Rocket & Harden wants & # 39; a fair chance in Refs

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OAKLAND, Calif. – Rocket guard James Harden has pleaded for a "fair chance" from officials after Houston's 104-100 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Sunday's West Conference semifinal match 1 .

Harden and the Rockets were particularly unhappy with what they believed to be several incorrect non-calls during his 3-point attempts, for which the Warriors were allowed to shut down without giving Harden the space to do it. landing required. According to Harden and his coach Mike D & # 39; Antoni, the referees admitted at halftime having missed four of these calls in the first period.

"I will try to be a nice guy because I really do not want to give them charity.I would prefer that my charity have the money," said Dr. Antoni, referring to a potential fine for criticized officer. "So, I mean, the answer was that they were coming in at half time and saying that they were missing, that's what they said to me." They missed four, that's 12 fierce shots, let's do that, they're trying to do their best. "

Harden also thought he had been fouled on two 3-point attempts in the second half, including by Draymond Green on an equal opportunity attempt with 7.4 seconds left. Klay Thompson was the defender on the other non-calls that upset the Rockets.

"I mean, I just want a chance, man," said Harden, who scored 35 points but 9 points out of 28 on the ground and 4 of 16 behind the 3-point line. "Call the game as it is supposed to be called, and that's all, and I will live with the results."

Harden was 13 out of 14 off the line, but the Warriors were called for one foul when he tried a 3 pointers. That happened in the first quarter, when Harden's fire arm was clearly hit by Golden State striker Alfonzo McKinnie.

Harden spoke of Kawhi Leonard's end-of-play injury in the Warriors' defeat in the first game against the Warriors in the 2017 Western Final, when he landed on the pitch Zaza Pachulia after firing a rider. about the application of the rule requiring 3-point shooters to have space to land.

"We all know what happened a few years ago with Kawhi," Harden said. "This can change the whole series.Call the game as it is supposed to call, and we will live with the results.It's clear and simple."

Rocket Guards Chris Paul and D'Antoni were summoned for technical fouls for protesting a non-appeal after Paul scored a 3 with 35.4 seconds left in the third quarter. They were angry that Shaun Livingston, the guard of the Golden State, was not whistled to leave no space for Paul to land.

"To shoot a 3-and-1, get a technician, I mean, it's tough," said Paul. "But I have to be smarter because it did not hurt our team."

Paul was ejected after committing his second technical foul with 4.4 seconds to go. He seemed to make contact with referee Josh Tiven. When asked about the incident, Paul replied, "I have not seen him yet."

The team's sources believe that any contact between Paul and Tiven has been minimal and inadvertent and should not deserve any discipline from the league office.

Harden, who has led the league in attempted free-throw shots over the past five seasons, was guilty of shooting 3 times more than any other player in the league, largely because his recoil is so difficult to dispute without making contact.

According to research by ESPN Stats & Information, officials fouled 95 times against Harden 3 in the regular season and five times in the Rockets' five-round first-round match against Utah Jazz.

"All I'm going to say is that we've had [those calls] all year round, "said Eric Gordon, the Rockets guard, who scored 27 points. It should not be different now. "

During the second half, the Rudy Gobert Jazz Center reported via Twitter the inconsistency in the way Harden was officiated.

Green, a dominant force with 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists while anchoring the Warriors 'defense as a small ball center in the first game, is mocked by Harden' s decision that he does not want to go out. had not had a fair whistle.

"James has already made a mistake on a James 3 pointer," said Green. "No, I'm not going with that one …

"I think we can all stay here and complain about calls after every game – it's just the nature of the game we play." "Arbitration is an inexact science." so that's what it is. "

Green strongly suggested that Harden caused the greatest number of contacts during his 3-point attempts.

"I have to challenge the shot," said Green. "When you land 3 feet in front of where you shoot the ball, it's not really my problem."

Officials were certainly not the only Rockets problem in the first game. They had no answer for the Warrior star. Kevin Durant in the second half, where he scored 24 of his 35 points. Golden State dominated the showcase despite a small formation, winning the battle with a rebound of 38-26. Center Clint Capela was a complete no-factor, finishing with four points and six rebounds in 27 minutes in which the Rockets were beaten by 17 points.

But the officials have left the Rockets frustrated and helpless.

"We just need to ruin everything and not worry about how they officiate and sit there to take it," said Antoni. "I'm getting a little old for that, but that's the way it's going, I'm trying not to curse, I'm trying to not be an idiot." it did not work, so I do not know, I know, it's beyond me. "

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