As soon as the referee blew the whistle, the "whistle" was gone! At that decisive moment, Leonard was about to shoot, and the ball was obviously thrown within time, but the referee said it was overtime! It's like when you rush in when the elevator door is about to close, and the security guard presses the panic button, saying that you "ran a red light." That's it, Leonard and his team were stunned by this sudden whistle.
Then, there's Owen, who is also unlucky. Just as he was on a break, dribbling the ball like a bullet through a defender, he was obviously fouled, which was a clear free throw opportunity. But the referee was probably still thinking about the previous controversial decision, and as a result, Irving's free throw opportunity was gone. It would be nice if there was a replay button in this game, but unfortunately, this kind of "natural and man-made disaster" can only be accepted in the real game.
On forums and social media, everyone is shouting that the NBA has to do something and not let the referee's mistake change the direction of the game. After all, this is the best basketball tournament in the world, not a child's game, and a wrong decision can make the difference between a player's career and a team's season results.
And the famous referee, who admitted his mistake in private after the game, probably didn't expect that a momentary mistake would cause such a big wave. This can't help but make people think that referees are also human beings, and it is inevitable to make mistakes when there is a lot of pressure. But this begs the question: should we give more support and help to the referees, for example, psychological counselling, stress management, etc.
Experts also joined the discussion, and they analyzed that the referee is indeed under a lot of pressure during the game, especially in this kind of big scene, where every whistle can become a turning point in the game. From this point of view, the NBA official should indeed strengthen the training and support of referees, not only at the technical level, but also at the psychological level.
Leonard and Owen reacted differently to the incident. Leonard said that while he understands the pressure from the referees, he still wants to be treated fairly during the game. Irving was outspoken, clearly expressing his dissatisfaction with the referee's mistakes and hoping that the NBA would face up to the problem and ensure the fairness of the game. After all, every game is not to be missed for a player, especially in a league of this high level.
This incident is not just an ordinary game controversy, it highlights the possible shortcomings of the NBA in referee management and training. NBA officials also responded, promising to conduct an in-depth investigation into the incident and strengthen the training and management of referees to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
In the future of the NBA, I hope it will not only be a competition of ball skills, but also a fair and just showcase. Fans are expecting a great game, not a controversial decision. The players also want their every bit of effort on the pitch to be judged fairly. While disappointing, it is also a wake-up call for the NBA, reminding all parties involved that improving the quality and fairness of referees is key to the sustainable development of the league.
Judging from this referee error, the NBA still has a long way to go, and it needs continuous efforts and improvements. But we have reason to believe that with the continuous improvement of the referee management system, the future games will be more fair and exciting. After all, every fan wants to see the players' battles on that glorious field, not the referee's mistakes.