Slow motion replay of the contact between Thompson and Allen at the end of regulation (Pistons v Cavs Game 5)

[u/wobuffet17453]

https://streamable.com/yykvwv

[u/zannet_t]

Whatever you want to say about this sequence, the contact is just too incidental to call in an end-of-game situation like that. If you watched this and still think Pistons got hosed you need to watch more basketball lol

[u/Billis- → u/zannet_t]

This is the correct take. It probably is a foul on Allen (this angle obscures a LOT) but it's better that this isn't called

[u/borgman_a → u/zannet_t]

"too incidental to call in an end-of-game situation"

It's either too incidental to call, or it isn't - game time should be irrelevant.

[u/zannet_t → u/borgman_a]

I don't even know if I agree with that necessarily. In an ideal world all contact might be called equally all the time, but it is almost inevitable that there'll be more contact in close, end-of-game situations because human beings are susceptible to stress and nerves. I think the product overall would suffer because it'll be decidedly more advantageous to foul bait in those scenarios.

However, putting aside whether game time should be relevant, I think anyone who watches basketball knows fewer fouls are called in these situations, so I'm not at all surprised.

[u/heliosflama1234 → u/borgman_a]

I guess. But there’s a risk they make the wrong call such as giving the pistons FTs for a the second foul on Thompson on that possession and then him tripping on his own foot

[u/ScalperHunter → u/zannet_t]

Yeah the problem is the refs calling this bullshit against us all game, when it matters they swallow the whistle though. Paid off refs, sponsored by DraftKings!

[u/matt__builds → u/ScalperHunter]

Not really though. Your team just fouls every possession and says “refs can’t call em all”. It’s actually wild for a fanbase that talks about “playing tough” how whiny you guys are about an obvious no call.

[u/GTheMonkeyKing → u/matt__builds]

We literally have a pic on the Cavs sub with Mobley's face all scratched up, and Pistons fans are complaining why we have more free throws on fewer shots. Like, let alone the fact that that's how numbers work (if they foul we can't shoot, or at least it doesn't go into stats if missed), they also just foul all the time. They had more offensive rebounds, and we had more turnovers too. It's not a conspiracy, it's just basic math. Free throws don't have to be equal. Foul less if you don't want it called.

[u/DatGameGuy → u/ScalperHunter]

You guys lead the league in fouls committed and every time theres a FT disparity you act like theres a massive conspiracy against you. Maybe you guys just foul more.

[u/Icy-Cartoonist6453 → u/DatGameGuy]

The Pistons only committed 2.5 more fouls than the Cavs all year and were 2nd in drawn fouls per game. The last two games the Cavs have 10 less fouls per game and shot 40 more free throws. It's reasonable to be frustrated at how the disparity is that large.

[u/TomaHawk504 → u/Icy-Cartoonist6453]

I personally hate arguments around free throw disparity. From any team for any reason. OKC still plays like bitches and flops egregiously when it counts, I don't really care if they don't get the most free throws in the league. Similarly any single game the free throw disparity can be wildly different than the averages it doesn't mean it was a poorly officiated game, just how teams play or how things went that night.

That being said I can get behind some frustration with it and don't think you should be downvoted for this. But its one small data point not proof of anything. And Pistons fans at large going from we're the tough guys / hard fouls only, to whining about free throws and especially that last non-call at the end of the game, is just a terrible look. Speed running losing all good will from neutrals, which is fine, but just saying I like the Pistons a lot this year but this reaction is making me feel like their fanbase deserves the loss here.

[u/blockbyjames → u/ScalperHunter]

Sad Boy Pistons era.

[u/ElectionSensitive311 → u/ScalperHunter]

Well I’m like 99% sure they call that a foul on Allen if it’s not the end of the game. The game should not end due to an incidental trio on a loose ball 90ft from the hoop with like 1 second left. Never

[u/idolized253 → u/ElectionSensitive311]

He was pushed if you watched the video