NBA stars blame refs for their lack of calls: they should look in the mirror

The Warriors v Rockets rivalry is the best we have in the NBA. So it’s a shame it’s being dominated by debates about officiating

The relationship between the NBA’s officials and its players is at its lowest point in over a decade. Not since the summers of the Tim Donaghy scandal and Dwayne Wade’s 97 free-throw Finals have the league’s officials come under such scrutiny for their actions or lack thereof.

It is a tiresome saga. The NBA’s star players, who many believe receive the lion’s share of favorable foul calls due to the fact that they are star players, are apparently fed up that they aren’t getting enough foul calls. The Warriors’ win over the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals, a series that, to all intents and purposes, is serving as the Western Conference Finals was marred by controversy. Officials appeared to miss a bunch of fouls on James Harden. Houston coach Mike D’Antoni estimated the refs failed to give at least 12 free throws. Game 2, which was won by the Warriors to give them a 2-0 series lead, was no different. The whinging and whining from the sport’s top two whinging and whining teams were incessant.

Related: NBA playoff power rankings: Warriors still top as Celtics rise in the East

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from US news | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2vsIQRU