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Selasa, 30 April 2019

Rockets' least favorite referee working Game 2 - ESPN

11:03 AM ET

Scott Foster, the referee most reviled by the Houston Rockets, has been assigned to call Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.

Foster, a 25-year NBA veteran, has not worked a Rockets game since James Harden publicly criticized him after the superstar fouled out of Houston's Feb. 21 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Harden, who was fined $25,000 by the NBA the next day, declared then that Foster should not be assigned any more Rockets games because of his personal issues with them.

"It's lingering, and it's something that has to be looked at for sure," said Harden, who described Foster as "just rude and arrogant" when interacting with players. "For sure, it's personal. For sure. I don't think he should be able to even officiate our games anymore, honestly."

The NBA assigns officials for the first four games of a series before the series begins, but does not announce which officials are working until the morning of each game.

There was already an intense focus on officiating in the Rockets-Warriors series, due primarily to Houston's complaints about missed foul calls on several Harden 3-point attempts during Golden State's 104-100 win in Game 1.

As Harden mentioned in February, Foster officiated two of the Rockets' losses to the Warriors in last season's West finals. That includes a 101-92 loss in Game 7, the subject of a report by the Rockets later sent to the league office and obtained by ESPN that argues that incorrect calls and no-calls cost the Rockets an estimated 18.6 points.

Foster also officiated the Rockets' lone loss to the Utah Jazz in last season's West semifinals.

Harden isn't the only Rockets star who has gone public regarding his problems with Foster. Chris Paul mockingly referred to Foster as "the man" and "who they pay to see" after being called for a technical foul by him in a January 2018 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Paul also complained then about Foster's unwillingness to communicate with players. The league office did not announce a fine for those comments.

Paul, who also fouled out of the Feb. 21 loss to the Lakers and was assessed a technical foul by Foster for arguing a call with 33 seconds remaining in the game, said then that he had met with the league regarding his issues with the referee.

"I don't know what else to do," Paul said.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Foster issued 18 fouls (personal or technical) in the Feb. 21 game -- 12 against the Rockets and six against the Lakers. Seven of the fouls against the Rockets, who blew a 19-point lead in the second half, occurred in the fourth quarter. Houston did not attempt a free throw in the final 20 minutes of the game, compared to 17 free throws for the Lakers during that span.

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2019-04-30 13:32:52Z
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You Can Count on Playoff Kawhi. But What About the Rest of the Raptors? - The Ringer

Kawhi Leonard’s been the best player in the Eastern Conference playoffs so far. (Especially after what happened to Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee on Sunday.) He annihilated the Orlando Magic in five games, averaging 27.8 points per game on 56/54/89 shooting splits—and that includes the game where he went 5-for-19 while sick with the flu. He opened the second round with a flourish, pouring in a career playoff-high 45 points and making the Philadelphia 76ers look powerless to stop him. And even after the Sixers proved that wasn’t entirely true, switching up their defensive looks to limit Leonard to just three field goal attempts in the first quarter of Game 2, the All-Star forward charged back to produce another monster performance. Nearly two years after the Zaza Pachulia closeout that changed everything, Leonard is back in the opposition-wrecking, MVP-caliber form of his last days in San Antonio, or damn close to it, at least.

But despite Leonard finishing with an efficient 35 points and six assists, his Toronto Raptors lost Game 2 on Monday night, as the Sixers slugged out an it-wasn’t-pretty-but-we’ll-take-it 94-89 win. Against top-flight competition, even the greatest players need help, and with Philly now holding home-court advantage as the scene shifts south for Game 3 on Thursday, a big question looms. You can count on Playoff Kawhi to come through. But can he count on the rest of the Raptors?

Brett Brown did indeed shake up his team’s defensive assignments after Game 1. The Sixers coach slid the 6-foot-10 Ben Simmons off of point guard Kyle Lowry and onto Leonard, in place of the smaller Jimmy Butler. He also moved center Joel Embiid—who needed IV fluids before the game to battle through, um, intestinal issues—off of Marc Gasol and onto his fellow Cameroon native, forward Pascal Siakam, with Tobias Harris picking up the Raptors big man. The switch paid off handsomely in the early going.

Simmons (and his alert help-defending teammates) did an excellent job of fighting through screens and working to deny Leonard easy catches, which disrupted Toronto’s flow and forced the Raptors to look elsewhere for early offense. At the same time, Embiid sagging on defense effectively dared Siakam to either shoot from distance or drive into and finish over a giant roadblock in the paint. The combination led the Siakam bandwagon to hit a speed bump. The Most Improved Player front-runner went from pirouetting to the rim for layups to trying to find the range on some awkward floaters, leading to a 3-for-11 start from the field for a player who went 12-for-15 in Game 1.

With Siakam scuffling, Kawhi quiet, and Lowry trying to find the flow of the game, the Raptors offense stalled out in a hail of forced resets, low-percentage attempts late in the shot clock, and shots taken by secondary and tertiary threats. The result: The Raptors missed two-thirds of their shots through two quarters, staking Philly to a 13-point halftime lead that could’ve been twice as large had the Sixers not coughed the ball up 13 times, leading to 18 Toronto points.

The Raptors later made runs to get back into the game, including a 22-10 third-quarter burst and a 19-7 jolt in the fourth, both of which cut the deficit to one. But on Monday, those ultimately mattered less than how they got behind the eight ball in the first place. With Siakam, who has come so far so fast, stumbling as Leonard’s supporting scoring threat. With Lowry, still Toronto’s highest-priced talent and backcourt bellwether, looking more complementary than commanding. And with Leonard, doing it all in the face of near-constant Philadelphia double- and triple-teams, often left to fend for himself.

These Raptors differ from their predecessors because they have Leonard, exactly the sort of defensive destroyer on the perimeter, high-value shot creator, and source of efficient late-game offense that Toronto lacked during the DeMar DeRozan–Dwane Casey era. And yet, a favored Raptors team still clanged away an opportunity to seize control of a series on Monday, inviting doubt where none needed to exist.

Perhaps that’s not entirely fair. After all, they lost Game 1 to the Magic before blowing Orlando’s doors off for the next four, and we’re just two days removed from the Raptors’ formula clicking to the tune of a decisive victory over these same Sixers. And while Lowry’s checkered postseason past will always be a talking point when the Raptors struggle, he did finish Game 2 with 20 points on 7-for-17 shooting, five rebounds, five assists, a steal, and only two turnovers in 42 minutes of work, and drilled two huge late 3-pointers to keep Toronto within striking distance into the final minute.

