So CNN is now saying that the refs admit they fucked up, allegedly because they had never seen that before. If true, that's amazing. Not that they fucked up, but that they admitted it.
If the NBA is going to start analyzing the last two minutes and publishing the results, refs are going to be forced to call fouls that are normally not called the last play of a game. I think a no-call here is the right call.
Here's why (without checking every detail of the rulebook but going off what I know) I don't blow my whistle as a ref:
1. I see a few very blatant holds that are occurring on the inbound that could have been called. If they make this call on Waiters, everyone is going to be talking about Westbrook being held
2. Ginobli appears to have crossed the plane and is in violation of giving waiters enough space to make the pass- my guess is waiters is trying to get this call by creating contact
A couple other thoughts about the play:
Perhaps the call is made if someone other than Manu draws the foul. He has a bad reputation for flopping. As a ref, you don't want to end a game on calling a foul on a flop.
Waiters is not allowed to jump - that could have been a violation as well
Was durant fouled on the catch? Haven't seen enough replays - but seems odd that he would fumble it away
What I don't understand is that the Spurs got the ball, had a 3-on-1 break, and then missed a wide open shot. This was a more favorable outcome than if the call had been made. Why is everyone talking about a potential blown call that effectively had no impact on the result of the game.
