After dropping 12 points in 25 minutes on Friday night, Chris Paul was promptly ejected from the game in a series of events that nobody could understand. But in the post-game chat with the media, Paul shed some light on what went wrong and what he said that cost him the game.
"Old Tony... he talking to me so I'm talking back. I called him a TikToker and got a tech," said Paul. "For the first one, I just called him a TikToker and he gave me a tech. Second one I just said 'that's too much power' and he gave me another tech. The judge, the jury, all that."
Paul was in disbelief over being ejected and it's hard to blame him. Under normal circumstances, it would take something serious to earn back-to-back technicals but Paul barely felt like he did anything to be worthy of getting kicked from the game.
This season, through 44 games, Chris is averaging 9.4 points, 7.1 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game off the bench, He's been a spark for the Dubs offensively and his playmaking in the backcourt has been essential to their survival.
But for a Warriors team that is currently fighting to stay in the play-in territory, losing their backup point guard for such a crucial game is nothing short of devastating. Of course, without Paul, they were unable to win the game and they now sit dangerously close to losing their only path to the postseason.
With a few weeks to go in the season, it remains to be seen how the situation will play out in Golden State but they'll need more than just Stephen Curry to show up if they want to make a meaningful run in the West this year.
Chris Paul Has A Nasty Rivalry With Longtime Referee
While Tony Brother is notorious for being a strict official, he's not the one who often rubs shoulders with Paul. That description better fits Scott Foster, who is another longtime referee and a veteran in his field.
Chris Paul once had a nine-year losing streak for games officiated by Foster and it's a big indicator that something more is going on between the two. it wasn't until 2023 that we discovered the truth about Foster and his personal grudge against Paul.
According to the NBA veteran, they had an encounter a few years ago that even the league itself is aware of. It has to do with his son and some kind of personal rivalry they've created.
Even Adam Silver himself has commenced on the situation with Paul and Scot Foster, and publicly called for peace by telling both sides to "go out and do your jobs.”
In the end, Chris Paul is never going to win a war against the NBA officials. Whether it's Tony Brothers or Scott Foster, the NBA has always been supportive of their refs and that will continue even in the face of Chris Paul's challenges.
For now, it's imperative that Chris keeps his emotions in check and learns how to control himself when even the worst calls are made. Even at this stage of his career, he's too important to get caught up in wars with the officials and it will always be a losing battle.
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