But then: the final minute. That’s when Lowry’s second potential nutmegging of Game 2 went awry, sending him to the deck in pursuit of the ball and the Raptors scrambling for a would-be game-tying look rather than generating one with sharp execution:

Either Lowry was trying to dribble the ball through Tobias Harris’s legs with 16 seconds left in a three-point playoff game, or he just egregiously lost his handle on the ball at the most inopportune moment of the contest. Neither option is ideal. Even still, the Raptors had a chance, but Danny Green—a 45.5 percent shooter from long range during the regular season—came up empty. (Due in part, perhaps, to the humongous human hauling his gastroenteritis-afflicted ass in Green’s direction.)

You can make your peace with Green’s errant attempt; it’s a make-or-miss league, and all that. But things are different until they aren’t, and you’d forgive a fan base that has been here before for feeling that familiar brand of anxiety once again while watching that dismal 17-point first quarter and Lowry’s late unforced error—especially considering everything the Raptors have riding on the outcome of this playoff run.

Leonard holds a player option for the 2019-20 season. He’s all but certain to opt out and enter unrestricted free agency, where multiple teams with max-salary cap space—most notably the Los Angeles Clippers—are expected to put on a full-court press for his services. His choice of where to play next stands as one of the league’s most compelling questions in 2019; at this stage, everything the Raptors do or don’t do has to be viewed through the prism of what impact it might have on that choice.

A team that already features Siakam—a hard-charging grinder with an emerging offensive game who can also stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Kawhi against the toughest defensive matchups—plus steady veteran hands and the future financial flexibility to construct a championship-caliber roster around them could present a pretty enticing pitch. A trip to the NBA Finals likely wouldn’t hurt, either … but for a franchise both competing for a title and continuing a season-long audition for Leonard’s favor in free agency, spotty performances and in-game decisions that make advancing harder or less likely just might.

After a pair of Gasol free throws cut the Sixers lead to 61-60 with 2:50 to go in the third, it felt like the Raptors had figured things out—like they’d weathered the storm of Philly’s adjustments, restored order, and put themselves back on the path to a 2-0 lead. They hadn’t, though. You don’t have much margin for error after coughing away a first half. Thanks to some curious rotational calls by coach Nick Nurse late in the third and early in the fourth—Jodie Meeks, seemingly out of nowhere? Sticking with Serge Ibaka against Embiid rather than matching Gasol’s minutes to his, despite Ibaka struggling mightily in that matchup?—and some stellar late-game playmaking by Butler and Embiid, the Sixers were able to keep the Raptors from getting over the hump, and to get even in the series.

That’s how you lose a game in which your best player puts up 35-7-6 on 54 percent shooting while the other team turns it over 20 times. You miss 27 3-pointers. You get nothing from your bench—Philly’s Greg Monroe and James Ennis III badly outperformed the likes of Ibaka, Fred VanVleet, and Norman Powell. And your mad-genius head coach, the one who spent all season praising fluidity and experimenting with lineup combinations, gets flummoxed into mismatch-hunting and letting shaky lineups roll for too long. You lose on the margins. The small things matter. They always do.

Those matchups on the margins might tilt Toronto’s way come Thursday. Nurse could re-evaluate his rotations, consider shifting his substitution patterns, and come up with more creative ways of attacking the Embiid-Siakam matchup or getting Kawhi the ball in advantageous positions earlier and more often. The open 3s might fall, and the battle of the bench could favor the Raptors. (Especially if Monroe’s left ankle sprain lands him in street clothes, and if Mike Scott’s either unable to re-enter the lineup or out of sorts in his return.) Even if they do, though, you wonder whether moments like the ones that decided things on Monday night will stick in Leonard’s mind. You don’t have to wonder about what you’re getting from Kawhi anymore; load management is over, the real hunt is underway, and he’s about as sure as things get in the NBA right now. Past him, though, pretty much everything could be up for grabs—both in this series and beyond.

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https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/4/30/18523645/kawhi-leonard-toronto-raptors-philadelphia-76ers-game-2

2019-04-30 12:11:09Z
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13 NFL veterans who have been put on notice after NFL draft - USA TODAY

Nate Davis USA TODAY

Published 6:32 AM EDT Apr 30, 2019

The 2019 NFL draft now complete, the roster-building process for the league's 32 teams is basically complete heading into next season.

Sure, clubs will tinker — prominent free agents like Ndamukong Suh, Eric Berry, Michael Crabtree and Ziggy Ansah remain unsigned. But even with the writing on the wall for veterans like the Giants' Eli Manning, Broncos' Joe Flacco and Bengals' Andy Dalton — each of their teams just selected a quarterback — their starting jobs appear safe for Week 1, at minimum, and probably all year.

However other established players could find themselves on the move. For example, with first-round ILB Devin Bush in the fold, the Steelers cut Jon Bostic, who started 14 games last season, after the draft ended Saturday evening.

Here are a few others whose jobs suddenly look tenuous given the rookies headed in their direction:

Eagles WR Nelson Agholor: For a guy who's never topped 800 receiving yards in a season, the $9.4 million on his fifth-year option might be more cheddar than Philly wants to swallow — especially with second-round WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside entering the mix alongside veterans Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson.

Patriots P Ryan Allen: One of the unsung heroes of Super Bowl LIII, it appears that will be his final game for New England. Bill Belichick didn't spend a fifth-rounder on Stanford's Jacob Bailey with the intent of keeping two punters — especially since only $100,000 of Allen's $1.5 million salary for 2019 is guaranteed.

Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: Hope you had plenty of cake during your honeymoon as Miami's starter given the new coaching staff has every incentive to take a long look at newly acquired Josh Rosen in order to determine how he fits into this franchise's future. Fitzpatrick could be an instant trade asset if another team's quarterback goes down in the months ahead.

Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill: There's no performance issue here, Hill garnering Pro Bowl honors in all three of his NFL seasons and named an all-pro receiver for the first time in 2018. But after the Johnson County (Kan.) District Attorney's office reopened an investigation into whether he abused his 3-year-old son — four years after Hill pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery of his current fiancée — it appears increasingly likely he won't be a member of this team. How else to explain Kansas City's decision to spend its first pick (56th overall) on WR Mecole Hardman, whose game is similar to Hill's even if the talent level isn't the same, despite the club's defensive issues and fact WR Sammy Watkins signed a three-year, $48 million contract just last year?

