NBA reveals interesting referee assignments for Celtics-Warriors Game 3 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The referees allowed both teams, but mostly the Golden State Warriors, to get away with a lot of physicality on defense in Game 2 of the 2022 NBA Finals on Sunday night.
Could we see a different type of officiating when the series shifts to TD Garden on Wednesday night when the Boston Celtics host the Warriors in Game 3?
The NBA revealed the Game 3 referee assignments Wednesday morning. Scott Foster is the crew chief, and he’ll be joined by David Guthrie and Courtney Kirkland.
Guthrie led the league in technical fouls called during the regular season. Foster and Kirkland both finished in the top 10 among referees in fouls called per 48 minutes, per NBARefStats.
Why is this important? Well, if Game 2 was any indication, this is going to be a very physical series, especially when Warriors forward Draymond Green is on the court.
Jaylen Brown wasn’t happy with Draymond’s antics in Game 2
Green upped his energy and physicality on defense in Game 2, and he went over the line in the first quarter and picked up a technical foul. He should have received another tech later in the second quarter after an incident with Celtics guard Jaylen Brown. But Green already had one technical, and the referees decided not to give him another, which would’ve resulted in ejection.
Will the referees try to get control of Game 3 early and make it clear that same level of physicality won’t be tolerated? It’s worth asking, given the tendencies of the crew working Wednesday night. These three referees don’t usually tolerate a lot of nonsense.