Scott Foster will be on the refereeing panel for tonight’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Chris Paul will definitely not be pleased by his presence.
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Refereeing is one of those aspects of the NBA that everyone agrees on. Officials catch more heat than practically anyone else related to the game. The rules of NBA basketball and the existence of superstar treatment paints an even bigger target on their backs.
The Tim Donaghy scandal that blew up last decade has made referees’ reputations irredeemably. The likes of Kane Fitzgerald and Tony Brothers have helped to reestablish some of the pride in refereeing. But there’s still a long way to go in terms of making the NBA error-free.
A few senior referees like Scott Foster have become regular fixtures on the playoff stage and nationally televised games. Foster comes under the microscope more than any other active referee.
Chris Paul has lost his last 11 games officiated by Scott Foster
Scott Foster was the referee the last time when Chris Paul’s playoff campaign was on the line. And their interaction wasn’t something that Foster would particularly be gloating about.
Thunder guard Chris Paul says referee Scott Foster made a point to tell him before the Game 7 loss to the Thunder tonight that he also reffed his Game 7 loss to the Spurs in 2008 when CP was with the Hornets.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 3, 2020
Reddit NBA is up in arms about how Paul has seemingly lost every game he’s played with Scott Foster officiating. In fact, they’ve tracked all of Paul’s last 11 games with Foster on the sidelines. And the omens don’t sound good from the results we’ve gleaned.
One hopes that the Suns are able to participate in a game without the lingering threat of a biased referee.