NFL DRAFT: 32 things we learned in 2019

STEALS: D.K. Metcalf, Greedy Williams among best value picks

2020 NFL DRAFT: Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert headline class

Eagles RB Jordan Howard: Acquired from the Bears in a March trade, he's only under contract for 2019 and may find himself fighting for snaps behind second-rounder Miles Sanders, who might be the most explosive and versatile back on a jumbled depth chart. Howard could be another guy who gets moved if another team's starting back goes down this summer.

Patriots QB Brian Hoyer: Tom Brady's 33-year-old backup is under contract for one more year. And though it might make sense to carry three passers, given Auburn's Jarrett Stidham arrived in the fourth round, New England was comfortable keeping only Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014, the latter's rookie season.

Giants CB Janoris Jenkins: He hasn't lived up to the five-year, $62.5 million contract he signed in 2016, and his name was floating around at the trade deadline last October. More telling, the Giants just added two corners (Deandre Baker and Julian Love) after taking Sam Beal in the 2018 supplemental draft. Could this be an odd man out situation given Jenkins' money and performance?

Raiders S Karl Joseph: Over the past six weeks, Oakland signed Lamarcus Joyner to a four-year, $42 million deal, then chose hard-hitting Johnathan Abram in the first round. Where does that leave Joseph, whose fifth-year option has not yet been picked up? "I think that's a conversation we'll have with Karl," GM Mike Mayock said when asked about the former first-rounder's future.

Bills RB LeSean McCoy: He did wonders in a limited offense for several years before suffering a sharp decline in production in 2018 (514 rushing yards in 14 games). With fellow vet Frank Gore now aboard, along with third-rounder Devin Singletary and his fresh legs, it's worth wondering if McCoy might wind up as trade bait or a cap casualty.

Cardinals DL Robert Nkemdiche: He's been a massive disappointment since being taken in Round 1 three years ago. Arizona has yet to pick up his fifth-year option and, after securing Boston College's Zach Allen in Round 3, could decide they don't need Nkemdiche much longer.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph: He's owed $7.6 million heading into the final year of his contract and didn't play up to that kind of salary last season. Multi-dimensional second-rounder Irv Smith Jr. will take Rudolph's targets (and job) at some point, it's just a matter of when.

Redskins QB Alex Smith: His ongoing recovery from last year's horrible leg injury casts his NFL future in serious doubt. But with Washington taking Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins in the first round — and journeymen Case Keenum and Colt McCoy under contract for 2019 — it's worth wondering if Smith has played his final snap in the nation's capital, or if he and the team are comfortable with the thought of him potentially returning to a backup role in 2020.

49ers DL Solomon Thomas: Even after picking DE Nick Bosa second overall, GM John Lynch said Thursday that Thomas, the heretofore underperforming No. 3 overall pick in 2017, was "absolutely" part of the team's plans going forward despite a glut of high-priced players on San Francisco's D-line. Lynch is a pretty straight shooter, but it wouldn't be shocking if things changed — especially if he gets an offer in, say, training camp and decides the team and Thomas could both benefit from a change of scenery.

***

Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis

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2019-04-30 10:32:00Z
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Lillard: Blazers' jawing at refs reveals distraction - ESPN

4:57 AM ET

DENVER -- It was a source of pride for Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers the way they held their composure with the officials in a heated series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In some ways, they believe that's why they won the series. They kept their cool. They maintained their focus and concentrated on themselves and no one else.

In Monday's 121-113 Game 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Lillard conceded that the Blazers might have gotten distracted at times.

"I think it was a little bit more of that, probably more than we needed," he said. "Maybe we needed to not say as much. Any time you see guys wanting it that bad, you're going to say stuff sometimes, but we might've had a little too much of that tonight."

Lillard was more animated and agitated with the officials in this game than he was at any point in the previous series, showing frustration after not getting calls driving to the rim. The Blazers also were visibly frustrated with some of the calls that went Nikola Jokic's way as he scored 37 points, including going 12-of-12 from the free throw line.

After Game 4 against the Thunder, Lillard said he told his team not to talk to anyone unless they were wearing black and gray jerseys, and the Blazers held true to that through Game 5.

Officiating has been under intense scrutiny this postseason, boiling over in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors that had both teams upset after Golden State's win. Chris Paul was ejected with four seconds left. Game officials have ejected 12 players from games this postseason, equaling a record set in 1994 and 2003. The playoffs have averaged 6.3 ejections in 28 seasons since ejections were first tracked in the 1991-92 postseason. There were only three ejections in last year's playoffs.

"It was a little bit of a heated game when it came to the whistle for us. We'd say something when something needed to be said," Lillard said. "Nobody got a tech, so it wasn't anything disrespectful. But when your season is on the line, you've got to be willing to challenge what's happening out there and try to put your team in the best position to win."

Lillard led the Blazers with 39 points, and for a minute, it felt like a "Dame Time" moment was on its way. One possession after he hit a straightaway 3 to cut the Nuggets' lead to nine with 2:23 left, Lillard rolled off a high screen some 30 feet from the basket and was clear to launch another. Everyone in the building felt it; it was about to be a two-possession game with two minutes to go, and Lillard was ticking.

Instead, Gary Harris stopped the clock, chasing down Lillard's 3 and blocking it from behind. Two more Jokic free throws 20 seconds later, and the Nuggets had Game 1 in hand.

It didn't help Lillard's frustration with the amount of attention the Nuggets gave him basically any time he had the ball. They made it a priority to try to get the ball out of his hands, trapping and blitzing him on pick-and-rolls.

"I think it was more similar than I thought [it would be]," Lillard said of Denver's defensive approach compared to OKC's.

The Nuggets picked Lillard up full-court at almost all times, using multiple defenders -- Malik Beasley, Torrey Craig and Harris -- to hound him. Lillard finished with six turnovers, and the Blazers had 18 as a team -- two areas they thought were significant factors in their losing Game 1.

"That was a huge part of it. I know I had six myself," Lillard said. "As much as I have the ball, I'm responsible for valuing possessions. On the road, against a team that plays much faster, much better at home, especially when they get out in transition and shoot 3s and get the ball moving, just gave them too many opportunities. Twenty-three points off turnovers, that's always going to hurt you."

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http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26637998/blazers-jawing-refs-reveals-distraction

2019-04-30 07:38:21Z
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Nikola Jokic & Damian Lillard Square Off in Game 1 | April 29, 2019 - NBA

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2019-04-30 05:50:35Z
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Senin, 29 April 2019

Draft hauls I love/like/loath - NFL.com

The Ravens cleaned up. So did the Patriots. And Chris Ballard took the Colts on another gem-hunting expedition -- something that should terrify opposing general managers.

