The Boston Celtics hosted the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Celtics continued their good form with a win. It was a routine win for the hosts as they cruised past the Pelicans 125-114. The Pelicans were without their forward, Zion Williamson. The game had a bizarre technical foul call on Jose Alvarado. A case can be made that the NBA referees have gone soft to say, making arbitrary calls and disrupting the game, some even changing the course of the game.
Iono about that. Doing a gun point at the ref? That’s a no no.
— Sketchy (@Sketchy72) January 12, 2023
Jose Alvarado received a technical foul after he taunted the official and possibly Boston Celtics‘ Luke Kornet. Alvarado drove to the basket and scored an easy lay-up, after which he pointed at Kornet. The action looked like a “gun” gesture, however, a taunt that attracted a technical foul for the Pelicans’ guard. The “gunpoint” may be a little too much but, it looks like whoever has the whistle controls the game for now.
NBA referees go soft after a bizarre technical foul on Jose Alvarado
The NBA officials on the court are calling the shots, which is hampering the play and making it less exciting for the fans. Everyone often appreciates the correct calls by the officials. However, the number of wrong calls have been on the rise from the refs. Ja Morant in December got ejected for having a conversation with a courtside fan.
Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks guard received a technical for calling out on Dwight Powel, his own teammate. Luka was shouting at his teammate and received a technical from the referees. This was another bizarre incident, where a player was called for telling his teammate to put in some effort. The call was, however, protested by the Mavs as Powel didn’t react rashly to Luka’s shouting.
Nah. That can be considered a gun motion. No place for that.
— JWorld (@joeworld22) January 12, 2023
There have been incidents where the players shout in the referee’s face and walk away from that. Indeed, it raises a case for keeping it consistent, if not calling them out. The NBA officials are often seen dictating the game and calling fouls when they feel like, that said, they should as well make a list for such calls.