The Utah Jazz may have been eliminated from postseason play, but that hasn’t stopped Rudy Gobert from going at NBA referees.
When last we saw the Utah Jazz on the hardwood, Rudy Gobert and Co. were watching their 2018-19 season come to a close at the hands of the Houston Rockets. Despite the fact that his team’s year is done, though, Gobert continues to do at least one thing he was known for this past season.
Namely, take shots at NBA officials.
Much has been said about the officiating during Game 1 of the Rockets’ second-round series against the Golden State Warriors, with James Harden saying “I just want a fair chance, man. Just call the game the way it’s supposed to be called,” after the contest.
Meanwhile, Gobert believes his squad is the one that didn’t get a fair shake.
The Stifle Tower took to Twitter with his thoughts on Sunday night, clearly confused by some of the non-calls during his own series with the Rockets and wondering why the Warriors were being allowed to defend the way they did on the perimeter —
My guys were not allowed to contest shots like that last week...or maybe i’m crazy and it’s just camera angles 🤔 https://t.co/RvqYdCWzuC
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 28, 2019
Whether not the Warriors should have been whistled more frequently is definitely worth exploring; to say that Klay Thompson and others played jump-shooters tight is a massive understatement.
That said, the non-call on Harden’s 3-point attempt during Houston’s final possession that has grabbed the headlines was probably a good one. The Beard clearly kicks his legs out and into Draymond Green on the play —
CP3 got ejected after this wild Rockets final possession 😮 pic.twitter.com/qXqGJ9Yqjo
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2019
Regarding Gobert, I would say that the talent gap and the Jazz’s poor start to their first-round series had more to do with them going home than the officials. Especially with their “backside” defense in play. The only real controversy here is whether or not the league will now fine Gobert for his comments, a point that wasn’t lost on Donovan Mitchell —
Damn you could’ve just give me the 25,000 😂😂😂😂
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) April 28, 2019
Mitchell’s tweet brought Royce O’Neale into the fold, and awesomeness ensued —
https://twitter.com/BucketsONeale00/status/1122624743490744320
https://twitter.com/rudygobert27/status/1122627583659663361
Well that escalated quickly. And I don’t buy those, they were gifts 😒 pic.twitter.com/148DeqDt7K
— Royce O'Neale (@BucketsONeale00) April 28, 2019
For the sake of his pocket book, I would hope the league office agrees with Gobert’s assertion that he’s just commenting as a fan. However, something tells me that dog won’t hunt.
In any event, Gobert’s perpetual war of words with NBA officials wages on.