Meanwhile, John Elway made smart moves in Denver. The Jets owned Round 1 (... before rolling the dice the rest of the way). And Mike Mayock had a strong first draft for the Raiders, even with a curveball to start.

With all that said, you'd have to be a fool to draw serious conclusions the Monday after the draft. In a related story, here's what I loved, liked and loathed about the 2019 NFL Draft, Schein Nine style:

NOTE: Click on each team name for a full class rundown.

LOVE

1) Washington Redskins

The Redskins showed incredible patience and intelligence en route to dominating the NFL draft. Yes, you read that correctly. Yep, those Washington Redskins.

I think Dwayne Haskins can and will be the best quarterback in the 2019 class. Washington didn't panic or succumb to the rumor mill. Team president Bruce Allen and owner Daniel Snyder waited, witnessed foolishness and let the draft come to them, pilfering Haskins with the 15th overall pick. NFL Network's Brian Billick -- a former Super Bowl-winning head coach, lest you forget -- compared Haskins to Drew Bledsoe on my SiriusXM Radio show. I love it. And I think that's the floor, not the ceiling.

And how about Washington trading back into the first round to get stud edge rusher Montez Sweat? Seeing how Sweat's draft stock might've taken a hit for a misdiagnosed heart condition, the Mississippi State product could end up being one of the draft's best values as the 26th overall pick.

Despite a whole bunch of pre-draft chatter about the 'Skins purportedly champing at the bit to trade up in Round 1, they stayed put and ended up getting two potential top-10 talents without a single top-10 pick. That's good drafting, helping the Redskins in 2019 and in the long run.

2) Pittsburgh Steelers

I just love how Pittsburgh, fresh off of a tumultuous 2018 campaign and 2019 winter, went against its DNA to trade up for one of my favorite players in the draft, linebacker Devin Bush. This kid is the real deal -- a lock to be great, at least in my book. He's this year's Roquan Smith. And the former Michigan star is the perfect and classic Steeler. Pittsburgh could've been content to stay at 20 and nab a corner. Nope. The Steelers got aggressive and scooped up a defensive heartbeat -- a playmaking, game-shaping, tackling machine.

Two rounds (and 73 picks) later, Kevin Colbert found a corner with great physical tools and upside: Justin Layne, a 6-foot-2 coverman who initially played wide receiver at Michigan State. Pittsburgh also nabbed a wideout (third-rounder Diontae Johnson) and running back (fourth-rounder Benny Snell) to compete for playing time in position groups that will no longer feature Pro Bowl mainstays Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell.

3) Miami Dolphins

I love Josh Rosen. And Miami took advantage of the unique situation in Arizona, stealing the ultra-talented and smart young quarterback for the low price of the 62nd overall pick and a 2020 fifth-rounder. Don't let last year -- when the Cardinals threw Rosen into a five-alarm fire -- fool you. The 22-year-old is going to shine in this league. My high hopes for him haven't changed one bit since he went 10th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Rosen's inept offensive coordinator, Mike McCoy, was canned just seven games into the QB's rookie campaign. (McCoy inexplicably neutering RB David Johnson doesn't get discussed enough.) Not to mention, Rosen had a lack of talent around him -- particularly on the offensive line, which meant the pocket-passing quarterback rarely had a pocket to operate within.

Miami, while similarly light on talent, is overflowing with promise. Brian Flores and his coaching staff are savvy and tough-minded. It's an environment where Rosen can thrive. And Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has a plan to keep his eye on the future. Heck, that could still include a gem QB in the 2020 class. It's not like Rosen's remaining contract is at all prohibitive. But Rosen is quite talented. In fact, I'd argue he would've been the second-best quarterback in this class. Taking a low-risk, high-reward chance on his ability was clearly with it for the Fins.

Oh, and I loved Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins at No. 13 overall. And Wisconsin guard Michael Deiter in Round 3.

Miami could have the worst record in the league this year. But this approach surely beats the Stealers Wheel game plan of the past half-decade: Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with Ryan Tannehill. Miami's current regime has a great vision. And I'm here for it.

4) Philadelphia Eagles

It's Howie Roseman's world, and we're all just living in it.

Trading up just in front of OL-starved Houston to scoop up a potential franchise left tackle in Andre Dillard at No. 22? Wow. Swiping the second-best running back in the draft, Miles Sanders, in the back half of Round 2? Wow. Pilfering a jump-ball extraordinaire, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, four picks later?

These are great prospects who further fortify one of the NFL's best rosters. This is what Roseman and the Eagles do.

LIKE

5) Buffalo Bills

As I wrote a few weeks before the draft, Buffalo is my Cinderella team in 2019. GM Brandon Beane only cemented that notion with a fine prospect haul.

After efficiently addressing the offensive line and receiving corps during free agency, Beane could have been arrested for stealing on Thursday night, somehow landing defensive lineman Ed Oliver with the ninth overall pick. Oliver is an absolute freak, given the quickness and athleticism he brings to the table. And he played out of position -- routinely lining up as a nose tackle -- at Houston. Playing for Sean McDermott, Oliver will be properly deployed as a game-wrecking penetrator. Don't be surprised when he becomes an All-Pro.

Plus, I loved Beane trading up in the second round for Cody Ford. The Oklahoma product will potentially (likely) start this year on the offensive line. This was a smart and calculated move.

6) Jacksonville Jaguars

Josh Allen at No. 7?! Nobody would've batted an eye if the windup-toy edge rusher went in the top four. He should've been a no-brainer pick for the Giants at No. 6. Thus, it was probably doubly sweet for former Giants coach Tom Coughlin to grab him for the Jaguars. Jacksonville's scary defense just got scarier. What an assortment of talent.

Getting OT Jawaan Taylor in Round 2 was another coup. Throughout much of the pre-draft process, he was an attractive option in the No. 7 slot. Assuming Taylor's health grade was indeed "passable," as Jags GM Dave Caldwell put it, getting the Florida tackle at No. 35 is one of the very best values in this draft class.

LOATHE

7) New York Giants

In no universe is Daniel Jones the sixth-best player in this prospect pool. Not even close. And I tried to warn Giants fans, telling them on both SiriusXM Radio and CBS Sports Network that this was going to happen. Not at 17, but at 6. Because Jones was coached by David Cutcliffe, which makes him the fourth Manning brother. This is a bad dream for Giants fans. A true nightmare. Josh Allen was the ideal pick with how the board fell. And a major need, too, as Big Blue doesn't have a single proven edge rusher on the roster. And Jones wasn't even the second-best quarterback in this draft.

