Utah Jazz vs. the World. Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gover and friends may have suffered a second straight loss (and third in the last four games) tonight (Wednesday through Thursday), but they continue to hold the best balance in the NBA. And yet, according to the stars on the team, they are not getting the respect they deserve. And according to their stuff following the loss tonight in Philadelphia – they were completely fed up with the situation.
About 30 seconds to the end of overtime, and with Utah 5 points behind, Mitchell was thrown out of the game by the refereeing team. On his way to the locker room he nervously threw to the floor an object that stood in his way. When he was finally given the opportunity to sit down with the journalists and explain the events, the jazz star kept nothing in his stomach and went on the offensive against the judges.
“I’m never one to blame judges – I always say I could have done more – but it’s already out of control,” Mitchell began in a monologue. “There were similar games we won, there were similar games we lost. But the refereeing … we’re too nice, we do not complain, we do not become frustrated … so they keep knocking us out.”
Mitchell continued in a firm tone: “For me, we won this game. We have the second half of the season ahead of us and we will prepare for these things. It already makes me sick, to be honest with you. It makes us all sick. It’s something that just eats me up. It’s something. “Eat me. It’s completely ridiculous. You all know where it comes from. We all know where it comes from. But it really got out of hand. Really, really got out of control. The league needs to do something about it.”
“We won this game in my personal opinion. … It’s getting f — ing ridiculous.”
Donovan Mitchell after getting ejected vs. the 76ers: pic.twitter.com/sSTquZuu2n
– SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 4, 2021
If Mitchell’s words seem sharp to you, wait until you read what Rudy Gover had to say. Utah’s French chin left politically correct on the sidelines, saying out loud and clear all the things no league leader would be happy to hear. “Our players are not able to get the whistles that all the rest of this fucking league is getting. We are Utah Jazz, and maybe there are people who do not want to see us come as far as we are able to get.”
Gober continued the outrageous attack: “Three times in a row Mike Conley reached the ring, fouls were committed in front of the referees’ eyes – and no whistle. And on the other hand, whistles were heard for invisible fouls. “I hope the referees see the game again when they get home. And I hope they feel ashamed when they watch it.”
According to the man who has twice won the defensive player title of the season, the unfair treatment towards Utah stems from a clear reason. “I do not want to say that, but I really believe in it. After 8 years in this league, I can say that it is harder to be a team from a small market, and that is one of the things we have to overcome. I said to the guys in the team – ‘When you are a small market, “You have to be better than just better. You have to be at an elite level, and you have to control what you can control.”
“But it’s very disappointing that we are not respected,” Guber concluded the monologue. “It’s not just one move because we all make mistakes. I have a lot of respect for the judges. It’s hard work. I think they try their best, but it was clear every night. They can not do act that way. We’re going to watch the video and try to get better, But we deserve more respect as a group and as human beings for all the work we invest. “
New ESPN story: Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert both blasted the way the Jazz are officiated after losing to the Sixers in OT, saying the Jazz are treated differently as a small market team compared to more glamorous opponents. “It’s f — ing ridiculous.” Https://t.co/mjDQBItd6f
– Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 4, 2021