Paradox of the referee s report: "Perfection" in the last two minutes and 46 minutes of silence!

When Alexander completed a step-and-step jump shot 2 minutes and 24 seconds before the final G4 game of the Finals, Nesmith fell to the ground heavily, fans around the world held their breath and waited for the whistle to sound. However, only the mechanical sound of the scoreboard flipping came from the scene. This dramatic scene seems to be a microcosm of the entire series - the controversy is always hovering in the blind spots of official attention. The next day, the NBA referee report solemnly announced: "17 penaltys in the last two minutes, zero mistakes", and the controversial moment that caused heated discussions across the Internet, the report gently passed by "Timeout 2.4 seconds, no judgment".

1. The referee's "perfect script": The game of thrills under rule loopholes is like a carefully crafted legal document, and the Foster team can be regarded as the "legal expert" among them. They accurately utilized the "last two minute reports" rules and ignored the key controversy in the first 46 minutes of the game. The well-known commentator Bill Simmons said bluntly in the program: "Foster's penalty is illogical! Slight contact and frequent calls, obvious fouls but turn a blind eye. More than 70 free throws in the game have broken the game. "This accusation reveals the unspoken rules of the referee community - as long as the disputed penalty is controlled outside the reporting time limit, the official can always hold the shield of "procedural justice".

What is more intriguing is that the seemingly similar fouls (26-27) of the Thunder and the Pacers exposed a huge difference in free throw data. The Thunder made 34 of 38 free throws, and the Pacers made only 25 of 33 free throws, and the 9-point free throw difference is exactly the final score difference. When Matherin made only 1 of 4 free throws at a critical moment, it made people wonder whether the outcome of the game had been swayed by the referee's whistle.

2. Dispute Maker: Foster's referee "Black History"

In the NBA referee industry, the 55-year-old Foster can be regarded as "chapter of disputes". In his 29-year law enforcement career, what he has accumulated is not reputation, but a long list of stars' "dissatisfaction": from "Magics" Johnson being expelled and suspended for a slight collision, to Paul suffering a 13-game losing streak in his law enforcement playoffs, to Gobert being fined $100,000 for "counting money" gesture, every penalty for Foster is full of controversy.

The gambling scandal in 2017 made his credibility fall to the bottom. Although he was eventually lifted out of the charge, his call record with former referee Donagy who was imprisoned for manipulating the game made him labeled "problem referee" from now on. Fans joked: "With Foster's law enforcement game, gamblers understand the direction of the game better than coaches. "

3. Double standard penalty: The referee dispute throughout the series

Foster's controversial penalty has been revealed since the first game of the series. After the game, Alexander bluntly said: "The thugs were beaten six times in the first half, but the referee turned a blind eye. " The Thunder even made a 15-page report overnight, using video evidence to point out Foster's double penalty marks - the same breakthrough action, Halliburton won 8 free throws, while Alexander only had 3.

By G4, this controversial penalty has become more concealed. The first three quarters acquiesced to high-intensity confrontation, and the fourth quarter suddenly tightened the scale, breaking the rhythm of the game. Fans joked that this is no longer a basketball game, but a Game of Thrones directed by Foster.

4. Unexpected departure: The chain reaction caused by the referee's injury and retreat

is quite dramatic. Just as the referee's controversy intensified, Foster was forced to quit due to a calf injury. This referee, who is known for "controlling the field", actually left the court in a panic in the Knicks' match with the Heat, becoming a rare case of referee injury and withdrawal in the NBA.

His absence seems to have quietly changed the game. In the past, Foster's law enforcement games always had strange rules: Paul's team will lose, the Heat suffered 10 consecutive losses, and the Knicks were suspected to be taken. Now that the new referee team is on the stage, the players finally don't have to guess "Foss' Law", but whether this means a fair return is still an unknown.

5. League Silence: Why did the referee report lose credibility?

The NBA official handling of the dispute has intensified the fans' dissatisfaction. When the G4 referee reported that he had "zero mistakes", the comment section was ridiculed: "Ask a random punishment in the first 46 minutes, pretending to behave in the last 2 minutes " It is recommended that the game only play the last 2 minutes ".

This self-talking report exposes the fundamental problem of the alliance management system - trying to cover up human errors with procedural rules. In the absence of substantive supervision, the referee's report is nothing more than a "placebo" to appease the fans. When the next dispute arises, all conflicts will break out again.

Foster's temporary absence did not really calm the controversy. When the Thunder and the Pacers usher in the G5 battle, fans will focus more on every penalty. When referees become an important variable in the outcome of the game, the purest charm of basketball is gradually being eliminated. Perhaps, the league really should reflect on why the controversy of the referees is sometimes more dazzling than the light of the championship trophy.