“ Yes, I have already experienced a few matches like that, where it is out of your control, you rely on the referees hoping that they are up to the task. This is what it is. » Skillful Malcolm Brogdon who delivers, without risking a fine for having criticized the officials, his feelings about the end of the stormy meeting in OKC.
With about twenty seconds left on the Thunder floor, the Blazers player was the target of a two-hander. With his team leading by one point, he sought to call a time-out. Ditto for his coach, Chauncey Billups who, carried away in his momentum, found himself on the floor while the referees whistled for his player to restart his dribble.
Billups disappointed for his players
Summary of the scores: no time-out for the Blazers and possession for the Thunder therefore, expulsion of the visitors' coach and two free throws for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The latter will only convert one out of two, then Jalen Williams will take care of registering the winning shot.
“ It was a difficult situation. We had downtime. Referees are generally prepared for this. In this case, this situation… I'm in the middle of the field, I'm trying to call a time-out. It's just a frustrating time. My players play too hard for that “, don't make the coach angry at the end of the meeting.
The latter reports that all his players are “ frustrated », starting with his veteran who did not obtain the requested time-out. “ What else would you do in this situation? It’s such a simple action. A coach in the middle of the field, outside my lines asking… », continues the technician before making a gesture of annoyance with his hand, then shaking his head.
A complaint filed
“ Chauncey, the entire staff, asked for time out. I literally turned to the ref on the sideline, and it was clear that the ref didn't want us to have a timeout, so we couldn't have one. I was hit in the face, I was bleeding at the end. It's not our fault », formulates the leader – rear, author of 18 points and 7 assists (but as many lost balls).
For his part, the head referee, Bill Kennedy, notes that his colleague on the front line was focused on the two-handed hold “ who was right in front of him, which made it difficult on the one hand to hear and on the other hand to see a coach calling for a time-out behind him. He is taught to referee the game until its end. »
No mistake according to him therefore, while the Blazers filed a complaint which seems more symbolic than anything else. A good way to release a little frustration for this young team which has not been far from the feat on the floor of the best team in the West.
“ They crushed us by 62 points a week and a half ago. We told our players: 'Listen, you either give up or you're going to get run over.' That's how it works. Today our guys played very well, they shared the ball, defensively I think we did a very good job », positive despite everything Billups.