This all goes back to the Giants passing on Sam Darnold in the 2018 draft. One year later, they passed on Dwayne Haskins and didn't trade for Josh Rosen. Why? How does this make sense? Well, this is the same Dave Gettleman who signed Odell Beckham Jr., gave him his signing bonus ... and shipped him to Cleveland for Jabrill Peppers and two picks that turned into clogger Dexter Lawrence and small-school edge Oshane Ximines. Other than protecting Eli Manning's feelings, the Giants don't appear to have a plan. Or a clue.

8) Houston Texans

Yes, doing a better job of protecting Deshaun Watson is absolutely vital to this franchise's success. But, as I touched on above, it felt like the Eagles leapfrogged Houston and took Andre Dillard right off the Texans' draft board. Then it appeared as if Houston panicked and totally reached for the next-best OT in their queue, Alabama State's Tytus Howard. I'll be open-minded to see if Howard can play, but the gut feeling is that it's hard to rationalize taking such an unproven commodity at No. 23 overall.

And while some evaluators really liked Kentucky CB Lonnie Johnson, No. 54 was just too rich for my blood.

9) Detroit Lions' second round

I actually loved Detroit's first-round pick, TE T.J. Hockenson. And then there were a ton of talented players available when the Lions came back on the clock at No. 43. But they reached big time on linebacker Jahlani Tavai. This was a stunner nobody saw coming -- and not in a good way.

Like a billboard once said in the Motor City, "Rebuilding since 1957."

Follow Adam Schein on Twitter @AdamSchein.

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2019-04-29 18:20:00Z
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Warriors vs. Rockets: James Harden complains about officiating after Game 1 loss in second round of NBA playoffs - CBS Sports

The Houston Rockets suffered a familiar loss on Sunday afternoon, as they once again came up just a little bit short against the mighty Golden State Warriors, losing 104-100 in Game 1, as the Warriors took a 1-0 series lead.

After the final buzzer sounded, a frustrated James Harden let off some steam in the postgame press conference by complaining about the officiating. Specifically, Harden was upset about the Warriors encroaching on his landing space after he takes jump shots.

"I just want a fair chance," Harden said. "We all know what happened a couple years back with Kawhi. Call the game the way it's supposed to be called and we'll live with the results."

Harden was referencing the infamous moment from the 2017 Western Conference finals, when Zaza Pachulia undercut Kawhi Leonard, leaving him with an ankle injury that kept him out for the rest of the series. That one moment not only swung the series in the Warriors' favor, but opened up a wider discussion about protecting jump shooters.

This season, in particular, the league made an emphasis to call fouls on defenders when they didn't give a shooter any space to land. As we've seen time and again, it can be a dangerous play, and that's why fouls are called even if there's no contact on the shot. In Game 1 of this series, the Rockets felt the refs let a number of those plays go.

In the first half, there were multiple times where Klay Thompson infringed on Harden's landing space but wasn't called for a foul. It was such a theme that the TV broadcast even brought it up.

Towards the end of the third quarter, there was another play where Chris Paul actually made a wild, flailing 3 but didn't get the call, then complained to the ref and was given a technical. A few moments later, head coach Mike D'Antoni got a "T" of his own.

Finally, in the waning seconds, with the Warriors clinging to a three-point lead, Harden believed he was fouled by Draymond Green on a potential game-tying shot.

There has been and will continue to be plenty of debate about the last play, as a foul call would have given Harden a chance to go to the line and tie the game. On that one though, it's pretty clear that Harden jumps forward, which makes it a very difficult call for the referee. How far does the area around a shooter's feet extend? It's not clear, and is often left to the referee's judgment.

But after a number of missed calls on similar plays throughout the game -- D'Antoni told the press that referees admitted missing four such calls in the first half alone -- it's easy to see why Harden and the Rockets were upset.

Draymond Green wasn't having it though. After being informed of Harden's comments, a dismissive Green joked, "I've been fouled by James on a James 3-pointer before."

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2019-04-29 15:46:00Z
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NBA Playoffs 2019: Basketball gods use referees for payback on James Harden, Rockets in Game 1 loss to Warriors - CBS Sports

There will be people who believe the Houston Rockets' Game 1 loss at Golden State on Sunday was the basketball gods exacting their revenge on the NBA's reigning MVP, James Harden, for his sins against beautiful basketball.

As you well know, Harden's game is predicated on an array of weapons: A stepback 3 that's one of the most terrifying shots in today's NBA, a stop-and-start feel for the game that may be second to none, a newly instituted floater, and – this is the part that has so offended the basketball gods – an ability to draw fouls.

Harden has led the NBA in free throw attempts for five of the past seven years. In the two seasons where he didn't lead the league, he finished in second and in third. This is typically a category dominated by bruising big men who fight in the trenches down low, but Harden's done it mostly on the perimeter. And plenty of people – perhaps even a few of the basketball gods – think that's playing the game the wrong way. Sometimes, it feels like Harden isn't even trying to get to the rim, or attempt a shot. It can just feel like Harden is using his acting abilities in concert with his impossible-to-guard basketball skills to bait a referee into calling a foul on him so he can get two or three free shots from the line.

For people who feel this way about Harden, Sunday's 104-100 Warriors victory was the basketball gods taking their pound of flesh.

The basketball gods' instrument was the referees. At least four times in the first half – and at least two more times in the second half – Warriors' defenders encroached in Harden's or in one instance Chris Paul's landing space as they descended back to earth after launching a 3. Usually, the perpetrator was Klay Thompson. All season long, that's been a point of emphasis for NBA referees. If a defender doesn't let a shooter have a clean landing, it's been called a foul all season. And that's for good reason: Those plays can often result in injury. (See: Zaza Pachulia vs. Kawhi Leonard, Game 1 of the 2017 Western Conference Finals.)

And yet on Sunday, again and again and again (and again and again and again), referees neglected to call those plays as fouls. When officiating analyst Steve Javie, an NBA referee for 25 years, was brought onto the game telecast, he had a pretty clear take: "They should have been fouls." According to Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni, the referees came up to him at halftime and admitted the missed calls. "They missed four of them – that's 12 foul shots," D'Antoni told reporters. "We could've easily gone to the line another 20 times." Harden himself voiced his displeasure afterward: "I just want a fair chance," he said. "Call the game how it's supposed to be called."

