Head coach Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors. Photo: Dylan Buell
Toronto coach Darko Rajaković unleashed a vehement critique against the officiating following the Los Angeles Lakers’ narrow 132-131 victory over the Raptors on Tuesday night.
Rajaković, in his first year as head coach, expressed his outrage at the game’s glaring free throw disparity, particularly in the fourth quarter when the Lakers attempted 23 free throws compared to the Raptors’ two.
Rajaković’s frustration heightened as LA’s Anthony Davis, scoring 20 of his 41 points in the final quarter, went a perfect 11 for 11 at the free-throw line during that period. In total, Davis took 14 of the Lakers’ 36 free throws in the game, while the entire Toronto team managed only 13 attempts.
He didn’t mince his words, denouncing the situation as “outrageous” and pounded the table, expressing his disappointment in the referees and the league as a whole for allowing such a significant free throw imbalance during the most crucial period of the game.
The difference in calls was even more noticeable in a game where the Lakers’ Anthony Davis displayed his domination with 11 rebounds and a 13-for-17 performance from the free throw line.
With a brilliant effort that included eight free throws, a critical block, 10 vital points in the last minute, Davis effectively clinched the victory.
Sport and the perception of unfair treatment go hand in hand.
A wayward LBW call from the umpire in the cricket, an unnoticed forward pass, a “missed” high tackle committed against the Warriors – we’ve seen it all before.
We don’t have to look far in our own backyard to find some classic examples of behaviour like Rajaković:
Toovey’s impassioned post-match outburst following a loss to the Rabbitohs stands out as a memorable moment, and a refreshing departure from an era dominated by clichés rather than genuine expressions of opinion.
The catalyst for Toovey’s scorching hot tirade towards the officials was the contentious refereeing decisions in the 22-10 result, particularly an absolute shocker of a ruling by one of the Warriors fans former favourite referees Henry Perenara.
It regarded Steve Matai’s alleged failure to ground the ball in what was revealed to be an obvious try when shown in the replays. It was enough to make Toovey explode:
