LeBron James at a press conference after game 2 against the Denver Nuggets. (Photo Courtesy TMZ)
The first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs has been exciting for fans to talk about over the past couple of days. In the Eastern Conference, the 1st-seeded, and best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics are facing the 8th-seeded Miami Heat; the 2nd-seeded New York Knicks are facing the 7th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, the 3rd-seeded Milwaukee Bucks are facing the 6th-seeded Indiana Pacers; and the 4th-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers are taking on the 5th Orlando Magic.
Out West, the 1st-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder are playing the 8th-seeded New Orleans Pelicans; the 2nd-seeded Denver Nuggets are playing the 7th-seeded Los Angeles Lakers; the 3rd-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves are playing the 6th-seeded Phoenix Suns; and 4th-seeded Los Angeles Clippers will face the 5th-seeded Dallas Mavericks.
On Monday, Game Two was played in two different series. between the 7th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers facing the 2nd-seeded New York Knicks, and the 7th-seeded Los Angeles Lakers facing the 2nd-seeded Denver Nuggets. The Knicks and Nuggets led their respective series 1-0.
In the final 47.1 seconds, the 76ers led he Knicks 101-96 hoping to leave New York City tied 1-1. With 27.0 seconds left in the 4th quarter, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson hit a corner three to put the score at 101-99. 76ers guard Kyle Lowry then threw an inbound pass to teammate Tyrese Maxey, who was then doubled teamed by Knicks defenders. Maxey then fell to the floor, prompting Knicks guard Josh Hart to steal the basketball away from Maxey, setting up Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo to draw a three, giving the Knicks a 102-101 lead with 13.1 remaining. The 76ers had a chance to tie the game but missed. which led the Knicks to hit two clutch free throws from OJ Anunoby to give the Knicks a 104-101 victory to lead the series 2-0.
Questionable call in game 2 of the 1st round between the Philadelphia 76ers facing the New York Knicks. (Photo Courtesy New York Post)
Before Hart got the steal from Maxey, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse was calling for a timeout before the Knicks got the steal. Nurse was caught on instant replay signaling the referees on the left and right side of the court for a timeout before the steal occurred. The 76ers announced after the game that they would file a grievance report to the NBA. On Tuesday, April 23rd, the NBA found that Nurse did call a timeout. The NBA also found that the refs missed a foul call on Maxey when he was on the ground before Hart stole the ball.
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey told the media after the loss, “I was yelling timeout”.
Sixers center Joel Embiid told the media, “We are winning this series, we know what we have to do”.
Shortly after the controversial scene that took place in New York City, the Los Angeles Lakers played the Denver Nuggets in Game Two. The Nuggets entered the game up 1-0 in the series. In the first half, the Lakers went into halftime up 59-44. In the second half, Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell was fouled hard in the third quarter and was slapped in the face by Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. The referees called it a foul and then overturned the call due to the Nuggets challenging and then winning the appeal.
In the fourth quarter, the Nuggets came all the way back from down by 20 at one time during the second half. Lakers guard LeBron James and Nuggets guard Jamal Murray went back and forth with clutch baskets for the remaining three minutes of the fourth quarter. With 57.6 seconds left on the clock, the referees made a controversial call on James, claiming he fouled Murray on a play even though James did not have full contact against Murray. Murray went to the free throw line and converted on two shots to tie the game 97-97. James responded by scoring another basket of his own, and while running back on defense, he then yelled at the referee that it should have counted the basket plus the foul on the play. The video shows that James was driving to the basket on the play with 48.3 seconds. Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope did put contact on James when he went to the basket. Murray then tied the game again to even the score 99-99. James would miss a key basket for three to give the Nuggets the basketball and would set up Murray to hit a game-winner to have the Nuggets take the series at 2-0.
After the game-winning basket by the Nuggets, video shows James telling the referees, “Why didn't you call it a foul after I made the basket, it was right in front of you?”
In the Lakers press conference, a media member asked James, “In the next 48 hours, what is the challenge mentally and emotionally after losing such a heartbreaking game”.
James went on a rant to the reporter and questioned the NBA and its referees. “I do not understand what is going on in the replay center, to be honest. DLo (D’Angelo Rusell) clearly gets hit in the face on a drive. Why the blank do we have a replay center for like it does not make any sense to me. I then just saw what happened at the 76ers and Knick game in New York like what are we doing," James stated.
After responding to the media member, James then stormed out with frustration.
Across the hallway, a media member asked Anthony Davis, “Can you take us through that last play and tell us what unfolded and where you screened on that last play?" Davis responded to the media member, “Jamal Murray made a shot”.
Davis would then walk out of the press conference after slamming the microphone after the media member asked the question.
There is a major issue with officiating in the NBA. Players over the years, including in the 2023-2024 NBA season have expressed their concern about how referees have officiated games.
It has gotten to the point where fans including myself have lost faith in the game of basketball due to horrible officiating and soft calls. NBA officials have a responsibility to call a fair game and messing up in the playoffs is unacceptable. This is especially true when the face of the NBA LeBron James and a star player of the NBA Joel Embiid have to call out the league for their actions.
You do not hear constant mess-up calls in college basketball but, in the NBA, there is always a problem.
It is alarming and pathetic for the NBA, its players, and the fans.
Have an opposing viewpoint to this opinion? Let us know. All views are welcome. Send your thoughts to our Editorial Staff – Editor Dylan Hicks dhicks@student.dean.edu or Dean Daily Faculty Advisor, Professor John Rooke jrooke@dean.edu