NBA Finals discourse inevitably turns to nitpicking officiating, especially around Wembanyama
By
Chris Thompson
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Summary
The article discusses the inevitable shift in NBA Finals discourse toward nitpicking officiating, using the challenge of officiating Victor Wembanyama as a central example. The author argues that nuanced, middle-ground observations about refereeing are nearly impossible in the polarized, high-stakes environment of the Finals, where any comment is likely to be distorted or weaponized by partisan fans.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledNobody wants to think about officiating, much less talk about it.
The NBA Finals are no occasion for rational nonpartisanship. The middle ground is out of reach.
Referees are still sorting out how to protect Victor Wembanyama from a kind of mauling that only he faces.
Unless I surround the statement in 1,000 caveats... my observation is guaranteed to zoom right past the part of th
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