Tom Thibodeau’s Bold Critique of Referees After Knicks’ Shocking Loss to Hawks
After a tough 108-100 defeat to the Hawks, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau voiced his frustration over officiating, recalling past grievances with the referees.
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Trae Young was on fire, leading Atlanta to victory and knocking New York out of the NBA Cup. But it wasn’t just the Hawks’ performance that had fans buzzing; it was the officiating.
Jacyn Goble was one of the referees, and Knicks fans might remember him from a controversial call against Jalen Brunson in a previous game. That call still stings, and it seems Thibodeau hasn’t forgotten either.
After the game, he didn’t hold back. He mentioned he knew what to expect from Goble and felt the calls were uneven, especially in the second half. The Knicks had one more foul than the Hawks, but it felt like the Hawks were getting away with a lot.
Thibodeau didn’t blame the refs for the loss, though. He pointed out that his players needed to step up and handle the physical play better. The third quarter was a turning point, with the Hawks outscoring the Knicks 34-18 and erasing a double-digit lead.
The Knicks were out-rebounded, which is a big deal for them. They need to win those battles to succeed. Now, they’re 15-10 and out of the NBA Cup, but they’ll be back on the court against the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Hawks are heading to Las Vegas for the semifinals.