NBA: The unusual arbitral error that has unleashed the controversy in the NBA | NBA 2019

Utah Jazz 117 Portland Trail Blazers 114

Saturday,
8
February
2020

14:13

Rudy Gobert blocks Lillard's shot after the ball touches the board. The referees did not even review the play. “It's crap,” complained the Blazers star

Lillard protests the action politics against the Jazz.
Chris Nicoll USA TODAY Sports

A rude referee error in the last seconds of the match between the Blazers and the Jazz has unleashed criticism and controversy in the NBA. An illegal tap of Rudy Gobert to Damian Lillard That was not even reviewed.

There were 19 seconds left and those from Oregon marched down two in Salt Lake City. Lillard, who ended up with 42 points (8 of 14 in triples), six rebounds and six assists, began a penetration in which super French Gobert. His tray clearly touched the board and then the pvot of the Jazz deflected the trajectory of the ball behind. A clear action of 'goaltending' that the referees ignored, unleashing the wrath of Lillard himself.

Subsequently, the NBA itself offered an official explanation through a statement. The action was not reviewable because there was no illegal tap signage on the court. The goaltending is only revisable if we (the referees) indicate it. We have reviewed the video after the game and, unfortunately, we have seen that we do not mark the action and it should have been marked as goaltending.

After the duel, the star of the Blazers continued to express their enormous disagreement. “It was an easy move. There were three referees and none of them whistles. Then I don't want to see a report in which they say they should have indicated it,” said Lillard. “We are in the race for the 'playoffs' and we need to win as many games as we can. We lose because of an error and want to leave without saying anything? Of course we are going to say something about it. It's bullshit“he concluded.

Several players of the League itself reacted stunned to the action. Among them Luka Doncic, which he wrote on his social networks: “How can you not whistle that?”

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