The officiating in the 2022-23 NBA season has been one of the most inconsistent in the NBA since the start of the season. The playoffs are generating extra controversy.
James Harden and Nicolas Claxton were both tossed from the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 3, a decision fans are stunned by.
Claxton was tossed for taunting Joel Embiid after dunking on him.
Nicolas Claxton ejected now.. 😳 pic.twitter.com/abaXVhg0q0
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) April 21, 2023
Harden, on the other hand, was tossed for fouling Royce O’Neale.
James Harden ejected.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 21, 2023
One fan criticized Harden getting ejected for a small foul on O’Neale because Joel Embiid wasn’t ejected for groin-kicking an opponent.
James Harden has been ejected for this, but Embiid wasn’t earlier.
There is 0 consistency across anything in the NBA right now. Officials are just guessing calls.
pic.twitter.com/p9vg9MvFAQ
— Guru (@DrGuru_) April 21, 2023
Even Kevin O’Connor called tonight’s refereeing ‘laughable’.
It’s laughable James Harden got ejected for this. These knucklehead refs should be ejected instead. pic.twitter.com/EkA7HKqGGm
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) April 21, 2023
More people were stunned at the ejection Harden got.
James harden getting ejected for this is utterly ridiculous. The refs are supposed to call the game, not ruin the game!!! pic.twitter.com/9h1XqzGKZI
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 21, 2023
The refereeing against Harden has been puzzlingly strict, as one of the highest volume free throw shooters in modern league history received no foul shots through Games 1 and 2.
James Harden shot ZERO free throws in the first two games, has shot his lowest free throws per game since being a bench player in OKC, and he just got ejected for a push off that Tatum, Curry, and Luka do 5x a game. Yet, ppl have the audacity to argue that refs ride Harden😂😂
— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) April 21, 2023
A fan joked that Claxton should have kicked Embiid in the growing, as Embiid did to him earlier in the game, to not be ejected.
https://twitter.com/RealCodyMallory/status/1649224946533408775
The ejections were making little sense to any real basketball fan.
Are you f*cking kidding me?! Joel Embiid literally kicked Nic Claxton and gets a flagrant 1.
James Harden makes contact with Royce O'Neal's midsection when attacking downhill and gets EJECTED?! 🤬
— GOWIE (@DaKidGowie) April 21, 2023
Some believe Claxton was ejected due to his reputation not being as strong as Embiid’s, who is favorite to win MVP this season.
How DARE Nic Claxton show emotion in the playoffs without first being a 10 time all star…the audacity https://t.co/0KHSAkLKL0
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) April 21, 2023
There are so many weird referee moments from this game that everyone may just be better off not arguing with the refs or even accidentally looking at them. Ruining a playoff game with decisions like this shouldn’t be okay, and this game is another reason why the NBA needs to revamp it’s officials.
Are Bad Calls Ruining The Playoffs?
We are coming fresh off one of the biggest foul controversies in recent years with Draymond Green stomping on Domantas Sabonis’ chest and being suspended for Game 3 of Warriors vs. Kings. Neither Claxton nor Harden deserves that treatment, but many would argue Embiid should be retroactively suspended given the situation with Green.
When stuff like this happens on the court, it’s no longer about the sport. This devolves into weird arguments between fans and hurts the product on the court. Hopefully, the NBA can look to remedy this situation as the postseason continues.
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