Joel Embiid felt that the officiating in the Philadelphia 76ers' Game 6 win favored Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, and Sixers head coach Doc Rivers thinks he's right.
To recall, following their win to tie the series at 3-3, the Sixers center ripped the foul calls during the game. According to Embiid, if referees are whistling fouls on “minimal contact” on Young, it should be the same when he and his teammates are touched.
The All-Star big man also shared he was hacked all night, but no foul was called. He ended up getting only four free-throw attempts in the game despite the physicality of the contest.
“I just felt like it wasn’t called both ways, especially because of the minimal contact that they get on their point guard. When it comes to us, we don’t get the same thing. I just want it called both ways,” Embiid shared, per Derek Bodner of The Athletic.
“If we’re gonna call some, like nothing (contact) on their point guard, it should be the same way, they should call the same thing on me if I get touched.”
When asked about Joel Embiid's stance on the officiating, Doc Rivers expressed his support to his best player and shared referees should not give a different treatment to big men compared to the smaller players.
“I don't want to get into this, but I think he's right. … There was one layup he made where a guy cut into his body and he fell to the floor. It seems like they can take liberties with big guys,” Rivers said, per Tom Moore of Courier Times.
True enough, it is surprising Embiid only had few free throws in the contest. Nonetheless, there isn't much disparity between the two teams when it comes to their trips to the charity stripe and number of personal fouls.
Heading to Game 7, Embiid and Co. are surely hoping there will be more fairness in officiating. With the game on the line, they could only hope that it won't be decided by errors or controversial decisions.
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