The Warriors-Lakers playoff sequence was at all times going to attract consideration to how the 2 groups have been officiated.
Now, because the sequence turns to a pivotal Sport 4 with the Warriors down 2-1, might they welcome the assigned referee?
Scott Foster would be the crew chief on Monday night time, with Kevin Scott and Curtis Blair officiating the sport alongside him.
And whereas Scott and Blair are comparatively contemporary, every with simply over 30 playoff video games of their careers, it’s Foster who brings a wealth of expertise, with 235 playoff video games refereed in a 30-year profession.
The NBA units referee assignments for the primary 4 video games of a playoff sequence in the beginning of every spherical, including recreation assignments to every recreation because the sequence necessitates.
So the NBA has identified he’d had Sport 4 for over every week, which can run just a little counter to the narrative surrounding Foster. He’s picked up the nickname “The Extender” in recent times as a result of, when he’s referred to as in for video games when the workforce trailing in a sequence picks up a win to elongate the sequence.
Whereas some have hinted that street groups welcome Foster as a result of he doesn’t appear fazed by house crowds, Foster’s 2022-23 stats truly point out that house groups have carried out effectively in his video games. In his 58 common season video games, house groups had a .707 profitable share, which is over 25% larger than the league-average referee. (In eight playoff video games this yr, house groups have gained 5-of-8.)
His playoff monitor file tells a unique story, although. House groups are likely to win 65% of the time within the playoffs, however have solely gained 60% of the time with Foster on the whistle.
And maybe most essential to this sequence is that Foster calls fouls evenly between the house and street groups. In 2022-23, Foster truly referred to as 0.3 extra fouls on house groups per recreation than visiting groups. And in his complete 235-game playoff profession, his common of 1.1 extra fouls towards visiting groups than house groups is precisely in-line with the league common distinction.
The foul disparity has been an enormous speaking level on this sequence. By three video games, the Warriors have been whistled for 21 extra fouls than the Lakers (69-48) and the Lakers have shot 44 extra free throws than the Warriors (83-39).
Each Sport 1 and Sport 3, which the Lakers gained, noticed large variations between free throw makes an attempt — and after the one recreation the Warriors gained was extra even, the Lakers complained about the referees.
The complaints and a spotlight is perhaps one thing that conspiracy theorists would assume led the league to schedule Foster now. However the strategy of how referees are chosen ought to push towards that notion.
Nonetheless, with the sequence at a turning level, one of many league’s most tenured and revered referees can be on the decision.
And whereas the Warriors might circuitously say it, one has to assume they’re welcoming Foster’s presence on the whistle for Monday night time.