Foul Game: Rockets Shooting Deactivated, Fosters Laker Comeback, 111-106
A Familiar Mess. NBA Fosters the Rules. Shooting Deactivation.
There’s always next game. But, we’ve said that far too many times already this season. Everything was fine and dandy for the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on Thursday night. They held a 19-point lead and looked poised to place a win in the books in the first game after the break. However, like we’ve seen too many times this season, that lead evaporated, and Houston lost. The Rockets couldn’t buy a basket in the final quarter as the Lakers stormed back for a 111-106 victory. James Harden managed to keep his streak alive, scoring 30 points, but it wasn’t enough. Houston dropped another game they should have won. The narrative on this season is slowly changing from where the Rockets will be seeded… to will they even make the playoffs? Houston currently sits only a game and half ahead of the 8th seed. Nothing is guaranteed in the West. If the Rockets can’t find a way to hold leads, the lead on their playoff peers in the standings will be vanquished.
The NBA has a serious problem. Scott Foster, the lead official in Thursday night’s contest, was at work again. Houston is now 0-7 this season in games Foster officiates. The official can’t seem to put aside his ego when calling Rocket games, or perhaps he is throwing games, in similar manner to his buddy, Tim Donaghy, who thankfully was caught and reprimanded for his actions during the 2006/2007 NBA season. A report was just released detailing who former NBA-official turned convict, Tim Donaghy, made calls to during his time betting on games during the 2006/2007 season. Donaghy made more calls to Scott Foster (134), than he did to his own bookie (126). If that doesn’t raise a red flag that this man should not be allowed to officiate NBA basketball, then I don’t know what does. In the final 20 minutes of the game, the Rockets didn’t attempt a foul shot, while the Lakers had 17 free throws. Oh, and James Harden, and Chris Paul both fouled out of the contest. The first time that’s ever happened, and the first time the Beard fouled out of a game since: December 22nd, 2017. The lead official for that game? Scott Foster. Of course.
Adam Silver and top league executives need to make the proper action in firing Foster. It’s never a good thing when one of the faces of your league calls out an official, by name, especially when it is not in that player’s nature. Harden has never publicly called out an official in his career. The Beard couldn’t help himself after the discrepancies in officiating last night. Afterwards, Harden said on Foster, “For sure, it’s personal. For sure. I don’t think he should be able to officiate our games anymore, honestly.” The chances the league takes action is unlikely, as the NBA has an agenda on their hands to keep the Rockets from winning important games. Harden will receive a fine for his comments, and Foster will go on rigging games until he retires (or until a bigger man can realize the indecency his actions do to the entire sport). Last postseason, the Rockets went 7-0 at home in games Scott Foster did not officiate. In the playoff games he officiated in Houston, the Rockets went 0-3. There is simply too much statistical and video evidence for Foster’s actions to be deemed “coincidental.” Look for Scott Foster to be the lead official in Houston’s biggest games if they make it to the playoffs.
Despite all the terrible calls (and their were a lot), Houston still should have won this game. Yes, the contest was not only the worst-officiated game of the Rockets season, but the game stands out as the worst called game of the year, and really highlights Foster’s concern for his own ego, over his concern for the integrity of the game. Houston couldn’t hit a shot in the fourth quarter and managed a measly 16 points, half as many as they got in the 3rd period. The Rockets wasted a solid game from Chris Paul, who finished an assist shy of a triple-double, and has looked spryer in each game since his return. Clint Capela, in his first game back from injury, played nicely alongside Kenneth Faried. Yet, none of this matters. Houston wasn’t able to hit a shot. Even if they could? When it comes down to it all, if the NBA can’t contain Scott Foster, no team will have a chance at dethroning the Warriors. And up next for Houston? The Golden State Warriors. In Oracle Arena. On Saturday night primetime. Here’s to hoping Scott Foster won’t be in the Bay Area for Houston’s next game.