Officiating will always be a topic of conversation during the NBA playoffs. The 2024 playoffs have been no different, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers already expressing their displeasure two games into their first-round series.
The Sixers, at least, have a somewhat legitimate problem after the league released its Final Two Minutes report acknowledging that two separate fouls were missed during a crucial three-second period that sparked New York’s victory Knicks in game two.
Still, the outcome of the game won’t change — leading TNT’s “Inside the NBA” analysts to wonder Tuesday night why the league is even making these results public.
“It’s stupid,” Shaquille O’Neal said.
“There’s no point,” Charles Barkley added.
Kenny Smith responded and stressed the need for transparency. “The league wants you to know that they monitor the officials after the fact,” he said.
“You can make a mistake, but you can’t make a life-threatening mistake,” O’Neal countered. “It’s the playoffs.”
However, Barkley suggested the NBA should review the calls privately because “it only makes the officials look bad.”
Although he had many confrontations with referees during his 16-year career, Sir Charles defended them in general.
“I think the people in charge have a bad reputation,” Barkley said. “I don’t think they’re deliberately trying to make mistakes in any sport. But what I think is happening now that really bothers me is that, of course, you do it right when you sit at home and watch 25 reruns..
“The Sixers did not lose this game because of this one call.”
To which O’Neal replied succinctly: “Yes, they did.”
And so the debate continues.