There are a couple of caveats to be tossed in here. One is that the game was poorly officiated on both sides. The entire fourth quarter seemed to be one big makeup call: The fifth foul on Steph Curry with a little more than eight minutes left, where he clearly got all ball…the phantom call on Andre Iguodala a few seconds later, after which Warriors fans chanted (somehow without irony) while Harden shot his free throws, "Refs you suck!" And even a call on Kevon Looney earlier where he sure didn't seem to make any contact with Harden on a jump shot.

The second caveat has to do with the irony of Harden saying refs should call the game how it's supposed to be called. Plenty of basketball purists would say Harden doesn't play the game how it's supposed to be played. A big chunk of his game is predicated on the referees seeing a defender make contact with Harden, whether real contact or imagined contact, and calling a foul. Harden is a genius. He has hacked the system. He finds glitches and exploits them. But much of his style of basketball depends on referees continuing to have the same interpretations of fouls that he believes they should have. And so Sunday was then a live-by-the-foul/die-by-the-foul moment for Harden. The referees missed plenty of calls: About this, there should be no dispute. But that's what happens when your game depends so much on the referees. Overall, NBA referees are excellent at what they do. But they are human. And they miss calls.

If you don't like how Harden plays basketball, I get it. He flops. A lot. So does Chris Paul. And so do plenty of NBA players. And so do plenty of professional athletes across all sports, trying their damnedest to get any possible edge. There are two ways to look at Houston's loss in Game 1: One is that the referees screwed the Rockets. And that they did, not calling a handful of calls relating to defenders encroaching in the landing areas – calls they've made all year long.

The other way is that a significant portion of Harden's greatness – a significant portion of his MVP award from last season – is based on convincing referees to see the game the way he wants them to see it. Sometimes he is, in fact, fouled when he does his arm-flailing thing. Other times he's not fouled, yet he's able to convince the referees otherwise.

Look at it that way, and James Harden on Sunday was the boy who cried wolf. Did referees miss a whole bunch of calls against Harden in Game 1, enough missed calls that they might have swayed the outcome of the game? Absolutely. A foul should be a foul, no matter if it's in the regular season or the playoffs, during the opening minutes of the first quarter or the final seconds of the game, in a play that involves the reigning MVP or a journeyman bench player.

But if you cry wolf to the referees too many times, sometimes the referees won't be there to save you when you need it most.

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2019-04-29 13:56:00Z
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Bucks vs. Celtics: This is the real Playoff Kyrie Irving - SB Nation

MILWAUKEE — When people ponder the essential mysteries of the entity that is Playoff Kyrie, they tend to focus on the scoring outbursts and the otherworldly shotmaking. Playoff Kyrie can do that, of course. We’ve seen it so many times over the years that the image of Irving going off on some 20-point scoring binge is fresh in everyone’s mind.

We saw some of that in Game 1 of the Celtics’ Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Bucks on Sunday, when Irving dropped 26 points on a variety of post-up fadeaways, mid-lane runners, and pull up jumpers. He led all scorers in the C’s shockingly easy 112-90 victory, and his shotmaking was a crucial component of their offensive efficiency.

But the scoring wasn’t what made this a Playoff Kyrie performance. It was his passing, which resulted in a game-high 11 assists. It was his defense, which has been on point throughout the postseason. Most of all, it was the balance he brought to the task of managing the game. Save for a couple of turnovers, it was about as flawless a floor game as you could ever want from your point guard.

For Kyrie, it’s not a question of choosing to be a scorer or a facilitator. It’s a matter of understanding the rhythms of the game and allowing himself to go with the flow. Presenting the matter as a choice is a restrictive binary construction. Playoff Kyrie contains multitudes.

“I’ve been all over the board emotionally trying to figure out, how do we dial back in?” Irving said. “How do I dial back in personally? Do I come out more aggressive? You start to overthink the game, and it’s just basketball. So you prepare the right way, you give great energy, you give your teammates great energy and it’ll come right back to you. And I genuinely believe that.”

Turns out, Playoff Kyrie is really about generating positive karma. When he’s feeling good, everyone feels good. When the Celtics feel good about themselves, they make the game look so easy.

For the last few weeks, Celtics coach Brad Stevens has been talking about how well Irving has seen the floor. When Irving draws two defenders, he’s been making the right read and when it’s go time, he’s gone. What Irving has done during the postseason is keep his approach delightfully simple.

Take the trusty pick-and-pop play with Al Horford. It’s one of the oldest actions in the playbook. The big man sets a screen and drifts back to the perimeter, while Irving commands the attention of multiple defenders. From there it’s a simple matter of making the read, delivering the pass, and sprinting back on defense after the shot.

Simple stuff, really. But, oh so important for the Celtics to attack a Milwaukee defense that packs the paint and dares you to shoot from the outside. This is the essential tactical pivot point of the series. The Bucks want the Celtics to take those shots and the Celtics are happy to oblige.

In most cases, allowing the big man to shoot from the perimeter is a good trade, especially if the alternative is Irving slicing a path to the basket. But most big men aren’t Al Horford.

“It’s very vital for our offense,” Irving said. “It brings continuity. It brings spacing. Especially when we’re in the right spots and staying disciplined in our half court offense and we have either matchups we want to go at. Or Al knows when I’m going to be getting downhill and we communicate throughout the game about how we want our pick and roll offense to be, how we can be more efficient, so I don’t miss him on easy shots or easy opportunities that he can make for others.”

Time and time again, the Celtics went to pick-and-pop and the Bucks were either happy to concede that ground or were horribly messed up in their rotations. Even when it didn’t result in a Horford jumper, it opened up opportunities for players like Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris, who were a combined 12-for-20 for 28 points.

When things got tight, like they did in the second quarter after the Bucks erased a 15-point lead in a matter of minutes, Kyrie countered by simply making the right play. Whether it was hitting a cutting Brown for an easy two or taking his defender off the dribble for a pullup 3, Playoff Kyrie was in control of the situation without dominating it.

“So, the second and third quarter, I really don’t worry about shots,” Irving said. “I can get my shot any time I want. I think everybody in the building knows that. But aside from that, evolution of my game has come from just being able to pace the game very well and manage it, and establish these guys throughout the game, because they’re special as well.”

