Getty – New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was furious after a controversial foul call cost his team a win against the Houston Rockets. The Knicks star, Jalen Brunson, couldn’t believe it either. The referees later admitted that the call was wrong, but it was too late. The Rockets escaped with a 105-103 victory on Monday, February 3, at Toyota Center.
The foul call was widely criticized, with many calling it a terrible decision. The Knicks were clearly on the receiving end of a bad call that ultimately determined the outcome of the game. It’s frustrating to see such a crucial moment decided by a questionable call.
During the postgame interviews, both Brunson and Thibodeau sarcastically responded to questions about the call. Brunson sarcastically praised the referees’ decision, saying, “Great call. Next question.” Thibodeau, on the other hand, avoided directly disagreeing with the call, simply stating, “You look at it.”
When asked about his overall thoughts on the officiating, Thibodeau initially echoed Brunson’s sarcastic response, saying, “It was great, great!” However, he eventually expressed his frustration with the inconsistency in the game’s officiating. The Rockets had 33 free throw attempts compared to the Knicks’ 12, highlighting a significant disparity.
Thibodeau emphasized the importance of consistency in officiating and called for the referees to control and manage the game effectively. He stated, “I don’t really care how tight the game is called. You can call it tight or you can call it loose, I just would like the consistency to be the same. They have a job. They have to control and manage the game.”
Unfortunately, without a coach’s challenge, Thibodeau and the Knicks had no opportunity to overturn the call. Thibodeau had already used his challenge earlier in the game, and they couldn’t review the call without it. Crew Chief Ed Malloy acknowledged that referee Jacyn Goble’s call was a mistake but couldn’t reverse it without the challenge.
Malloy explained that during the postgame review, it was clear that the offensive player had returned to a normal playing position after the contact. Therefore, the contact that occurred after the ball was released should not have been called a foul. However, without the ability to challenge, the Knicks had to accept the unfavorable outcome.
It’s worth noting that Goble was also involved in a controversial game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics last season. In that game, Goble missed a clear foul that should have been called in favor of the Lakers. The NBA later admitted their mistake in not making the call.
Overall, the Knicks and their coach were left frustrated and disappointed by the controversial foul call that cost them the game. The lack of consistency in officiating continues to be a point of concern for Thibodeau and many other coaches in the league.
Jacyn Goble, the official who made the game-ending foul call on Jalen Brunson, has sparked outrage once again. Goble, who previously missed a blatant foul on LeBron in Boston last season, blew his whistle when he shouldn’t have. The Knicks, as well as fans and the media, were left fuming over the controversial ending of the Knicks-Rockets game. Even die-hard Knicks fan and actor Ben Stiller called out the NBA for the awful call.
The call made by Goble has been described as the “worst call of the year” by Fox Sports’ NBA reporter Yaron Weitzman. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps took it a step further, stating that it might be the worst call of all time. Former NBA champion and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back either, calling it a “[expletive] call.” MMA reporter and Knicks fan Ariel Helwani agreed, labeling it as “one of the worst calls ever.”
Many fans and journalists also shared their disbelief at the call. Some questioned how it could be a foul call to decide the game, while others called it one of the worst calls in NBA history. The consensus among them was that the Knicks were completely robbed.
While most criticized Goble’s call, Associated Press’ Brian Mahoney defended it. He agreed with Goble, stating that Brunson did foul him. However, Mahoney’s opinion was not shared by many others, and it was later admitted that the call was wrong.
Overall, Goble’s controversial call has caused a stir in the basketball community, with many expressing their frustration and disappointment.
According to the Source heavy.com