In the second quarter of the game between the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, Ausar Thompson was ejected after making contact with referee John Goble. The NBA official commented on what happened between him and Thompson after the game.
According to the Pool Report by The Athletic’s Christian Clark uploaded on NBA.com, Goble answered a couple of questions about his decision to toss Thompson from the game and call a technical foul on Pistons’ coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
So why did the game’s crew chief throw the 22-year-old out of the game?
“For aggressively approaching and making contact with the official,” Goble said.
Thompson finished with just eight points, two rebounds and two assists in nine minutes. As for Bickerstaff’s technical, it was for continuous complaining.
Bickerstaff Blasts Goble’s Bias
The Detroit Pistons were shaken up and frustrated after what happened to Amen Thompson in the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks. They were down by as many as 18 points before making a furious rally in the fourth quarter and forcing overtime.
However, the Pistons came up short as the Mavericks pulled off the 116-114 win. Cade Cunningham had 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Cooper Flagg put up 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Anthony Davis hit the eventual game-winning dunk with 1:32 left in overtime.
Speaking to reporters after the game, J.B. Bickerstaff went off on crew chief John Goble for entering the game with bias in his mind. While Bickerstaff didn’t mention Goble by name, he mentioned the questionable calls made by the referee in the game.
“The same referee who comes into the game who’s not objective, and then he goes out and makes those calls. (That) same referee, if you take a look at the play where he ejects A.T, he steps towards A.T., right? That’s where the minimal contact happens, where he steps towards him and initiates it,” Bickerstaff said, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Bickerstaff added that Goble also ignored him during the final moments of the game when he was trying to call a timeout. He said:
“That same referee is standing next to me. Does not award me the timeout.”
The Pistons had plenty of opportunities to tie the game or even get the win, though their chances of making a shot would have increased if Bickerstaff had been able to draw up a play.
Ausar Among Candidates For DPOY
The Detroit Pistons have the second-best defense in the league behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, as per NBA Stats. The main reason for it is Ausar Thompson, who has a claim to being the best perimeter defender in the NBA.
According to Fox Sports‘ latest Defensive Player of the Year odds, Ausar is among the candidates for this year’s award. Chet Holmgren is currently the favorite to win, while Victor Wembanyama is close behind, followed by Bam Adebayo and Ausar’s twin brother, Amen Thompson.
Other candidates include Scottie Barnes, Draymond Green, reigning DPOY Evan Mobley, Dyson Daniels and Cason Wallace.
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