As a Sixers fan with minimal to no interest in the team actually winning any more games this season, I have to say I found myself in agreement with Paul George's assessment of the bad officiating in last night's Pacers victory at the Wells Fargo Center.
George got called for a couple techs that were both borderline in my opinion. And his explanation, via Jess Camerato, seems pretty reasonable.
"We were warning them (the refs) all night what he's going to do, stuff he's doing, and they allowed this s--- to go on," George said. "He was throwing jabs, throwing punches at my stomach all night. I didn't retaliate until late in the game when they weren't doing s--- about it. So he pulled me down, I get double tech for doing nothing. And then throw an elbow at my neck, I get another tech for nothing. So [I] really don't have no respect or no -- nothing's there for officiating."
Henderson was playing hard all night and didn't really come off as dirty until that final elbow, but the calls against George seemed real tough. It's not too hard to side with an opposing star in a meaningless game when you can hate on the refs. Everybody likes hating on the refs.
But I can't say I agreed with all of George's tactics. Following the game he took some more low blows directed at Gerald Henderson.
"For whatever reason, he doesn't like getting scored on by me," George said. "Every time he's at home, I guess that's when he feels confident. He's sweet on the road, but at home is when he gets some nuts."
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Ouch.
The Sixers lost the game, which is nice for the Tankathon, and George got heated and said some entertaining things. A mostly good night at the Center in South Philly when all is said and down.
