Tag: Refs

Former NBA referee shares what it’s like to miss a call

As hard as it might be for some fans to believe, officials actually do work hard to get calls right.

Fans of the Boston Celtics are far from alone in getting irked by a referee seeming to make the game about himself or herself, their feelings and their authority to the point where it feels like it shifts the outcome of the game.

But as hard as it might be for some fans to believe, officials actually do work hard to get calls right for the most part and feel bad when they miss an important call that changes the tenor of the game. In an interview with The Athletic’s senior writer David Aldridge, former NBA referee Bob Delaney got into what getting a call wrong is like for an official.

The duo also discusses how refs see players and how they react to the constant player gesticulation, complaints and abuse.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say about blown calls in the NBA of today.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Do NBA referees know when they blow a call?

Fans of the Boston Celtics aren’t the only ones who have their doubts about the profession, but what do refs have to say about it?

We have all been there: A blatantly obvious call to everyone but the referee who made it gets called, and the audience, coach and players melt down in response. At times, technical fouls follow soon after, piling on the damage that can make a bad call even worse, sometimes even shifting the entire momentum of the game.

And while it might seem to some Boston Celtics fans that it happens more often to their favorite team than others, blown calls are part of the landscape of the league, as LeBron James was quite vocal about drawing attention to in his last meeting with Boston as a Los Angeles Laker.

But do referees know when they make a bad call? Or do they need the benefit of replay and the crowd reaction to realize the errors they have made?

The hosts of the Athletic “Hoops Adjacent” podcast sat down with retired NBA referee Bob Delant to talk it over.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear it from the official’s point of view.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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It’s not just you. NBA refs are extra visible early this season

Teams like the Boston Celtics are especially impacted by the refereeing early in 2022-23.

If it feels as if it has been an especially weird start to the 2022-23 NBA season regarding how the league’s referees are calling games, you are definitely not alone.

On top of the usual confusion that lingers among players as they adapt to fairly significant rule changes like the “take” foul being eliminated, the zebras have been leaning into their whistles extra hard with some occasionally head-scratching results.

The folks over at the “BBall Breakdown” podcast took note of the ref-apalooza going down in the NBA early this season. They dived in to see what might be behind the especially visible presence of refereeing this season, as well as how it affecting teams such as the Boston Celtics.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what host coach Nick and company have to say about the overabundance of whistles to start 2022-23.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear his take.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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‘There was no intent at all,’ says Boston Celtics’ Grant Williams of ref bump that got him suspended

“I made a mistake,” he explained. “For me, it’s something that I probably won’t challenge.”

Boston Celtics reserve forward Grant Williams found himself suspended without pay for one game after making incidental contact with a referee after a call in the weekend loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Tennessee alum wanted to make sure that he did not mean to bump the ref despite his vocal and animated criticism, which he discussed after practice on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking at the team’s Auerbach Center practice facilities, the Charlotte native gave his side of the story regarding the calls and ejection that now have Williams a forced absence in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday where his presence is greatly needed given the team’s lack of reliable frontcourt depth.

“It’s one of those things that emotions get the best (of you) in the moment,” explained the former Vol via The Athletic’s Jared Weiss. “There was no intent at all.”

Williams had no truck with the one-game suspension either, calling the punishment meted out to him for that exchange in what was a chippy league in a tightly-called start to the season “just”.

“I made a mistake,” he explained. “For me, it’s something that I probably won’t challenge.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla’s 2nd tech from Bulls loss reportedly rescinded

Mazzulla had been disputing a call regarding a technical foul meted out to Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum.

According to the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, the NBA has rescinded the second technical foul handed out to Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla in the Celtics’ recent road loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Mazzulla had been disputing a call regarding a technical foul meted out to Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum based on the fact that Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic had similarly demonstrative after the same play that got the St. Louis native T’d up and found himself getting sent to the locker room for his efforts by picking up a pair of technical fouls in rapid succession.

The league recently released a new “Respect for the Game” initiative that is well-intentioned but has created a large number of fouls, technical fouls, and some high-profile ejections that may be a result of that initiative being implemented.

While it’s unclear why Mazzulla’s second tech and the fine with it were rescinded, with Grant Williams also ejected in that contest for contact with a referee, Jayson Tatum the game prior, and Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson vs. the Phoenix Suns, it may be that the NBA is scaling back said initiative.

