Ben Simmons isn’t convinced of the foul calls he received, most especially late in the fourth that ousted him out of their game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Brooklyn Nets point forward, who went out for the second time in three games so far, was in utter disbelief on the sixth foul he was called for after sticking a contact on Ja Morant. Morant was waiting to initiate a play after rolling up the ball to cross the half court at around four minutes left in the last quarter and appeared baiting Simmons to get nearer.
“I just saw the play,” Simmons said following the match, courtesy of ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “It wasn’t a foul. [referee J.T. Orr] called it a foul, made a mistake, it is what it is … it’s really frustrating … it’s not a foul, but it was bulls—. It’s frustrating because it’s late game, fourth quarter, it’s a physical, close game. It’s the NBA. It’s not college. It’s not high school. Some people are going to get hit, some people bleed; it’s basketball.”
Simmons, who was also handed a technical on the first frame, was visibly frustrated on the assessment he gained, further revealing that he didn’t receive any explanation on the last foul call.
“There was no explanation for that call,” Simmons said. “[Orr] didn’t have anything to say. Same as the technical foul. He said because Ja had a tech, he had to give me a tech because I said something.
“It wasn’t malicious. It wasn’t at the referee. I thought it was just a part of basketball. People have emotions. I didn’t cuss at him. I didn’t call him anything. I just said it was a bulls— call, which it was, and f—, let me get out of here. I just don’t want to get fined.”
Given Memphis’ reputation of being physical, Simmons continued and has been wondering about the nature of officiating on the Monday duel.
“One way you’re expecting a team to play physical and then you come out on defense and play the same way, physical — it goes one way in terms of fouls, but that’s basketball,” Simmons said. “You got to adjust, and I don’t think we adjusted well.”
The embattled Australian star left with another slow showing – seven markers, eight dimes, three boards, a steal and a lowly five turnovers in 28 minutes of play. His premature exit created a huge void on the part of the Nets in crunch time, as Morant and Desmond Bane iced up the Grizzlies’ 134-124 home escape.
