The Phoenix Suns are down 2-0 in their first-round playoff series against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder as they return to the Valley of the Sun. Following Wednesday’s setback, Devin Booker appears to have had enough of the NBA referees’ treatment.
The game had numerous contentious calls, including Devin Booker’s offensive foul for an “unnatural” shooting motion on Alex Caruso and the inexplicable technical foul he got later in the game.
Following the defeat, Devin Booker was asked if he had been given an explanation for his technical foul. Needless to say, it opened the floodgates.
“I still haven’t gotten one,” Booker remarked. “It’s definitely something that has to be looked at. ” I heard [Alex] Caruso tell them to phone tech, and he eventually did. That’s one reference. In my 11 years, I’ve never called a referee out by name, but James [Williams] was awful tonight, all the way through. It’s terrible for the sport, and it undermines its integrity. People will mistake this for the WWE if they are not held accountable. “
Booker maintained his diatribe when asked whether he got an explanation for his offensive foul on Caruso.
“Yes, they described unnatural shooting motion that hit Caruso, but Caruso is moving ahead on that,” Booker said. “If that’s an unnatural shooting motion compared to what guys do these days to get fouls. You can play them side by side and judge for yourself. Pull the tape, run it back; I’m astonished this is happening on national television during playoff games. “
And, as if that weren’t enough, Booker made sure to triple down, knowing that the NBA would penalize him for his postgame statements.
“It’s difficult, yet it feels wrong. ” I understand that I have not won a title in this league, but I have been in it for 11 years, so to get to this stage and be treated like that, for me to even say anything out loud, is terrible.
“It’s the first time I’ve complained about the refs in 11 years, but it’s necessary. Whatever, I get fined for it; anybody can pull the videos and see where the irritation stems from. ”
The Thunder attempted five more free throws than the Suns in Game 1 and only three more in Game 2, but the officials’ influence extends beyond free throw statistics, and Booker sought to highlight this.
The league is likely to penalize Booker for his postgame statements, citing “criticism of the game officials” and “questioning the integrity of the game. “
The Suns and Thunder will not play Game 3 until Saturday, giving Phoenix time to gather themselves and rectify as many errors as possible before performing in front of their home crowd in what will be a do-or-die game.
