Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian reacts to disappointing defeat to Melbourne United

For the second time in a week, NBL referees have found themselves in the crosshairs of angry coaches – with Sydney Kings’ Brian Goorjian the latest to critique the officials.

For the second consecutive round, an NBL coach has taken aim at the league’s officiating, Sydney’s legendary Brian Goorjian set to air his concerns with the Kings’ lopsided foul differential to referee boss Scott Butler.

Following Thursday night’s 87-83 loss to Melbourne United, an “emotional” Goorjian was aggrieved the Kings shot just six free throws on seven fouls, despite the “pretty fudging physical” game.

“They’re a physical team, we shoot six free throws, (draw) seven fouls for the whole game,” Goorjian said, after his side slipped to 5-5 on the season with a third straight loss.

“Can’t win, can’t beat a team like that.

“I’m emotional because I thought we addressed what we needed to address and we had the chance to do it (win) and that stares you in the face.”

The NBL ticked off Goorjian’s clever ref critique, the master with no case to answer.

Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian could find himself in hot water after targeting the referees after his side’s loss. Picture: Getty

It was the second time in three games the Kings have shot fewer free throws than their opponents have made — 14 United makes to six Kings takes in the four-point loss Thursday, 18 takes v Perth’s 24 makes as the Wildcats emerged by 3 points last Friday week.

“That stats not on us, that’s the feeling of this one. This has got to be fixed,” he said.

“Physical screens strong picks, there’s a lot of holding and grabbing out there and I thought it was fairly equal as far as the contact was in the game … (but the foul count) was very, very lopsided.

“I haven’t made this part of the press conferences but … ‘why are you losing?’ — this is a big part of it.

“It falls on me to work with my team on it and also maybe to take some cuts out of this … and show it to the referee supervisor.”

Brian Goorjian took aim at the referees after the Kings surprise defeat to Melbourne United. Picture: Getty

Goorjian said the officiating had left his players frustrated.

“I’ve got to do a better job of coaching … but it (the refereeing) was a big discussion point when I came into the locker room ‘hey man what’s going on out there?’,” Goorjian said.

Even United coach Dean Vickerman acknowledged the foul count was “low”, given his team averages 16.8 per game, fourth-most in the NBL.

“Our connection and physicality that we normally have is a little bit different against this team because of the way they space you out and the way that we switch a little bit more and so it was more just playing at a bit more of a gap and just trying to keep people in front of us, rather than getting into our aggressive on ball coverage,” Vickerman said.

Goorjian’s comments come in the same week Illawarra coach Justin Tatum was hit with a $3000 fine and forced to issue a public apology after he branded the referees “incompetent” — following a loss to United.

Originally published as Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian reacts to disappointing defeat to Melbourne United