Donovan Mitchell & Montrezl Harrell each had run-ins with NBA officials raising a lot of questions around the league.
Regardless of the sport, officiating is one of the most frustrating parts of being a fan. Giving control of everything over to a person who has no skin in the game has caused pain for years at the collegiate and professionals. In recent years the NBA has had its fair share of officiating issues. Every once in a while something happens to bring the conversation to the forefront. That’s exactly what happened on Wednesday night after Donovan Mitchell and Montrezl Harrell had separate incidents with NBA refs.
The NBA has taken massive steps over the last several years to limit the control of bad officiating. Whether it was implementing a 2-minute report, which is their way of publicly holding themselves accountable, or bringing challenges into the game; the NBA has done what they can to limit issues.
It still hasn’t been enough.
Many have called for officials to be publicly graded or even have to address the media post-game, and that would have been a great solution following last night’s Jazz-76ers game.
NBA officials pissed off Donovan Mitchell
It takes a lot to get Donovan Mitchell upset. Following the 76ers game he was pissed, and for good reason. And that’s after dropping 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.
I’m not sure what was said by Mitchell, but we all know it couldn’t have been that bad. It was pretty clear that in a game of this magnitude sending the best player off the floor for arguing was a bad call.
After battling back and forth with the 76ers, the game went to overtime. In the closing moments, Mitchell was given two technicals for arguing. Thus, leading to his ejection. Making matters worse the NBA’s self-appointed villain, Joel Embiid, egged on refs, playfully begging for them to t-up Mitchell.
On his way off the floor Mitchell was visibly frustrating, smashing a water cooler. But in true Spida fashion, was nice enough to stop and apologize to an arena staff member after accidentally hitting him in the process.
Note to refs: When you get a guy who is widely considered to be one of the nicest, most even-keeled players in the entire league that pissed off, you know someone f*$%@d up.
The game should have been won in regulation by Utah, but ultimately they fell in OT, 131-123.
Following the game he told media:
“”Now, I’m never ever one to blame a ref, to blame an official — I can say I could have done more — but this is getting out of hand. There have been games like this that we’ve won; there have been games like this that we’ve lost. But this whole refereeing stuff. … We’re nice, we don’t complain, like, we don’t get frustrated, we fight through things, and the fact that we continually get … screwed, in a way, by this. You know?”
“We won this game, in my personal opinion. You know?” Mitchell continued. “But like I said, I’m going to give them credit. They won. Whatever. Cool. But it’s been a consistent thing, and the question is, ‘Can we do it? Can we sustain it? Are we for real No. 1? And, yeah, the hell we are. And it’s getting f—ing ridiculous that this is what is happening.”
via ESPN.com
Montrezl Harrell lands a lame technical, raising more questions about refs
Mitchell wasn’t the only one in the news.
Former Louisville basketball star, Montrezl Harrell, coincidentally had his own run-in with the ref. Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, Harrell was t’d up
After making a nice move and scoring on the Kings defense early in the second quarter, Harrell was t’d up for what would call “nothing.”
On further review, Harrell shouted “AND ONE” (in true Harrell fashion) and was punished by Jenna Schroeder with a technical.
Following the game Harrell was asked by media about the incident. Much like Mitchell, Harrell was critical of the officiating.
“What I said was, ‘and-1.”
No cursing, no profanity, none of that. And she turned around and gave me a tech because she was in her feelings because she felt like I was too loud with her or I belittled her when we were talking. Like, you can’t bring that into the game. I don’t care who it is; I don’t care what the situation is.”
via ESPN.com, Dave McMenamin
Actioning the NBA
While Harrell has had incidents before (much worse than this, there is still no reason for this type of technical foul. I don’t know what caused the seemingly unwarranted tech’s in both Harrell and Mitchell’s case. But I can tell you I agree the refs should have to answer. Not the players.
In fact, all three technicals should be rescinded by the NBA today.
It won’t change the fact that Mitchell and Harrell will undoubtedly be fined for violating the NBA’s policy on criticizing officials in the media. Just look to a recent case. Last month, Clippers forward Paul George was fined $35K for criticizing the officiating following a game with, you guessed it, the Philadelphia 76ers.
It’s getting out of hand, and instead of having Schroeder or the other ref answer for their mistakes, Mitchell & Harrell will both be out a big chunk of dough.
Get it together NBA.
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