwa, Milton, Burks, Jeffries, Diakite, Sims
Philadelphia 76ers: Maxey – 46, Harris – 19, Embiid – 19, Oubre – 14, Batum – 8, Payne – 6, Martin, Bamba, Lowry, Melton, Doutin, Council, Hield, Reed
The NBA has a long-established practice of releasing special reports of the final two minutes of a game with a close finish. These reports evaluate how well the referee made a particular decision. The document also shows points that the arbitrators overlooked. Something similar happened in the aforementioned game, when 25 seconds before the end of regulation time, with the score 96:90 in favor of New York, Tyrese Maxey successfully scored a three-pointer in violation of the rules. There is one nuance: before this he went running!
The video can be seen on the Philadelphia 76ers YouTube channel. Video rights belong to NBA MEDIA VENTURES, LLC.
As a result, Philadelphia reduced the gap to two points, and then Maxi himself sent the match to overtime, where the guests finished off the Knicks. Thus, the Sixers avoided elimination from the playoffs and had the opportunity to even the score at home. In the same game, in addition to the situation with Tyrese, the following mistakes were made:
overtime, 1:27 – Nicolas Batum fouls Jalen Brunson, however, according to the report, Brunson himself violated the rules by waving his arms. overtime, 0:41.5 – Josh Hart still manages to keep the ball in play in the best traditions of; Dennis Rodman, even though the referees decided that the ball went out of bounds. But the ball ended up in the hands of center Isaiah Hartenstein, who could have tied the score! Had they not won in regulation time, the Knicks could have defeated their opponents in overtime and advanced to the next round of the playoffs, but 0.4 seconds before the end of regulation time, after a blocked shot by Nicolas Batum , Brunson should have received; the ball, not the end of the quarter. The judges were a little hasty and decided that time was up. The chances, although slim, were in favor of the locals.
Moment with Josh Hart
Photo: Frame of the transmission.
And these are small things. If you study each report, you will find many errors that potentially affect the fate of the meetings. “We are not in favor of publicly punishing referees. We do not believe this is appropriate. Appointments are influenced by the quality of their work,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in 2023. Silver also noted that there is a special system, according to the results of which the judge makes a certain decision. The judicial problem is more pressing than ever. And not only in basketball.
