For the second time already this season, the NBA is admitting a key officiating error late in a Toronto Raptors game.
The NBA’s official Last Two Minute Report for Sunday’s loss against the Sacramento Kings identifies one call against the Raptors with 41.3 seconds remaining as an “incorrect call.” That is, it was a false positive, with Cory Joseph being whistled for a personal foul on DeMarcus Cousins that should not have been called. The league’s official report states that “Joseph (TOR) cleanly strips the ball from Cousins (SAC).”
Can’t say I disagree. Have a look for yourself:
[gfy]ConfusedPerkyAmericanriverotter[/gfy]
That’s a tough call to make in real time, and it’s a mistake that changed the endgame scenario demonstrably. Kyle Lowry had just missed a 3-point attempt, the Raptors were down 102-101 with 41 seconds to play, and the call swung possession from Toronto to Sacramento while burning Toronto’s foul to give. An additional position with an additional foul in hand would have greatly improved Toronto’s odds.
Instead, Cousins would make a layup on the ensuing possession to stretch the lead to three. The Raptors came up empty on their final three possessions from there, and the Kings padded the lead with free throws for a 107-101 victory.
The NBA releases a report for calls made in the final two minutes of every game as a means of improving transparency and increasing accountability. That’s a worthwhile endeavor but it means little for Raptors fans in this case. Like with the missed out-of-bounds call on Carmelo Anthony last Tuesday, this doesn’t change the outcome of the game or require the final possessions to be replayed. It simply confirms your outrage and provides the opportunity for what-ifs.
As with most tight games, Sunday’s game wasn’t lost on a single call. The Raptors choked late, their offense stalling, their defense unable to contain Cousins, and their decision to keep Jonas Valanciunas on the bench a curious one. They can’t hang this one on a single bad call, especially given how the last few possessions played out.
