NBA officials have found an unlikely ally in Golden State star Kevin Durant, after the NBA’s “Last Two Minute Report” claimed the refs missed a potentially game-changing foul during the Warriors’ 109-108 loss to the Cavs on Christmas day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tTMQaWMXQs
The league admitted Durant was fouled by Richard Jefferson in the closing seconds of the game. When pressed about the NBA’s admittance of mistakes on behalf of officials, Durant called out the league for throwing the refs under the bus:
Kevin Durant is not a fan of the L2M officiating report: "It's bulls#** that the NBA throws the refs under the bus like that" pic.twitter.com/j14Jdb1R97
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 27, 2016
“The refs didn’t lose us that game. We lost that game, we could have been better,” Durant told ESPN. “I think it’s bulls— that the NBA threw the refs under the bus like that.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr backed the officials as well:
“The officials didn’t decide that game,” he said. “We had a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. It was our mistakes that I’m more concerned about.”
The officials did blow a call, but human error is expected at the position. Nobody can be perfect. It sucks referees missed the call during a crucial moment, but it didn’t swing the game. The Warriors were up 14 points in the fourth and gave the game away to the Cavs.
Durant does have a point. The L2M reports are useful in some cases, but expecting a referee to be perfect in the last two minutes of a game is a lofty expectation. Focusing on the closing moments and nothing else isn’t fair. To err is human. It’s great to see Durant defends refs, and hopefully, the league rethinks the L2M reports and lets referees do their thing, mistakes included.
[ESPN]
