Damian Lillard won’t be fined for his post-game tirade against the officials on Friday, reports Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. The Trail Blazers guard had to be held back following a loss in Utah that included a missed goaltending call with 11.2 seconds remaining on a shot that would have tied the game.
Jazz center Rudy Gobert blocked Lillard’s shot, but it clearly hit the backboard first. Because no call was made, the play couldn’t be challenged or reviewed. Crew chief Josh Tiven admitted after the game that referees got it wrong.
Lillard met with league officials yesterday to discuss the incident.
“We get to the last play of the game, and they miss an easy call,” Lillard said after the game. “And then they tell us that’s an easy no-call, like that was obviously not a goaltend. It cost us a (expletive) game, man.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley, acquired from the Nuggets in a four-team deal this week, brings some much-needed passion to his new team, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. After word of the trade broke, Beasley flew to Minnesota Wednesday morning and hoped to play that night. However, the trade call wasn’t completed until almost game time and he was held out, even though he insisted to his new coaches that he was ready to go. “I’m like a mini-vet,” Beasley said. “I’m like a young vet for a team, so I have to bring the winning mentality from Denver over here and watch some extra film, make sure guys are on time, making sure I get extra guys in the gym in the morning, things like that. Just pushing each other and holding each other accountable.”
- Nuggets coach Michael Malone is glad that Beasley, along with Juan Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt, all left the team on “positive terms,” relays Mike Singer of The Denver Post. Malone sent messages to his former players last night before their first game in Minnesota. “Change is inevitable in the NBA,” he said. “Players come, players go. Malik and Juancho were here for four years, Jarred for two. Everybody’s leaving on positive terms. I’m happy for those guys. Those guys are going to get opportunities in Minnesota that they deserve.”
- Luguentz Dort has become a starter for the Thunder, but he’s still not practicing with the team, notes Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman. Dort’s two-way contract limits him to 45 days in the NBA, and team officials want to maximize his number of games. “You’ve got to watch a lot of film with him,” coach Billy Donovan said. “You’ve got to catch him up. He’s got to certainly watch and spectate. All those things become important, following the rules in terms of how we can best keep him engaged to what’s going on and what we’re doing.”
Beasley will be big for Minnesota. He’ll get sick and tired of losing – and he’ll probably try to murder KAT at some point – but he’s a great all around player. Nuggets knew he was going to get a big offer because he’s a starter on a less talented team.
Easy fix for the NBA: in the final minute of play, allow teams to make non-call challenges, and if they lose the challenge, the other team shoots two free throws – to prevent abuse of it. If that were the rule, Portland gets that bucket and it’s a tie game.
I do take a little umbrage with “its cost us the game” if that goal tend was called then the game was tied with seconds left and OT a possibility. It ended the game, but Portland was not going to win if it was called. Dame was clearly heated but that phrase did not apply to this situation.
Listen, the last three or so minutes of an NBA game are, by far, the worst in sports, filled with excessive stoppages and a dreadful tempo. The game overall needs to speed itself up— a lot. Too many free throws, timeouts, etc.; adding “non-call challenges only adds to the problem.
Agree 100% ..
That call would’ve taken less than one minute, from actually challenging it, to it being overturned. Yes, there are some other calls that would take longer, but to get it right makes the most sense. That was horrible and there was no way to fix it, which just seems ridiculous. Anyone with eyeballs could tell it was a goal-tend. I can’t believe they got that wrong in real time to be honest.
@SheltonMatthews But I literally did just fix it? You allow challenge to non-calls, but if you are wrong, you basically give up a close game. STRICTLY calls like Lillards are the ones that will get flagged by coaches, because the penalty for being wrong is basically losing you the game. My idea adds absolutely no time to the game, because calls like that get overturned in seconds.
Listen, you are missing the entire point. The game isnt supposed to be high speed in the final minute of the game. I care about results, you care about turning it into WWE. I do not care one iota what YOUR OPINION is about the tempo of the last 60 seconds. Results matter more.
Grow up, its always not about you and what you want.
Strike has not thought through the implications, like what to do with what happened when time kept running. Then he blamed someone else for having an opinion. Everyone who posts has at least one opinion. “Grow up”
You sound like a checkers kind of guy. The last few min are usually a chess match between good teams/coaches if it is close. If you want a no call no strategy game you can play 2k with JR Smith.
PB, it’s not about that. BB unlike a board game cannot be perfected; that’s what makes the crowds roar. If it resembles a chess match that is not good– the players should have to make the right decisions, in time, as humans, not as puppets with a master pulling their strings.
Coaches should be like theatrical directors, their job over on opening night. Of course, BB has refs, trade deadlines, opponents and other things to deal with.
Now if a device was used to make goaltending calls, quickly & correctly, fine. The technology exists. The shot clock is already up there.
That there’s a double negative.
Not dismissing but where’s it live?
Lu is great
Why can’t they just replay the last 11 sec. There was a game earlier in the season that was supposedly controversial, this one seems like it fits the criteria for this unlike the other game. More realistic.
We need to do better in 2020. On an egregious call like that, they should be able to change it instantly. I jumped out of my seat when I saw it live
Once a device is installed, there will be an urge to use it and attach to it bells & whistles, and a clock, keeping exact time, hint hint
Beats the old urge of refs wanting to get off the court & homeward in the waning seconds.