The New York Knicks were left stunned by the officiating during their recent narrow loss to
NBA title favorites Brooklyn Nets. They lost out 112-110 at the Barclays Center, and even
the NBA was forced to admit that officials had missed critical calls during the tight encounter.

Many of the issues revolved around Julius Randle not being afforded enough protection and
conversely being incorrectly judged to have fouled others. On the issue, Randle, who scored
24 points, responded;

“I don’t know what they’re watching or what they’re seeing. As aggressive as I played,
attacking the paint, I can’t be penalized for just being stronger than people. And that is an
answer that I got today.”

The win, the latest of the Nets’ strong season, further pushes Brooklyn clear when it comes
to the NBA futures bets market. They now sit on (+300), now some way clear of the Golden
State Warriors and last year’s champions, the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Nets are now 16-7 and ahead of a rejuvenated Chicago Bulls in the top spot in the
Eastern Conference, but this latest win was certainly a fortuitous one.

Though coach Tom Thibodeau and Randle made it clear they were displeased with the calls
during the game, the NBA didn’t censure or fine them and did admit there were a couple of
late calls that were given incorrectly, but that will be scant consolation to the Knicks, who are
having an up and down time of it this season.

Thibodeau was more diplomatic when approached for comment the day after the sore loss;

“Hey, look, no one’s perfect. It’s both good and bad to see that report. I think that was Adam
[Silver’s] idea in terms of transparency, which is good. Everyone is going to make mistakes.
Mistakes happen. You move on. No one’s perfect. They get most of them right. Some of
them they’re not going to get right.”

The win for the Nets did give James Harden the chance to get back into gear, with the nine-
time All-Star racking up 34 points, and it’s undoubtedly been Kevin Durant who’s been
putting in the key displays that have helped Steve Nash’s side to a strong start to the
season.

As far as contenders for the title, the Los Angeles Lakers were considered the main threat to
Brooklyn’s dominance when the season started, but LeBron James and co aren’t delivering
and right now would be lucky even to make the postseason.

Steph Curry is driving the Golden State Warriors with some genuinely astounding displays
and numbers that are frankly astounding, and the 33-year-old is pretty much the perfect NBA
player and arguably in the top three of all-time. The Phoenix Suns, last season’s losing finalists, racked up a mammoth 18-game winning streak and therefore should not be ruled
out and likewise, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks are pushing for back-to-back
titles.

The Nets are there for the taking, and if Harden can up his game and offer genuine support
to Durant, then Nash’s men will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

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