This is the balance the Celtics have been searching for all season. How do you form a team around a half-dozen players who can score along with a point guard who can get any shot he wants, whenever he desires? The regular season made that look next to impossible, but we’re officially a long way past those old talking points. This is the postseason and Playoff Kyrie has arrived right on time.

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2019-04-29 13:43:51Z
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NBA Playoffs: The Boston Celtics' blueprint is working ... finally - WEEI

As we sit here basking in the glow of the hottest team in basketball -- (a classification I believe is fair considering the Celtics' sweep of Indiana and Sunday's blowout over the top-seeded Bucks on their home court) -- it seems like a productive exercise to learn from the roller coaster that led us to this point.

So many twists and turns. So many definitive statements. So many doom and gloom scenarios. And now, this.

In some ways, it reminds me of Major League Baseball spring training. All you have is reactionary takes. Jackie Bradley Jr.'s swing is fixed! Sam Travis will hit 40 home runs! The Red Sox can win 100 games by rolling out of bed! (That last one I may or may not have said at some point in March.)

Of course with the Celtics the games we were reacting to actually counted ... sort of. If they had fixed what ailed them during those uncomfortable regular season ruts than maybe you would be starting this Eastern Conference playoff series in Boston and not Milwaukee. But besides home-court advantage did it really matter? Because as we're finding out now all of the drama was just that, drama.

Danny Ainge had a plan we bought last October, jumped ship on five times since, and is now truly taking root.

The blueprint was seemingly not flawed.

Brad Stevens can coach. Kyrie Irving can lead. Gordon Hayward can play. Al Horford can be much more than average. And the Celtics can be considered the team to beat in the East. A month ago all of that was coming into serious question at a most uncomfortable time.

So, what happened?

The C's found themselves at the right time. Remember that first game against Indiana was still being viewed as a somewhat uneasy proposition considering there didn't seem many offensive options outside Kyrie Irving. But little by little, by the time Stevens' team left for Indianapolis it had seen the fruits of their labor. The idea that Irving could control the ball while getting others involved was becoming a reality, pushing aside talk that team basketball wasn't an option with Kyrie at the controls.

The Celtics were finally adhering to the way Ainge and Stevens were imploring them to play and they were seeing results while doing so. It was as if the likes of Irving, Hayward, Brown, Jayson Tatum and Terry Rozier were smacked in the face with Albert Einstein's words: "Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value."

No more talk of contracts or minutes. The playoffs are non-negotiable, a reality the Celtics have clearly come to grips with.

Now, the switcheroo is undeniably a product of this different kind of world the postseason presents. Rotations are shortened and playoff alphas -- such as Irving -- are always prioritized. But there have been plenty of examples of really talented teams folding in the postseason because it never did click. Over the past two seasons, the Celtics have taken advantage of such messes. This, however, has become the perfect storm Ainge and Co. were banking on and so many thought would most likely fizzle out.

It took seven months but the plan is working out ... just in time.

Set the tone in Game 1 ☘️ pic.twitter.com/Zh2SjMOg6v
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 29, 2019

Related:

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2019-04-29 13:19:23Z
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Biggest Losers From The 2019 NFL Draft - The Big Lead

By: Ryan Phillips | 1 hour ago

The 2019 NFL Draft is complete and while everyone is focusing on the winners and losers from the weekend, we’re not going to bore you with all that positive mumbo jumbo. So here’s our look at all the losers from the 2019 draft.

New York Giants

I’m starting to think maybe Dave Gettleman doesn’t have any clue what he’s doing. The Giants believe they got their quarterback of the future in Duke’s Daniel Jones, but selected him at No. 6 overall, when no one was ever going to take him that high. The Giants could have probably waited until their second pick (No. 17) to select him. Meanwhile, they passed on Dwayne Haskins to select the player Scouts Inc. ranked as the sixth-best signal-caller available.

Look, if you’re a huge fan of Jones, fine, I’m not going to argue with you. He could wind up being a nice NFL quarterback, but he doesn’t look like a future star. The Giants could have traded down and stockpiled assets, or filled a more valuable need at No. 6.

As for the rest of their high picks, Dexter Lawrence was a solid pick at No. 17 and Deandre Baker (30th pick) is a perfectly fine cornerback. But when a team has three first-round picks, you expect them to do something monumental or somehow franchise-altering. New York didn’t accomplish that.

Third-round pick Oshane Ximines has upside but needs to bulk up and will face a big jump in competition. Fourth-rounder Julian Love is a versatile corner without a lot of upside. New York swung big in the fifth round by snagging Auburn wideout Darius Slayton. He has elite top-end speed, but he needs to develop a lot as a route runner and he doesn’t have great hands.

Despite a ton of picks, I’m not convinced the Giants really got better in this year’s draft. That’s a massive indictment of the front office.

1 2 3 4 …5

2019 NFL Draft, Andre Dillard, Cam Newton, Chris Hogan, Christian McCaffrey, Clelin Ferrell, Commentary, Curtis Samuel, D.J. Moore, Daniel Jones, Dave Gettleman, Deionte Thompson, Deshaun Watson, Dexter Lawrence, Dwayne Haskins, Greedy Williams, Greg Little, Jarius Wright, Josh Jacobs, Justin Layne, Kahale Warring, Karl Joseph, LaMarcus Joyner, Lonnie Johnson Jr., Max Scharping, Oshane Ximines, Torrey Smith, Trayvon Mullen, Tytus Howard, Will Grier, Featured, NFL

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2019-04-29 13:03:07Z
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New England Patriots draft rumors: Team inquired on quarterback Josh Rosen before he was dealt to Miami - WEEI

The Patriots drafted Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the fourth round of the NFL draft, but perhaps they had their eyes on another QB beforehand -- Josh Rosen.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Patriots were among the teams who explored a trade for the Arizona quarterback before he was traded to Miami on Friday night. The Dolphins gave up a second-round selection (No. 62 overall) this year and a fifth-rounder in 2020.

It's unclear what the Patriots were willing to give up, but with six selections in the top 101, they certainly could have beat what Miami offered.

Rosen was dealt following Arizona selecting Kyler Murray No. 1 overall.

But, it doesn't matter now as the Patriots took Stidham, and now they will face Rosen twice a year since he's now in the AFC East.

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2019-04-29 12:26:30Z
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Giants’ post-draft depth chart: What it looks like after “roster-building season” - Big Blue View

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the rear-view mirror, what do the offensive and defensive depth charts look like for the New York Giants? Here is an unofficial look, with the team’s 10 draft picks added.

