Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue will not be fined for his postgame comments that were critical of the officiating in the team’s Game 1 loss to the Warriors, tweets ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
LeBron James appeared to draw a charge on Warriors forward Kevin Durant with the team leading 104-102 and 36.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter. However, officials Ken Mauer, Tony Brothers, and Ed Malloy convened and chose to review the video of the play, which is permitted with two minutes or less left in the game.
It was determined that James was outside the restricted area, but the charge was reversed into a blocking foul on the Cavaliers forward. Durant made two free throws to tie the game at 104-104, eventually leading to overtime. The Warriors dominated in overtime, winning the game 124-114 to take a 1-0 series lead.
“For our team to come out and play their hearts out and compete the way we did, man, I mean, it’s bad. It’s never been done before where you know he’s outside the restricted, and then you go there and overturn the call and say it’s a block,” Lue said (via Cleveland.com). “It’s never been done, ever, in the history of the game. And then (Thursday) in the Finals on the biggest stage, when our team played well, played our (butt) off, man, it ain’t right. It ain’t right.”
The NBA is often strict with employees who make critical comments of the league, including the officiating in games. However, Lue not being fined may signal the league sees validity in his comments.
No one wanted to talk about the poor officiating that produced a 20-pt swing for GSW in 3Q of G7 against the Rockets, just when it happens to Lebron. All the calls inside dried up, forcing the Rockets to shoot 3s. Not to mention, those non calls led to 4 on 5 fast break the other way and ended up into GSW transition 3s. Garbage.
Just stop. Nothing and no one forced the Rockets to keep bricking 3 after 3 in Game 7. Ridiculous.
The truth is you’re both right. The officiating in Game 7 of the Rockets series was horrendous. But that doesn’t stop you from making your shots. Shouldn’t have to rely on the whistle to win. This and that are completely different though. The referees illegally reviewed and changed a call that had direct impact that was not within the players control.
Cavs fans don’t need to worry though, it’s all a part of the LeScript.
There is no LeScript. It’s just a maddening loss.
Also getting comments from the TV booth, correctly, was consecutive incorrect shooting calls disfavoring James with about 5 minutes left if I recall right. First on D, then on O.
So much for the narritive that James is favored.
Silver lining, the playbyplay guy got into a nifty argument with Jackson and Vangundy about it.
Totally agree, never seen a team getting so favored by the refs like Golden State, I wonder if the NBA wants them to create a dynasty or maybe they want to sell their brand of small balling, but at the end of the day with good refereeing Lebron & Cleveland would have won this game, make no mistake about it. So is really disappointing because this might take the air out of Cleveland but I just hope they realize that they can beat Golden State, they were better. Also, everyone wants to see Lebron winning again.
Wouldn’t standing outside the restricted area be the reason it IS a charge?