Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch Calls Out Referees' Double Standards

The officiating has been surprising in the Playoffs because the refs are letting physicality play out most of the time. Some games have been marred with constant foul calls, while some are lacking in whistles being blown. 

In the Timberwolves vs Lakers series, there have been prominent missed calls like with Luka in Game 4. However, that can go the other way because Minnesota has also suffered from a bizarre whistle like when Jaden McDaniels was called for a phantom foul.

Finch's Thoughts On The Officiating In The Series

The Timberwolves are frustrated with some of the referees' problems in this series, but they are not making it the main point. They want to complain, but they are just going along with it, as they must focus on beating the Lakers.

That approach has panned out well for Finch and the Timberwolves because they are more confident now. Minnesota has a 3-1 lead heading into Game 5 when they can finish off the third-seeded Lakers.

Finch has the right mindset in controlling what he can control, but he scoffed at the idea that the Lakers are being ganged up on with the referees' calls when the Timberwolves also had some bad calls go against them.

"Any series, any possession, any time down the floor, if you've watched these Playoffs, there's a foul that's called or not called," Finch said ahead of Game 5. "We've not made this series about any calls, any whistles, or anything that have gone against us or for us - even when they started Game 1, and they didn't call a foul on the Lakers for 20 minutes, which is unheard of."

The Timberwolves Must Stay Focused On The Game

Some people might want the referee issues to pop up and distract the Timberwolves, but they are taking the right approach. They need to keep playing their game because they have been spectacular in this postseason.

The Lakers might be struggling because they are too worried about officiating. Minnesota wants to keep pushing and end this series in Game 5, but Lakers head coach JJ Redick has likely prepared his team well.

Luka, LeBron James, and the rest of the Lakers have their backs against the wall. That is one of the toughest matchups for the Timberwolves because the Lakers will do everything they can to win the series from here by mounting a comeback.