Scott Foster Absent from NBA Finals Game 7
The experienced NBA referee, Scott Foster, was not selected to referee Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The referees chosen for the crucial match, the first in a Final since 2016 and the ninth since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, were James Capers, Josh Tiven, and Sean Wright. James Williams will act as a substitute. Foster, who has participated in more Finals series (18) and games (26) than any other of the 12 referees selected by the NBA, was a strong candidate for this game. He was expected to be the head of the officiating crew, a role he performed in Game 4 of these Finals in Indiana on June 13.Following an online debate, especially among Pacers fans, about the officiating in the Thunder’s victory and about Foster in particular, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle defended Foster’s reputation and work before Game 5.
The irony now lies in the fact that the focus will be on the fact that Foster was not called upon to participate at all. Foster has long been considered one of the best NBA referees, but he has also become a focus of attention due to the way he performs his job and the criticism from various players, teams, and fans. The other three referees who served as crew chiefs in the first four games of the series, John Goble (Game 1), Zach Zarba (Game 2), and Capers (Game 3), each received a second game. Goble was the crew chief for Game 5, Zarba for Game 6, and now Capers for Game 7. Alongside Capers, who will be in his 17th Finals game, the two referees who worked Game 4 with Foster will be in Game 7. Tiven will be in his sixth NBA Finals and will officiate his tenth Finals game, and Wright will be in his second Finals and will officiate his third game. Williams, the substitute on Sunday, served on the officiating teams for Games 2 and 5. He is the only person who was asked to fulfill an officiating role three times in this series. Foster, on the other hand, is the only referee who only participated in one game of the series.I think it’s terrible some of the things I’ve seen about the officiating and about Scott Foster in particular. I’ve known Scott Foster for 30 years. He’s a great referee. He’s done a great job in these playoffs. We’ve had him many times. The ridiculous scrutiny that’s being thrown around is terrible, unfair, unjust, and stupid.
Rick Carlisle
