Monty Williams: “Absolute Worst Call of the Season” – Coach’s Take on Non-Foul vs. Knicks
The Detroit Pistons suffered a heartbreaking 113-111 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday night, and head coach Monty Williams did not hold back his frustration with the officiating in his postgame press conference. Williams specifically criticized the no-call on a play where Pistons forward Ausar Thompson had his legs taken out before the Knicks scored an and-1 moments later. Williams referred to it as “the absolute worst call of the season” and stated that “enough is enough.”
Williams expressed that the Pistons have already reached out to the NBA and submitted video clips of the non-foul call. The play in question occurred when Thompson stole the ball and was dribbling up the court before momentarily losing control. As he tried to regain possession, Knicks player Donte DiVincenzo dove and tripped Thompson, right in front of an official, with less than 10 seconds remaining in the game. Referee James Washington admitted in a pool report after the game that a loose ball foul should have been called on DiVincenzo.
The frustration with the officiating goes beyond this game for Williams and the Pistons. Just two nights prior, they faced the Orlando Magic and lost on a game-winning shot at the buzzer that was preceded by a questionable non-traveling call. Against the Knicks, there were also two potential fouls that could have been called in the final seconds of the game. Williams expressed that this loss was emblematic of what they have been dealing with all season long.
Williams now has 48 hours to file a protest with the league, and he made it clear that he is tired of discussing the officiating and tired of his players asking what more they can do. He believes that the situation with Thompson’s non-foul call is a prime example of what they have been facing throughout the season.
DiVincenzo, the player involved in the controversial play, did not directly address whether or not he thought he fouled Thompson. However, he did mention that they “dodged a bullet” with the win and respected everyone’s opinion on the matter. He also stated that he went for the ball and couldn’t provide further insight until he watched the footage.
This is not the first time this season that coaches have criticized officiating. Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajaković was fined $25,000 for his comments following a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, where he called the officiating “shameful.” Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown was fined $50,000 for aggressively pursuing an official and publicly criticizing the officiating during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the strained relationship between players, coaches, and referees during All-Star Weekend and expressed his desire for better communication and respect on both sides. He emphasized that progress can be made in this area and that it is a focus for the league moving forward.
The loss to the Knicks dropped the Pistons’ record to 8-49 for the season, while the Knicks improved to 35-23 and currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Overall, the controversial no-call in the Pistons’ loss to the Knicks has reignited discussions about officiating in the NBA. Coaches like Monty Williams are frustrated with what they perceive as inconsistent calls, and the league is grappling with how to improve communication and respect between players, coaches, and referees. As the season continues, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and if any changes will be implemented to alleviate these concerns.