Pacers coach slams criticism of referee Scott Foster

The Indiana Pacers lost Game 4 111-104. It didn’t happen without controversy, however. There was much criticism of referee Scott Foster after the game, after he missed an apparent offensive foul on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

After the game, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle defended Foster, calling the criticism “awful” and “stupid.”

“As far as officiating, I think it’s awful, some of the things I’ve seen about the officiating, and Scott Foster, in particular,” Carlisle said.

“I’ve known Scott Foster for 30 years. He’s a great official. He’s done a great job in these playoffs. We’ve had him a lot of times, and the ridiculous scrutiny that’s being thrown out there is terrible, and unfair, and unjust. It’s stupid.”

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault also spoke about the officiating in Game 4.

“Well, there were a crap-ton of fouls — that’s why there were a crap-ton of free throws,” Daigneault said.

“I thought the refs did a good job tonight. Both teams shot a lot of free throws. It was physical. That was what the game was. It was a physical game on both ends of the floor for both teams.”

As you can see, both coaches saw nothing out of the ordinary when it came to the officiating. Sometimes referees miss calls, even if it is right in front of their faces.