Chris Paul’s beef with referee Scott Foster, explained

Chris Paul actually doesn’t like NBA referee Scott Foster. The star level guard has been a vocal critic of the veteran official all through his profession, and he has the numbers to again up his resentment.

Paul has misplaced his final 12 playoffs video games when Foster has been on the officiating crew. The one time Paul’s crew gained a recreation with Foster put in as a referee got here when Paul was held out whereas he was within the league’s Well being and Security protocol throughout Sport 2 of the Western Convention Finals. Phoenix gained that recreation on the infamous ‘Valley Oop’ dunk by Deandre Ayton at the buzzer.

Paul’s grievance with Foster will probably be put to the check in Sport 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals. Foster is a part of the officiating crew for Tuesday evening’s recreation with the Suns going through elimination as they path 3-2 within the sequence with the sport in Milwaukee.

Paul and the Suns have already misplaced one recreation in these Finals that was officiated by Foster. The Bucks earned their first win within the sequence in Sport 3 with Foster reffing the sport.

Does Foster actually have it out for CP3? Listed below are among the essential feedback Paul has made in regards to the official in recent times.

Chris Paul’s points with Foster return to his first playoff run

Paul reached the playoffs for the primary time within the third yr of his profession when he led the New Orleans Hornets to a stunning turnaround that noticed the crew tie for the fourth finest document within the NBA at 56-26 on the yr.

Paul’s Hornets beat the Dallas Mavericks in 5 video games within the opening spherical, after which bumped into the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. The Hornets gained the primary two video games, however would go on to lose the sequence in Sport 7. Foster was on the officiating crew throughout that ultimate recreation.

Paul stated Foster reminded him that he was working throughout his first ever Sport 7 when the 2 shared the courtroom throughout a Sport 7 within the bubble throughout the 2020 NBA Playoffs. What a weird factor for a ref to say to a participant.

Chris Paul’s Rockets couldn’t win a playoff recreation officiated by Scott Foster

Paul was traded from the Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011 and instantly helped revitalize the franchise. The Clippers by no means broke via previous the second spherical with Paul on the crew principally resulting from some poor luck with accidents and matchups. When Paul was traded to the Rockets, his beef with Foster began to develop into public.

Paul’s Rockets reportedly went 0-6 in playoffs games refereed by Foster. After receiving a technical foul throughout a January loss in 2018, Paul stated the officiating was “Scott Foster at his best.”

After a February loss in 2019, James Harden and Paul every referred to as out Foster after the sport. Harden stated Foster shouldn’t be allowed to officiate Rockets video games anymore, and characterised Foster as “impolite and conceited,” saying he couldn’t have a dialog with him throughout the recreation.

Paul chimed in to say he met with the league about Foster up to now, and he didn’t know what else he might do.

Chris Paul’s Thunder crew misplaced a Sport 7 to the Rockets within the bubble

Paul was traded for Russell Westbrook in 2019, and had low expectations as he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder. Whereas few anticipated Paul to final the season in OKC, he ended up delivering an All-Star season and main the Thunder to the No. 5 seed within the playoffs throughout the league’s restart bubble.

The Thunder and Rockets performed a terrific first spherical sequence that went seven video games, with the Rockets profitable to advance within the playoffs. After the Sport 7 loss, Paul was once more essential of Foster for whistling him for a delay of recreation name.

Paul criticized Foster once more after shedding Sport 3 to the Lakers

Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns this season, and led a crew that hadn’t made the playoffs since 2010 to the No. 2 general seed within the Western Convention. The Suns drew a tricky first spherical matchup in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers, and misplaced Sport 3 to go down 2-1 within the sequence.

Paul blasted Foster after Sport 3 and cited his document in video games the official was calling.

“If I was a betting man, 11 games in a row,” Paul said. “Eleven games in a row.”

Now Scott Foster is officiating the largest recreation of Paul’s profession in Sport 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals

If the Suns lose, their season is over, and so is Paul’s finest likelihood at an NBA championship.

Is Paul’s shedding document in opposition to Foster merely a coincidence? Sport 6 might lastly give us the reply.