OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Pacers fans and even some members of the media laid some of the blame for Indiana’s fourth-quarter collapse Friday in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on veteran official and crew chief Scott Foster. On Friday night Pacers coach Rick Carlisle noted that committing 10 fourth-quarter fouls was an issue, but then in practice day availability on Sunday in Oklahoma City, Carlisle rose passionately in the defense of Foster and the officiating.
“As far as officiating, I think it’s awful some of the things I’ve seen about the officiating, and Scott Foster in particular,” Carlisle told reporters in Oklahoma City. “I’ve known Scott Foster for 30 years. He is a great official. He has done a great job in these playoffs. We’ve had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that is being thrown out there is terrible and unfair and unjust and stupid.”
Carlisle was then asked what commentary came his way that he thought was particularly out of line.
“I’m not getting into it,” Carlisle said. “I’ve said what I’m going to say. If you have another question, ask it. If not, we’ll move on.”
The reporter who asked did have another question on Pascal Siakam.
Criticism of Foster was all over social media and the broader internet on Friday night and found some level of validation from Bill Simmons, former ESPN columnist and personality, and founder of The Ringer. On a podcast with The Ringer’s Zach Lowe, Simmons called Foster’s performance, “Just an abomination. It was typical Scott Foster. All-over-the-map. Just involved. Weird stoppages. Missed calls. Calling touch fouls then not calling somebody getting clubbed in the head. They had no control over this entire game. There was over 70 free throws. Both coaches were mad. Both benches were mad.”
Simmons didn’t indicate that the Thunder were getting preference over the Pacers and did argue that fouls were called against the Thunder in the fourth quarter that hadn’t been called all game. The Pacers were called for 27 personal fouls, but the Thunder were called for 26. The Pacers shot 33 free throws to the Thunder’s 38. The Thunder were 12 of 14 from the line in the fourth quarter while the Pacers were 7 of 10 with Bennedict Mathurin missing three key free throws in the game’s final minute.
The 58-year-old Foster is perhaps the league’s most publicly criticized officials, but he’s consistently rated as one of the NBA’s best by the league’s metrics, which has led him to consistently get playoff and NBA Finals assignments. Prior to these Finals he had officiated 25 NBA Finals games including at least one each season since 2008.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers’ Rick Carlisle calls criticism of official Scott Foster ‘unfair, unjust and stupid’
Reporting by Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
