11:27 PM ET
Celtics secure Marcus Smart said that the referees gave him an “reason” in explaining their choice to reverse a charge call versus ruling NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in the closing minutes of Bostons 119-112 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, a call that would have triggered Antetokounmpo to foul out of the game.
” Wish we got a better one,” Smart said when asked if he d received an explanation for the call. “The excuse was I was late on drawing the charge.
” Quite honestly, I believe we all know what that was about. It was Giannis sixth foul. Lets simply call that spade a spade.”
Tim BontempsESPN
1 RelatedThe play, which came at the 1-minute, 28-second mark of the 4th quarter, would have offered the ball back to the Celtics with ball game tied at 107. It also would have sent Antetokounmpo to the bench for the rest of the video game. Instead, he was provided a basket when the call was altered to a block– a basket that came after Antetokounmpo made a dribble transfer to fake out Jayson Tatum, then did a Eurostep to enter the lane and to the basket.
After Antetokounmpo made the totally free throw, Jaylen Brown missed out on a 3-pointer on Bostons occurring belongings and Khris Middleton responded to with a made 3 of his own, giving Milwaukee a 113-107 lead it wouldnt give up the rest of the way in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Antetokounmpo said he felt Smart was proceeding the play.
” First of all, thats his opinion. However at the end of the day, when I had the conversation with him, I appreciate him as a gamer,” Antetokounmpo said of Smart afterward.
” I believe hes a great player. Something I appreciate about him is that hes the very first man on the floor, he trusts his teammates, he plays hard, he safeguards the very best player. Thats what I told him at the end of the video game. I said, I respect you, I respect you play hard and I just play hard. Theres absolutely nothing more to that. Im not coming at you, thats not my personality. I just attempt to remain focused, try to assist my team win, and I understand that hes going to try to talk all the time and get me out of my game, and I appreciate that hes doing that because hes attempting to get me out of my video game. I comprehend. When I take a seat and I cool down, I look back and I understand what hes attempting to do.”
Antetokounmpo, already among the most difficult and physical players in the league to officiate, completed with 36 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. He repeatedly required the authorities to make calls, or not, in the last couple of minutes.
One minute before the charge that was reversed, Smart desired a push-off to be contacted Antetokounmpo as he drove to the rim for a layup that put the Bucks up 107-105. It was simply among many physical moments between Antetokounmpo and Smart, a most likely All-Defensive Team selection, throughout a competitive and physical game that saw the groups integrate to shoot 68 free throws and be called for 54 fouls.
After the charge was overturned, there was a review to see if Antetokounmpo had actually devoted a hostile act after he ran into Celtics center Daniel Theis on Milwaukees next defensive ownership. After the evaluation, it was identified that he did not.
” They just stated [Theis] didnt get hit in the stomach,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens stated. “They stated they could not call an individual nasty, so that need to be when you go to the evaluation to see if its a hostile act, I guess you cant call a personal foul. That was what they informed me. We moved on.”
Referee James Capers told a pool reporter after the game that Antetokounmpo remained in a regular protective position and touched the belt line of Theis.
” It was not in the groin location, and therefore there was no illegal act on the play,” Capers said.
Antetokounmpo then returned down and scored his last points of the night on an and-1 layup in the lane over Theis to ice the game for the Bucks, capping off a dominant individual performance that helped Milwaukee endure without starting point player Eric Bledsoe and key reserve Pat Connaughton, both of whom remain out as they recuperate from COVID-19.
Boston, meanwhile, got a terrible 2-for-18 efficiency from Tatum, with among his makes coming when Antetokounmpo in fact tipped the ball into the basket himself. Guard Kemba Walker scored 16 points in 19 minutes as he was limited in his return from an aching left knee.
The Bucks, however, mored than happy to see their star make it through the game and get the win.
” Yeah, I mean, Im human,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer stated with a smile, when asked if he d been fretted Antetokounmpo would nasty out.
” Theres so lots of things taking place on the court and I believed it was an excellent task of officiating to blow the whistle, no call and just try and go and recognize what had taken place and absolutely nothing had taken place. And then the block/charge, those are difficult calls.
It likewise would have sent Antetokounmpo to the bench for the rest of the game. Instead, he was provided a basket when the call was changed to a block– a basket that came after Antetokounmpo made a dribble move to fake out Jayson Tatum, then did a Eurostep to get into the lane and to the basket.
“They stated they could not call a personal foul, so that need to be when you go to the evaluation to see if its a hostile act, I think you cant call a personal foul.” Theres so numerous things taking place on the court and I thought it was an excellent job of officiating to blow the whistle, no call and simply go and attempt and discern what had actually occurred and absolutely nothing had happened.
Lets just call that spade a spade.”
