One of the least shocking storylines coming out of Game 2 of the 2015 NBA Finals was that the three referees missed some calls late in the contest.
According to the NBA’s officiating report, two notable decisions that weren’t handled properly Sunday night involved Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, who scored 39 points in his team’s overtime win.
James drove to the basket on one of Cleveland’s final possessions of overtime and didn’t hit the rim on his layup attempt. The 24-second shot clock buzzer sounded, and the Warriors were given possession. The league admitted that James traveled and was fouled by Warriors forward Andre Iguodala on the play, but neither infraction was called.
The league also noted that Warriors forward Draymond Green should have received a foul for holding James during a jump ball in overtime. The play ended with James catching the jump ball, which resulted in a violation that gave Golden State possession.
These types of calls have the potential to significantly alter the outcome of the game, which is a huge issue on the NBA’s grandest stage. Luckily for the league, the Cavs prevailed after outplaying the Warriors for most of the night.
It’ll be interesting to see if the officiating improves Tuesday night in Game 3. It’s hard to be optimistic, tough, based on the results of the first two games.
Thumbnail photo via David Richard/USA TODAY Sports Images
