Raptors versus Pacers – and the refs as well?
By Brian Boake
While every team’s fans think their guys get the worst of the foul calls, in the case of the Raptors there more be more than emotion to the complaint.
The Toronto Raptors have pulled ahead of the Indiana Pacers 2-1 in their first-round playoff series. While Toronto is a much better team on paper, and is starting to prove it on the floor, they are fighting an uphill battle with the referees.
| Free Throws Made - Raptors | Free Throws Tried - Raptors | Free Throws Made - Pacers | Free Throws Tried - Pacers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Pacers 100-Raps 90 | 26 | 38 | 21 | 29 |
| 2-Raps 98-Pacers 85 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 30 |
| 3-Raps 101-Pacers 85 | 13 | 16 | 27 | 33 |
It’s an odd thing to see the losing team attempt more free throws than the winner in three straight games. Sooner or later, normalcy will return, and the team which gets to the charity stripe more often will start winning. My biggest concern in Q4 of last night’s victory was the possibility Indiana might catch up because of the speed at which the Raptors were in the penalty situation. The Pacers had to hope they could score a bunch of points with the clock stopped. Thankfully that didn’t happen.
I’m troubled by the cocoon in which the zebras have enclosed Paul George. The poor dear only needs to have a Raptors somewhere in the vicinity and presto! the whistle blows and we all line up. George had 12 free throws in the Game 3 defeat, or 75% of the Raptors team total. He had 11 in Game 2, and 6 in Game 1.
DeMar DeRozan went 9 times to the stripe in Game 3, which is 9 more than he did during Game 2. To quote Frank from 30 Rock, “What the frack, nerds?”
Meanwhile, Jonas Valanciunas consistently gets assaulted under both hoops every time a shot goes up, yet is in regular foul trouble. What’s happening to him reminds of a coach’s bitter comment from years ago, “My guy was called for a foul when he hit the other fellow’s elbow with his eye.” [Editor’s note: If you can find the reference, please drop it as a Comment. Much thanks in advance; a hat tip will come your way.]
“Do not adjust your TV sets. This is a test.” The Raptors are handling adversity well so far. Despite the imaginary fouls on George, they received no technical fouls, while the Pacers were T’ed up 3 times. Our veteran players get cranky, but they haven’t “lost it” yet.
Toronto has the depth to cope with foul trouble, though we fervently wish we didn’t have to. Bismack Biyombo has been wonderful as JV’s backup. Meanwhile, DeMarre Carroll has bothered George, and we can call upon Terrence Ross or Norman Powell to get very close when our starter needs a blow. I’d keep DeRozan away from George on D to the degree possible.
One thing the refs have got right? The block/charge; Indiana has paid the price when our guys have been run over. If I were a lazy (or worse – think Tim Donaghy) ref, that’s the call I’m most likely to get wrong, by calling the foul on the defender.
On balance, this series is 2-1 Toronto, and should be. We haven’t suffered a last-second loss because of a call made or not made. That said, I’m dismayed with the phantom calls George has been the beneficiary of, and how little respect JV is receiving.
Assuming the Raptors advance to the second round at least, the question of biased officiating is likely to get more attention. “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you!”