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Raptors fans, who don’t necessarily need yet another reason to believe there’s a grand league-wide conspiracy against their beloved team, woke up angry this morning. The team lost 102-99 to the Kings last night — a regrettable outcome — but that’s not why they’re angry. (Well, not entirely.)
If you watched the game, one in which Toronto played demonstrably poorly for long stretches — including a cavalcade of late possessions they’d probably like to have back — you know what I’m talking about. They got boned in the final seconds.
The Raptors were down three with 2.4 seconds left. We don’t need to rehash the hows and what-have-yous of how they got to that point. Time is what it is (usually), and you can’t go backwards (again, usually).
The Raptors set up to inbound the ball, DeMarre Carroll got it in, it was touched by DeMarcus Cousins, yes, but Terrence Ross gathered it, dribbled, and put up a shot. Bang. Overtime. What a moment.
Officials rule DeMarcus Cousins deflected ball & therefor Terrence Ross's game-tying three came after time expired pic.twitter.com/t2tb1Jsdka
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) November 21, 2016
Ah, but then you read the caption on that tweet and remember the true story. And the rage, it builds from a well deep within you.
Are you upset? Yes.
Is Patrick Patterson upset? Yes.
Please explain to me how T Ross shot doesn't count.. @NBA
— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) November 21, 2016
27.2 - 24 = WHAT? #shotclock
— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) November 21, 2016
Looking forward to the apology from the @NBA even though it won't do shit for the outcome. #haha #raptors
— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) November 21, 2016
Is Kyle Lowry upset? Yes.
Kyle Lowry's got nothing for my man @Paul__Jones. I give him credit for trying, though pic.twitter.com/jGOWY4XnMZ
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) November 21, 2016
Is Terrence Ross upset? Yes.
Is Dwane Casey upset? Yes.
Raptors coach Dwane Casey irate after Terrence Ross's game-tying buzzer-beater waved off on video review as Kings sweep season series pic.twitter.com/NlnulNGw8K
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) November 21, 2016
(This clip is even better — you can actually see him say “That’s not right!”)
Dwayne Casey was FURIOUS after the refs waived off the Terrence Ross game-tying 3-pointer
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) November 21, 2016
#RaptorsKings pic.twitter.com/AvUkGS0lH2
And finally, as promised, we get to the official explanation, which, really, no matter how you slice it, is a junk justification which plays with the rules and laws of time, sets a bizarrely bad precedent with regards to home timekeepers, has no internal logic within the construct of a professional basketball contest, and will be appealed based purely on the notion that this was a dumb call that was made dumbly with dumb reasoning.
Anyway, here’s Crew Chief Mike Callahan with the ruling:
NBA referee Mike Callahan pool reporter transcript below: pic.twitter.com/3Rx8ad4Lra
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) November 21, 2016
Call in sick on Monday, folks.