When in doubt, blame the officials. This practice has become customary across the NBA, especially when it comes to teams thinking they're not getting a fair whistle in the playoffs. Through just two games of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series, both the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers have been unhappy with the way referees have handled their business. From the Knicks' perspective, they believe All-Star guard Jalen Brunson isn't getting fair treatment.
Despite leading the series 2-0 heading to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Friday, the Knicks have taken exception to Brunson not getting the calls he should be. In fact, there are members of the organization who feel like the officials are not noticing the All-Star guard is being grabbed and hit by the Pacers up and down the floor, according to SNY's Ian Begley.
Through the first two games of this series, Brunson has attempted a total of 20 free throws. The Pacers as a whole have fouled the Knicks a total of 39 times, compared to New York's 33 fouls. Whether or not Brunson is getting a fair whistle is a matter of opinion, as there have been several instances in this series where the officials have taken the game into their own hands.
During the Knicks' 121-117 Game 1 victory over the Pacers, the league admitted to four mistakes in the final two minutes of play, one of which was a kicked ball violation called on Aaron Nesmith that shouldn't have been called at all. While this call did not ultimately decide the game, it certainly influenced how the final few possessions played out. There were more calls made during Game 2 that many on social media felt went in favor of the Knicks.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle also felt this way during Game 2, and he ended up being ejected after arguing with the officials over a double-dribble call on Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein that was reversed and called an “inadvertent whistle.” The league did not provide context or clarity for this call.
Pacers submit complaints to league office
At the conclusion of Game 2, which the Pacers lost 130-121, Carlisle was very animated. Aside from being ejected, the Pacers coach felt like his team was not being given a fair chance to win in the playoffs with the way the referees were calling the game.
“I'm always to talking to our guys about not making it about the officials. But, we deserve a fair shot. There's not a consistent balance and that's disappointing,” Carlisle said in his postgame remarks. “Give New York credit for the physicality that they are playing with. But, their physicality is rewarded and ours is penalized time after time. I'm just really disappointed.”
Since he made these comments, Carlisle has been fined $35,000 by the NBA for what the league deemed “public criticism of the officiating and questioning the integrity of the league and its officials.”
Like the Knicks with Brunson, the Pacers have felt like they haven't been getting any calls. This has led to them submitting 78 “incorrect calls” to the league office that New York is able to see as well.
It is unlikely that the NBA will consider making adjustments to the way this series is being officiated. After the remarks both teams have made, it will be interesting to see how the officials set the tone for Game 3 early on.
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