ORDER ON THE COURT STRAINS RELATIONS
PLAYERS COMPLAIN ABOUT REFEREES’ HEAVY-HANDED, INTOLERANT FOUL CALLS
With several high-profile ejections this season and an upcoming meeting to sort out differences entering the second half, NBA players say tension with referees is mounting.
“There’s a lot of complaining around the league right now,” Rockets forward Ryan Anderson said. “It’s definitely due to building an environment on the court where you feel like you can’t do a whole lot.”
Players have said that compared with past seasons it is becoming costlier to quarrel with referees, who seem triggered to issue fouls more readily, as if the call is chambered.
“There’s no buildup,” Anderson said, waving a hand in the air to evoke an explosion. “It’s like they’re expecting something to happen, and then just react.”
Not yet halfway through the season, referees have ejected stars such as Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (first of his career), New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis (first ever) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, forward Kevin Durant and forward Draymond Green.
A dispute drew official Courtney Kirkland and Warriors guard Shaun Livingston forehead to forehead for a gentle head-butt.
As a result, Kirkland was removed from the referees’ rotation for a week and Livingston suspended one game.
Bickering, gesticulating and a cold war that occasional boils over between players and officials are customary in the professional game. But players suggest that lately referees are committed more to imposing control than maintaining order.
Contrary statistics
Despite growing concerns from players about the calls in more than 600 games this season, the rate of technicals and personal fouls has declined since 2013-14.
“I don’t necessarily see some of the tension,” Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said.
He suggested social media inflames on-court disputes that were routine 20 years ago.
“As far as interpersonal interactions, I think that’s on a personal level, rather than league-wide,” he said.
Players argue communication with referees is too fragile.
“It’s harder to talk to them, to learn exactly what we did,” Rockets center Clint Capela said. “It’s harder to understand why I fouled.
“They have a lot of confidence. Some of them, I can talk to, but a lot of refs, they’re like: ‘We called a foul. This is how it is.’ No, let me talk to you. We’re both working here. Explain it to me, so I can get better, or I’m going to do the same thing again because I think what I did was right.”
This week, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony told reporters that 15 years after he entered the NBA, referees are less interested in having a dialogue with players.
“You say one wrong thing, you get a technical foul,” Anthony said. “So I think that’s the difference from when I came in, the dialogue and communication and the relationship the players and officials (had) when I first came in and from now is a lot different.”
Burden on referees
Rules changes to fouls and the agility of modern players present new challenges for officials.
“It’s tough for them because it’s a different league,” Anderson said. “Guys draw fouls so much differently than they ever have. (Officials are) trying to crack down on sweeping fouls and flagrant fouls. They have a lot to look out for. I don’t want to fully put all the blame on them.”
A private meeting between three players and three officials, potentially with a moderator, Feb. 17 during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles will address the strife, according to a USA Today interview with National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts.
Reactions animated
Rockets guard Chris Paul, president of the NBPA, acted unaware of the meeting when asked about it.
“When you watch some of the games, you just never know,” said Paul, avoiding specific criticisms that could merit a fine from the league. “Man, you just gotta hope it’s a system in place to make sure they get checked as much as we do.”
Paul was issued his sixth technical foul during the Rockets’ win over the Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Officials issued 56 foul calls and three technicals, including one to Rockets forward P.J. Tucker. Paul ranks eighth and Tucker ninth among league leaders in techs.
Coaches for both teams said they did not take issue with the officiating.
In a game Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni called “choppy,” “ugly” and “not what you want,” players on both teams drew fouls deftly and threw fits.
Capela’s jaw dropped after an early foul call, guard Eric Gordon snickered when called for grazing an opponent’s jersey and forward Gerald Green stormed off with his hands behind his neck and wrists squeezing his ears following a shooting foul that replay suggested was a clean swipe at the ball.
Paul, perhaps second to guard James Harden in the artistry of drawing fouls, provoked contact on a jumper and flopped backward with a shoulder roll like he had dived out of a moving car.
He also prodded a contentious “history” he said he shares with referee Scott Foster.
After making his first shot over contesting guard Damian Lillard, Paul glared at Foster.
In the fourth quarter, with the Rockets’ lead slipping to single digits, Lillard appeared to hook his forearm beneath Tucker’s armpit on a drive, which earned Tucker his fifth foul.
A case in point
Tucker flapped and griped. D’Antoni beckoned an official and yelled: “I need an explanation.”
Paul then made a comment about Foster to another referee. Foster then pointed at Paul and whistled to issue him a technical.
The $2,500 penalty that follows a technical and the looming possibility of more fines for criticizing officials kept Paul to terse comments about the latest matters.
“Scott Foster at his finest. He just,” Paul said, searching for the words carefully, “never fails.
“Scott, he the man. He’s who they pay to see.”
D’Antoni, Gordon and Tucker were apprehensive to opine about officiating.
Representatives at the February meeting can vent and reconcile what most of the league cannot in public.
“As players, you gotta adapt, I guess,” Tucker said.
With a playful smile, Tucker looked into a camera.
“And that’s all I’m going to say about the refs. I love the refs.”