NBL greats shocked at crucial foul call, Melbourne United play down injury concerns

It was the controversial call that proved crucial to Melbourne United’s series extending victory and its left the NBL’s greatest defensive player puzzled.

A frustrated Scott Roth during the JackJumpers’ Game 4 loss. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

The Australian basketball fraternity – including the NBL’s greatest defender – has been flummoxed by a controversial NBL grand final foul review that marred a game-four thriller and left fiery Tasmania coach Scott Roth questioning the league.

It comes as Melbourne United poured cold water on any injury concerns to stars Chris Goulding, Luke Travers or Ian Clark.

An incensed Roth let out a tirade of expletives after the review centre turned down his coach’s challenge of a third-quarter foul that looked a slam dunk to be overturned.

It sparked a social media storm, with everyone from Sydney Kings part-owner Andrew Bogut to former Brisbane Bullets big man Harry Froling airing their grievances over the decision to stand by the foul, whistled on Anthony Drmic.

As Clark drove toward the basket with 6.18 to go in the third, Drmic stayed attached, sliding his feet as he moved backward in an attempt to stay in front.

Drmic brushed Clark’s leg and was whistled for the foul, which Roth immediately challenged.

Former Wildcats player and arguably the greatest defender in NBL history Damian Martin. Picture: Getty Images

It’s understood, to the letter of the law, Drmic brushed Clark’s leg but, should that trend follow in game five, it could open a can of worms, given the minimal contact on United’s star import Ian Clark.

The NBL confirmed Friday that the review centre’s decision was correct.

Six-time defensive player of the year Damian Martin told Code Sports he would have been filthy, were he in Drmic’s position, and feared, while it was early in the game, it could have impacted the result, given how tight the contest was.

“I watch these things with defensive goggles on and I always ask myself what more the defence could have done,” the legendary six-time defensive player of the year told Code Sports.

“On first look, I thought the offensive player tried to draw contact and I didn’t think it was a foul.

“Watching the review, I still thought it wasn’t a foul.

“I don’t think Drmic could have done any more and, if it was a no-call, Melbourne wouldn’t lose any sleep when they reviewed the game.

“The contact was initiated and you’re asking too much of the defender when he’s done everything right.”

“I’m always of the belief one possession, one moment doesn’t decide games but, when you’ve had two games decided by one shot …”

Melbourne United is playing down injury concerns ahead of the Game 5 decider. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Despite Thursday night’s series-squaring nailbiter, not for the first time in the grand final, the officiating became the story after Roth called out decision makers in the review centre.

“I just make coaches challenges out of the blue because I have no idea what they (referees) call anyways,” a pithy, frustrated Roth said, post-game.

“When I win them I don’t even know why I won them and when I lose them I don’t understand why I lost them.

“I just throw it on the wall and see if something sticks or not. I have no idea what they call I don’t know what they’re looking at. I don’t get it. Just throw one out there, see what happens, who knows.

“I don’t know what they’re looking at. From our perspective it would be (overturned) but then there’s other ones where I have no idea that we can even win this challenge and we challenge it and all of a sudden we’ve won it, so I got zero clue.”

It places an added layer of pressure ahead of the championship decider on a referee group that has endured an up and down series, but was largely satisfactory throughout Thursday night’s clash – save for a glaring missed out-of-court on JackJumper Sean Macdonald in the fourth quarter.

United is adamant all of Goulding, Travers and Clark, who each spent time off the floor with injury concerns during the taxing game four win, would be fit and ready to go Sunday.

Originally published as NBL greats shocked at crucial foul call, Melbourne United play down injury concerns