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NEW YORK — The Knicks’ Julius Randle and coach Tom Thibodeau walked off the Barclays Center floor on Tuesday night talking to each other and “pissed” at the officiating during their 112-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Randle had 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists but went to the line only twice the entire game. The Knicks’ star forward initially did not want to talk about the officiating until he was asked whether he was surprised he isn’t getting the benefit of calls usually reserved for a team’s star.
“Got to ask them,” Randle said of the officiating crew of Scott Foster, Mark Lindsay and Jason Goldenberg. “I don’t know what they’re watching or what they’re seeing. As aggressive as I played, attacking the paint, I can’t be penalized for just being stronger than people. And that is an answer that I got today.”
The 6-foot-8 and 250-pound Randle said the crew told him that his stature and strength are why he isn’t getting more calls.
“They said because certain contact doesn’t affect me like it affects other players,” Randle said. “Because I am stronger, they miss the calls.”
“It pisses me off even more,” Randle said when asked what his reaction is when he hears that. “To be honest with you, because that is not how you officiate the game.”
While Randle was calm when he spoke with reporters after the game, Thibodeau was as visibly upset and frustrated as he has been. The Knicks’ coach cited how the Nets went to the free-throw line 25 times compared to the Knicks’ 12 trips.
But what really set Thibodeau off was how Randle was officiated.
“I want to watch the film but … something’s not right,” Thibodeau said. “I don’t know [why]. I don’t know. I am watching what is going on both ways. [The Nets] are a good team. They played well. But I know Julius is driving that ball pretty darn hard.
“And I’m pissed.”
Randle was assessed a technical foul with 1:36 remaining in the fourth after he thought he was fouled on a missed shot with the game tied at 105-all. Kevin…
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Source : espn
