Jackies coach Roth calls for ‘same respect’ from refs as Cotton

Jackies coach Scott Roth believes his stars aren’t afforded as many incidental foul calls as Wildcats talisman Bryce Cotton But NBL legend Andrew Gaze can see both sides of the equation before their semi final series begins in Perth on Friday.

Bryce Cotton is guarded by JackJumpers star Milton Doyle during a game earlier this season. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

NBL legend Andrew Gaze can see both sides of the argument after JackJumpers coach Scott Roth used a radio interview to implore referees to give Milton Doyle “the same respect” afforded to Perth superstar Bryce Cotton.

Two days before Friday’s opening semi final game against the Wildcats, Roth fronted an SEN interview with Gaze and Andy Maher armed with statistics outlining his belief his star guards aren’t given as many favours with incidental fouls as Cotton.

“He’s difficult to deal with when you can’t touch him,” Roth said when asked how to shut down the four-time league MVP.

“It’s very hard to guard someone who’s getting a lot of incidental fouls during a game. Our foul discipline will have to be really on point,” Roth said.

“Cotton this year (has shot) 214 foul shots. My guys, Milton Doyle shot 71 and JC (Jordon Crawford) 81 for a total of 152, and Cotton himself has shot 214.

“We’re hoping some of those incidental calls are both sides of the ball, that our guys get the same respect as Bryce does, which he’s earned through what he’s done.

“He’s difficult to deal with when you can’t get near him. My guy Milton Doyle shoots 71, and he gets knocked around like a pin ball machine.”

Gaze, the NBL’s all-time leading scorer, told The Mercury he could understand Roth’s viewpoint, but added he didn’t feel Cotton was necessarily getting favouritism.

“From my observation anyway, I don’t think Bryce gets any special treatment because every game he’s going to be the target of the opposition,” Gaze said.

“Where Bryce perhaps doesn’t get the calls others might is off the ball. There’s a lot of holding and bumping. Maybe when he’s going to the rim he might pick up a few every now and then that goes his way, but to me it doesn’t stick out.

“(But) Roth backed it up with data. Every now and then you think there’s a call that others might not get because it’s Bryce Cotton and he’s a superstar. But equally I find there’s times when I think they’re holding and bumping Bryce and there’s not a whole lot of protection for him. I can see both sides of it.

“They’re tough players to officiate. They have the ball a lot and the defence is very aggressive with him, because you have to be.”

It’s not the first time Roth has voiced his frustration at the number of foul calls Doyle receives.

After a narrow win over Brisbane at Launceston in November, Roth suggested Doyle may be a victim of his understated nature.

“He’s super unselfish and he’s quiet,” Roth said after the 87-85 win.

“I think that quietness sometimes is mistaken and it allows him to play at a really good level. But it also is one of those things where he doesn’t get a lot of those calls, because of how his demeanour is.

“He’s not going to argue and go after refs or anything ridiculous, which is part of our culture anyway. I think sometimes people take advantage of that with him.”

Doyle backed up his coach’s thoughts.

“I don’t know what it is, but I’d appreciate some free throws,” he said.

“I watch all these guys yell and scream every time someone touches them. Just because I don’t do that doesn’t mean I don’t get touched.

“It’s just how it goes here. It was the same last year, hopefully things change a little bit.”

Asked if Doyle wasn’t getting calls due to his quiet nature, Gaze said: “Maybe. It’s something that again hasn’t stuck out to me, but the way Scott presented the data it makes sense he hasn’t been getting a lot of calls, because he’s a high usage guy and gets to the rim a lot. “You’d have to do a deeper analysis to know if he’s getting the rough end of the stick, but I can understand why Scott might have a view he’s not getting the calls that others might.”

Jackies assistant coach Mark Radford said on Thursday they’re more focused on helping Doyle get to the stripe more often than worrying about Cotton.

“We’ve had conversations with the refereeing department on how Milton can draw more fouls,” he said.

“That’s what we’re more interested in, what Milton Doyle can do and how he can be respected at the same level, because he’s proven in a short time he’s one of the premier players in the league.

“In terms of Bryce, everybody’s got to learn to defend him a little bit better, and a bit smarter.

“Milton just has to stay aggressive, and what will be, will be.”

Roth said he doesn’t badger the referees department on his views, but it’s clear the interview was a strategic play to ensure the officials are aware of his thoughts.

“Consistency of refereeing is always an art form, and tough. If you’re refereeing someone with a big reputation like you would in the NBA, certain guys are going to have more leniency than other guys.

“But when you get to the playoffs - when I have a guy (Doyle) who was first-team NBL last year and second-team this year, and he’s not getting to the foul line and he’s a volume user, you have to scratch your head at times.”

Friday’s opening semi final game tips off at 9.30pm AEDT.