Bullets coach lashes NBL refs after Melbourne loss
Shayne Hope |
Brisbane Bullets coach Stu Lash claims NBL referees are disrespecting his players after they were on the wrong end of a lop-sided foul count in a narrow loss to Melbourne United.
A horror week ended in heartbreak for the Bullets, who cut a 21-point deficit back to three points with more than one minute left before falling to a 99-93 defeat to ladder leaders United at John Cain Arena on Saturday.
It came after Brisbane sacked import Jaylen Adams mid-week and lost star man Casey Prather to a season-ending knee injury in Wednesday’s thrashing from New Zealand.
Mitch Norton (19 points), replacement player Lamar Patterson (18) and Tyrell Harrison (16) all threatened to inspire a Bullets upset against Melbourne.
But United’s Milton Doyle posted a season-high 28 points and stood up at the foul line in the dying stages, as did Shea Ili, to seal the home side’s win.
Significantly, Melbourne were 31-of-36 from the charity stripe compared to Brisbane’s 8-of-11.
Lash said post-game he will demand an explanation from the NBL over the foul count.
“Our guys are not getting the same level of respect as others in this league do,” Lash said.
“They hold, they grab, Tyrell gets no calls.
“The challenge on (Tyson) Walker is clearly a foul. Mitch Norton’s played in this league for 15 years, he gets thrown into the baseline.
“It is what it is, but there has to be some explanations.”
Lash insisted a lack of respect from referees is a “pretty ongoing” issue for the Bullets.
“But tonight, 36 to 11, it’s a wide disparity. It’s a very wide disparity,” he said.
Lash clarified his complaint wasn’t a specific attack on Melbourne.
“We do have some guys that are in their first year in the league and there’s always an adjustment to that level of play,” Lash said.
“It’s far more physical than the NBA and the G-League, no doubt. You can’t hold and grab like this off the ball.
“It’s just them making an adjustment to it and I’m not picking on United per se. It’s just that foul disparity really stood out to me tonight.
“We’ve just got to make an adjustment to how we play and play through it.”
In response, Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman said he didn’t see anything untoward.
“We want to play with a physicality and if we’re stepping over the line we expect to be called for it,” Vickerman said.
“I think we had one possession where we had three fouls called there.
“Our league is encouraging our physicality right now and hopefully we’re doing it the right way.
“But at times you’re getting rewarded for really attacking the paint and that was part of our success tonight.”
Melbourne trailed 7-19 early but took a stranglehold on the contest through the middle stages and appeared headed for a massive home win.
Patterson and Norton helped turn it around as Brisbane nailed seven last-quarter triples on the way to 39 points for the period.
They were a live chance before Melbourne’s game management and ice-cool hands from the foul line saw them home.
Ili’s return from a serious hamstring injury with 10 points and four assists was a positive note for Melbourne (11-2).
Lash forecast further roster moves for Brisbane (5-9) to reignite their finals push.
AAP