A note: I did not try to “place” any of the picks where they may eventually end up — starters, second team, etc. I just added each player to the list at his position so you can see what the roster looks like in each spot.

Giants 2019 Depth Chart (Offense)

Position	First Team	Second Team	Third Team
Position	First Team	Second Team	Third Team
LT	Nate Solder	Brian Mihalik	Victor Salako
LG	Will Hernandez	Chad Slade
C	Jon Halapio	Spencer Pulley	Evan Brown
RG	Kevin Zeitler	Nick Gates
RT	Chad Wheeler	Brian Mihalik	Jylan Ware, George Afaso-Adjei
TE	Evan Engram, Rhett Ellison	Scott Simonson	Garrett Dickerson
QB	Eli Manning	Alex Tanney	Kyle Lauletta, Daniel Jones
WR	Sterling Shepard	Corey Coleman	Jawill Davis, Brittan Golden, Darius Slayton
WR	Golden Tate	Cody Latimer	Bennie Fowler, Alonzo Russell
RB	Saquon Barkley	Wayne Gallman	Robert Martin, Paul Perkins
FB	Elijhaa Penny

It was apparent over the weekend, and is shown again by the offensive depth chart, that the Giants still need to find a veteran right tackle. An experienced guard for depth probably wouldn’t hurt, either.

Giants 2019 Depth Chart (Defense)

POS	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
POS	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
DL	B.J. Hill	Jake Ceresna	Chris Slayton
DL	R.J. McIntosh	Myles Humphrey
DL	Dalvin Tomlinson	Olsen Pierre	Dexter Lawrence
ILB	B.J. Goodson, Alec Ogletree	Tae Davis, Nate Stupar	Jonathan Anderson, Ukeme Ilegwe, Ryan Connelly
OLB/Edge	Lorenzo Carter, Markus Golden	Kareem Martin	Avery Moss, Oshane Ximines
LCB	Sam Beal	Antonio Hamilton	Michael Hunter, Deandre Baker
RCB	Janoris Jenkins	Tony Lippett	Corey Ballentine
SCB	Grant Haley	Ronald Zamort	Julian Love
SS	Jabrill Peppers	Michael Thomas	Kenny Ladler
FS	Antoine Bethea	Sean Chandler	Kamrin Moore

Defensively, the draft leaves the Giants with youth and competition at cornerback, on the edge and along the defensive interior. It might have been nice to find a young free safety to learn from Antoine Bethea, but perhaps one or more of the young cornerbacks is a conversion candidate.

Every roster, no matter how good a team was the year before, will appear to have a hole or two somewhere. It just isn’t possible to get every player you want of plug every hole in one offseason.

With the main roster of what GM Dave Gettleman calls the “roster-building season” done, how does this look?

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2019-04-29 11:51:28Z
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Celtics Shut Down Giannis In Game 1 - BBALLBREAKDOWN

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-s-x3s47MQ

2019-04-29 11:00:06Z
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Rockets’ James Harden calls for ‘fair chance’ after no foul on slide-under - Fox News

Houston Rockets guard James Harden, right, shoots against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson during the second half of Game 1 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series in Oakland, Calif. (AP)

The Houston Rockets’ James Harden blamed his team’s Sunday night loss against the Golden State Warriors-- at least in part-- on uncalled fouls, which he cautioned could lead to series-altering injuries.

Harden said he would have scored more but Warriors defenders kept sliding underneath him when he attempted three-pointers.

“I just want a fair chance, man,” Harden told reporters after the game. “We all know what happened a couple years back with Kawhi. Call the game how it’s supposed to be called, and that’s it. I’ll live with the results.”

With 11 seconds left on the fourth quarter, Harden attempted a game-tying three-pointer when the Warriors’ Draymond Green slid under him, but no foul was called. Per NBA rules, fouls can be called on defensive players for not giving enough room to shooters to safely land.

Asked to comment on Harden’s complaints, Green said, “I’ve been fouled by James on a James three-pointer before. I ain’t trying to hear that one. Nah, I ain’t going with that.”

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The Warriors went home with a 104-100 victory and 1-0 lead in the series.

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2019-04-29 07:43:45Z
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Draymond says officiating 'isn't an exact science' as Harden rues calls - Rappler

The Rockets star asks for a 'fair chance' from the referees as the Warriors escape with Game 1 of their West semifinals clash

Published 1:45 PM, April 29, 2019

Updated 1:45 PM, April 29, 2019

FIRST BLOOD. Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors escape James Harden and the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals opener. Photo from NBA's Twitter account (@NBA)

LOS ANGELES, USA – Golden State Wariors forward Draymond Green says referees are human and that James Harden should look in the mirror before the criticizing the playoff officiating.

"I have been fouled by James on a James' three-pointer before," Green said. "I think we can all sit here and complain about calls every game."

Green said when it comes to close contests, both teams can usually make the case that they got a raw deal at some time from the officials.

"It is the nature of the game we play. Refereeing isn't an exact science," Green said.

Harden, who has been a vocal critic of the officiating all season, asked for a "fair chance" from the refs after Houston lost 104-100 in Game 1 of the West semifinals on Sunday, April 28 (Monday, April 29, Philippine time).

Harden and the Rockets were specifically upset about what they believed were several non-calls on his three-point attempts.

"I mean, I just want a fair chance, man," said Harden, who scored 35 points but was 4-of-16 from beyond the arc. "Call the game how it's supposed to be called, and that's it. And I'll live with the results."

Harden figured he got fouled on a pair of three-point attempts in the second half, including by Green on a potential game-tying attempt with 7 seconds left.

Green said the Warriors could make the same case.

"They (Rockets) also could have possibly shot 20 less free throws. But if that is the case then we could have shot 20 more free throws," Green said.

Houston coach Mike D'Antoni backed up Harden's criticism on Sunday, but didn't go into detail because he feared a slap on the wrist.

"I'm going to try to be a nice guy because I really don't want to give the charity to them. I'd rather have my charity have the money," D'Antoni said, referring to a potential fine for criticizing officiating.

Second guessing the referees has been a hot topic among players ever since the NBA introduced the "Last Two Minute Report" where they publicly evaluate their officials' performance in games within 5 points in the final two minutes.

The league initiated the report to try and be more transparent.

Kendrick Perkins, a 14-year NBA veteran, wonders what all the fuss is about.

"Everybody is so busy worried about getting fouls called, forget about trying to win the game," Perkins posted on his Twitter account on Sunday. – Rappler.com

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2019-04-29 05:45:00Z
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