Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul and coach Mike D’Antoni were each assessed technical fouls for arguing a non-call in Sunday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. Afterward, star James Harden said he wants a “fair chance” from the referees.
The NBA’s officials came under fire for how they called Game 1 of the Rockets-Warriors series. The Rockets believe the Warriors got away with contact on several 3-point attempts.
In the NBA, defenders are supposed to give shooters enough space to land from the jumper. The Rockets believe the Warriors didn’t do that, while Golden State maintains that Houston kept initiating the contact.
“I mean, I just want a fair chance, man,” said Harden, who went 13-of-14 from the line. “Call the game how it’s supposed to be called, and that’s it. And I’ll live with the results.”
According to The Athletic, the Rockets think there was contact on eight 3-pointers that went uncalled. Paul was ejected with 4.4 seconds left for arguing another non-call.
Golden State’s Draymond Green said “when you land 3 feet ahead of where you shoot the ball from, that really ain’t my issue,” suggesting Harden was the one drawing the contact.
A number of NBA figures weighed in on Twitter:
His Hand hits his wrist on the follow through and he can’t land.. Livingston foot is right where he’s suppose to land.. Yes Cp flop is ridiculous but in my opinion it’s still a foul https://t.co/nERlqgSaPW
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) April 28, 2019
The league has to decide call all of them or none.. if they stop calling them players will adjust! Problem is they been calling them the WHOLE season https://t.co/R60IW82zLn
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) April 28, 2019
It’s on the @nba competition committee to get rid of the side to side foul. The defender has every right to the space. Offensive players are smart enough to take advantage of this. It’s not on the refs. It’s league stupidity
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) April 28, 2019
Been working on things since 2006 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ https://t.co/DchJM8vl2l
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) April 28, 2019
My guys were not allowed to contest shots like that last week…or maybe i’m crazy and it’s just camera angles 🤔 https://t.co/RvqYdCWzuC
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 28, 2019
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