ARTICLE AD BOX
In the match between the Charlotte Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks, which ended with the home team winning 117:116, the key point of discussion was the referee's mistake at the very end of the match. The refereeing error directly affected the outcome of the match and caused numerous controversies among players and coaches.
After all, the impressions still haven't subsided, and the anger and anger of the fans seems to be at its peak. The entire staff of Milwaukee, just like the fan base of this team, is frustrated and disappointed, failing to understand how such mistakes are really present in moments when the refereeing should be at a much higher level.
The key moment of the match
With seven seconds left in the game, LaMelo Ball, a Charlotte player, came into contact with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ball, however, only tripped, and the referees called a foul on Antetokounmpo, even though he was far away from him and did not touch him. The referee's decision allowed Ball to make two free throws, which he used and thus brought victory to his team. Disappointed faces of Milwaukee fans could be seen in the stands
However, after the match, the head referee, Curtis Blair, admitted that a mistake had been made. Blair stated that there was no foul, stressing that contact was called illegal foot contact, which occurred between two players but did not constitute a foul. This admission did not change the outcome of the game, but it certainly caused numerous reactions among the players and coaches, especially from the Bucks camp.
The camp of this great NBA team cannot understand how they could have made such a mistake, which cost them a possible victory, and eventually, it could cost them much more in the end. Curtis Blair is now under enormous pressure after everything that has happened, and we will see if he carries any sanctions for the mistakes he made. Milwaukee fans are putting pressure on the NBA leaders, but it is really hard to know what will happen in this case.
Doc Rivers reacts
The Milwaukee Bucks coach, Doc Rivers, was furious about Blair's mistake, especially since the wrong call had a major impact on the game's final moments. He pointed out that his team had already faced nonexistent fouls in the last possession of two consecutive games.
Rivers stressed that LaMelo Ball had tripped on his own, and there was no contact with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks coach also criticized the refereeing for its inconsistency in calling fouls on Giannis, who had been physically attacked several times during the game without any calls being made. Rivers emphasized that while the Hornets were awarded 21 free throws, the Bucks were only given two, which he felt wasn't fair.
Rivers also pointed out that Giannis was often in the paint, but no fouls were called, even when he was hit on the arms and face, giving the impression that the referees were tolerating increasingly aggressive plays against him.
"I thought the final play was the ref blowing a call," Bucks coach Doc Rivers, as quoted by The Score.
"This is back-to-back games now where on the final play there has been an incorrect call made ... Ball fell, he just fell down. Nobody was near him. He slipped on his own. We come up with the ball, and the game is over. So back-to-back games now, we have had a call made against us that is incorrect."
Although it was clear that Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn't happy with the referee's decision, he chose not to comment on the officiating to avoid a potential fine from the NBA. The Greek player, known for his sense of humor, made a statement, pointing out:
"Rule No. 1, don't give away your money," he told Boone. "And rule No. 2, don't forget rule No. 1, you know?"- Giannis said.
Results
NBA (Saturday to Sunday)
Charlotte - Milwaukee 115:114
/Ball 26 - Portis 23/
Boston - Toronto 126:123 OT
/Brown 27 - Poeltl 35/
New Orleans - LA Lakers 99:104
/Ingram 32 - Davis 31/
Dallas - San Antonio 110:93
/Green, Irving 22 - Collins 20/
Utah - Sacramento 121:117
/Fox 49 - Markkanen 25/
The atmosphere is tense, and we can expect even better things in the coming period. The question is how much this will affect the team spirit of Rivers' team, which must recover from the unfair defeat as soon as possible. They will soon have a chance to try to raise morale and team spirit, with the desire to reach the set goals this season.
Rivers will try to raise the morale and motivation of the players. We have no doubt that he is the coach who can recover the team after such defeats.
English (US)