Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown wasn’t even able to finish Sunday’s brutal loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. This is after the veteran shot-caller was ejected early in the fourth quarter after vehemently arguing with the game officials.
In the end, Brown wasn’t able to witness Damian Lillard’s epic game-winner in overtime for the Bucks, which depending on where you’re sitting, could either be a good or a bad thing for the Kings coach.
Mike Brown Slams Officiating Vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Brown got tossed with nine and a half minutes still remaining in the fourth quarter. The Sacramento shot-caller was incensed by a non-call during an offensive possession, which led to Brown going bananas on the sidelines. He had to be held back by his own players as he strongly voiced his discontent with the referee:
Mike Brown was NOT happy. 😳
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 15, 2024
Brown wasn’t done. He used his post-game press conference to explain why he was so utterly frustrated with how the game was officiated. The 53-year-old did not hold back:
“At the half, I think we were down 19-5 in free throws, 19-5,” he said, via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I know that happens sometimes, but it’s very frustrating when at the end of the half, from what I get told all the time, Malik drives and Lopez comes over and goes vertical with the forearm down here. From what the NBA tells me the rule is, when you go vertical, you’ve got to have two hands up because Domas (Sabonis) has his hand down here a lot and they call him for it every time and they always tell us, well you got a forearm here. And tonight they said the forearm could be here as long as it’s not extended.
“So I don’t know what the rules are in this situation. I need clarification, because again, two hands up is what the rule is on verticality, but they were here (hand up) and they said Lopez could do this. That’s a five-point swing. They take away the two free throws and then Milwaukee goes down and hits a three. And to end the half at 19-5, that’s tough to deal with, especially when you’re getting told different interpretations on rules.”
Mike Brown even brought out a laptop to show the exact plays he was talking about as he criticized the game officials. Needless to say, the Kings coach wasn’t at all pleased with the referee’s overall performance on the evening.
Mike Brown lights into the refereeing tonight in the Kings loss in Milwaukee. Brings out a laptop in his press conference to show film of the non-foul and foul that has him ticked off. Here is the five minute soundbite. pic.twitter.com/Q8InpkFh8B
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 15, 2024
Rules Are Rules
To be fair, Brown did commend the officials for their effort to communicate with him throughout the game — before he was ejected, that is. That’s pretty much the only positive thing he had to say about the referees, though.
“The referees are human, and they’re going to make mistakes, but you just hope that A) there’s some sort of consistency and B) there’s some sort of communication between the refs,” he said. “And the refs tonight, they were great, they communicated with me all night. But in terms of consistency, you guys saw it right here. Dame coming off the pick-and-roll and Foxy getting hooked and almost falling coming off the pick-and-roll. And on top of that, if you get communication and you get some form of consistency in the game, ok, then you can live with some things.
“But the consistency that I see tonight wasn’t in my opinion there. And then I don’t understand the rule, if the rule is you’ve got to go vertical both hands up, how can you take away two free throws with a guy with his forearm down here. If they’re going to change the rule on me and say ok the forearm can be down here, and another one can be up there, then all right I know that going forward, but that’s not what the rule is, because we get called on Domas all the time and they tell us he’s got to have both hands up if you want to go vertical. That’s why I got kicked out.”
If you ask me, this feels like a hefty fine waiting to happen.
The Bucks carved out a win in this one, 143-142.
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