That said, the Celtics would benefit from saving their critiques of the referees for timeouts and postgame — even with the fine that often entails — to avoid the deleterious effects of ejections and sending their opponents to the line for easy points.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Do the Boston Celtics have an attitude problem?

After bouts of stuff like this over the past few seasons, is it safe to say the Celtics have an attitude problem when it comes to officiating?

In their first loss of the 2022-23 NBA season, the Boston Celtics had a painful reminder that old habits die hard. After a scorching start to their game against the Chicago Bulls, Boston took its foot off the pedal and blew a 19-point lead in the first quarter. The Celtics’ offense grew stagnant, and the Bulls ran away with the game in the blink of an eye.

What made matters worse was the team’s reaction to officiating. After tensions rose and escalated, Joe Mazzulla was issued back-to-back techs and ejected. Not too long after, Grant Williams was issued back-to-back fouls during possessions, and as he got up, he bumped into an official and was tossed from the game as well.

In a game they needed to regain their cool and composure, the Celtics let their offensive struggles and officiating dictate how they were going to play, and their emotions got the better of them.

After bouts of stuff like this over the past few seasons, is it safe to say the Celtics have an attitude problem when it comes to officiating? Take a look at the clip above to hear what the hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast had to say on the matter.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Clemson defensive lineman has question for ACC refs

Once again Clemson’s defensive linemen seemed to be held on a number of plays Saturday against Syracuse without a holding call from the refs. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was frustrated with the no calls and even bowed to the referee when …

Once again Clemson’s defensive linemen seemed to be held on a number of plays Saturday against Syracuse without a holding call from the refs.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was frustrated with the no calls and even bowed to the referee when Syracuse was finally called for a holding penalty.

Defensive lineman Xavier Thomas took to Twitter to ask about the lack of holding calls Saturday night.

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Should we be worried about Jayson Tatum’s ejection from the Celtics’ OT preseason loss to the Raptors?

While the call itself was indeed an egregious one to toss a star player in an exhibition game, the early return of complaining to the referees from the St. Louis native can’t be making anyone comfortable.

Should we be worried about Jayson Tatum’s third-quarter ejection from the Boston Celtics’ overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors in Montreal on Friday? While tossing a star player in an exhibition game was an egregious call, the early return of complaining to the referees from the St. Louis native can’t be making anyone comfortable.

One of the lingering issues that was mostly put to bed in the Celtics’ second half of their 2021-22 season that led to fast-break scoring on the other end was Tatum’s jawing with the refs, leading to 5-on-4 scoring opportunities on the other end.

Ought we worry we might see more of the same this season?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast John Zannis and Josue Pavon debate whether red flags should be going up after that controversial ejection.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they have to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Turnovers – not refs – cost Boston Game 2 vs Dubs, but that doesn’t mean the NBA doesn’t have a problem with consistency

Reducing the penalty for technical fouls might help prevent the officiating of playoff games from being the conversation.

“It’s the NBA Finals,” said Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green via ESPN’s Malika Andrews after helping his Dubs rattle the Boston Celtics into committing 18 turnovers on the way to a 107-88 blowout win. “I wear my badge of honor,” he added, referring to how he was called by the referees in his efforts to help force those turnovers.”

“It’s not that I’m saying they necessarily treat me different — I’ve earned differential treatment. I enjoy that. I embrace that,” added Green. It’s safe to say that the Celtics he faced and their fans did not share that sentiment, taking issue in particular with how Green was allowed to seemingly tackle Grant Williams or instigate Jaylen Brown seemingly without consequence.

That the broadcast’s refereeing analyst Steve Javie openly admitted that referees treat some players differently than others based on whether they’d already received a technical foul during the broadcast likely did not help that impression.

The NBA has a postseason officiating problem – and it’s probably more complex than you think

Consistency and transparency will help.

If you ask the fans who watched Game 3 of the series between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, more than a few of them would likely say they had a bone to pick with how the game was officiated.

Not just Celtics fans, either — or even media who cover the team or the coaching staff or front office members who look at these games with a trained eye. No matter which way you slice it, the game had major officiating problems, with the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report for the game noting a total of FIVE incorrect calls or non-calls in a critical contest that went down to the final buzzer to be decided.

And it wasn’t just this game that there were problems with.