Fans Protest NBA’s Rule That Saved Kyrie Irving’s Blunder vs Timberwolves Game 2

The running mate of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, is always ready to step up as the occasion demands. In case the franchise superstar has everything under control, ‘Uncle Drew’ ensures he does his part in being a pest for defenders. While Luka finished the night with a triple-double tonight, Kyrie contributed 20 points as the team’s second-best scorer.

However, it seems like Kai might have gotten one of those scores on the back of a no-call. There were just 47 seconds left on the clock when Irving appeared to have knocked the ball off Jaden McDaniels’ hands. Minnesota was up two at the time. The Mavericks challenged the possession, which was originally awarded to the Wolves for an out of bounds off Kyrie. Upon review, the call was overturned and Dallas recovered the ball. But it looks like that wasn’t the case.

Pool report has the facts in favor of the Wolves

The pool report interview conducted by Star Tribune’s Chris Hine saw ref Zach Zarba admit that a foul should have been called on Kyrie Irving. “Conducted the pool report tonight in which Zach Zarba said a foul on Jaden McDaniels “should have been called” on Kyrie Irving on the play that was reviewed, but officials couldn’t rule it a foul on the Dallas challenge because it was only reviewing who touched it last.”

As Zarba explained, the officials then were just looking for who touched the ball last. At the time, it was McDaniels. However, in the “post-game review, we did see illegal contact from Irving to the forearm of McDaniels that should have been called a foul.” Nevertheless, since the Mavs had already challenged an out-of-bounds call, the Wolves lost the chance to challenge the same play for a missed foul.

Anyway, there is no use discussing the past. After all, this NBA season has been notorious for the refereeing issues. The Wolves have two chances to make it even and then take it from there. However, the fans aren’t so easily forgiving.

The NBA world dropped fierce comments on league officiating for the Kyrie Irving foul on Jaden McDaniels

This season has been one for controversial officiating incidents. With coaches and players getting mad and frustrated with the refs for their no-calls and calls when there aren’t any, has claimed quite a chunk of headlines regularly. With the start of the postseason, it seemed to have dropped. Even so, tonight’s Kyrie Irving-Jaden McDaniels issue was one that NBA fans just couldn’t turn a blind eye to.

This one individual just can’t seem to wrap their head around the no-call. “@NBA needs to fix their rules. Replay where kyrie Irving fouls Jaden McDaniels gives them the ball…?” It’s clear that they were annoyed that despite Irving’s obvious foul, the ball was overturned to the Mavericks.

Sharif Keaton, Editor of the Nets Wire, for his part, shed light on the limitations of the NBA officiating. “If this review goes against the Wolves, it would show the limitations of the review process as the NBA has it right now. Yes, Jaden McDaniels was the last person to touch the ball, but Kyrie Irving clearly fouled him.”

https://twitter.com/SharifKeaton/status/1794202118066491862

This is just an extension of what many analysts, basketball pundits, and fans have been pointing out all year long. There are a few who are sympathetic to the officials, as such. They point out that they are humans, after all, and mistakes do happen. However, such claims mean little to a team and its fans who are at a critical juncture in their journey to the NBA Finals.

Yet another fan displeased with the way things were handled tweeted,

“And ion wanna see no funky ass report from the referee association saying that out of bounds call should’ve been called as a foul on Kyrie Irving. Yet another case of refs dropping the ball in clutch seconds of games.” Given how this happened towards the final seconds of the game when Minnesota actually had a two-point lead made the final pool report all the more bitter. So, this fan’s frustration is understandable.

A Wolves fan, it would seem, was simply disappointed with the whole scenario. It was almost like he had no strength to do anything else other than a simple cry of despair.

“Kyrie Irving and Jaden McDaniels,” followed by a crying-a-river emoji, “whyyyyy” 

https://twitter.com/JSTERLING_14/status/1794186320425992222

Finally, this fan pointed out the cost of such mistakes.

“That non call likely cost us the series.” If the Mavs manage to take a 3-game lead, the chances of Minnesota surviving seem unlikely. The fact that they will be playing at the home ground of Dallas doesn’t make it any better. Although Anthony Edwards and Co. have a better record on-road this playoffs (5-1), the Mavs’ record at home isn’t too behind at 4-2.

Hopefully, the wolf pack can regroup in Game 3. Or else, it’s bye-bye to their first Finals. Before you go, another matter foremost in our mind is about our beloved Inside the NBA crew. While many are sure they are going to be disbanded, Shaq’s confidante and ex-agent, Leonard Armato, thinks otherwise. To know more about his comments, watch this video.