Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle came out swinging in defense of veteran NBA referee Scott Foster after Game 4 of the Finals, which saw the Oklahoma City Thunder stage a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to even the series 2–2. The 71-foul slugfest ignited social media fury, with fans pointing fingers at officiating, especially Foster. But Carlisle was having none of it.
“As far as officiating, I think it’s awful—some of the things I’ve seen about Scott Foster in particular,” Carlisle said. “I’ve known Scott for 30 years. He’s a great official. The scrutiny is terrible, unfair, unjust, and stupid.”
However, according to ESPN insiders Tim MacMahon and Tim Bontemps, there’s more to Carlisle’s sudden praise than meets the eye. Bontemps revealed that if this series reaches Game 7, there’s a “100% chance” that Foster will be the crew chief. That’s because the NBA views Foster as its top playoff referee and schedules its most experienced officials for high-stakes games.
While Carlisle may genuinely respect Foster, his public endorsement also seems to be a subtle play to curry favor with the ref ahead of a potential winner-take-all matchup. As ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted, Carlisle’s quote “feels heartfelt,” but the timing couldn’t be more calculated.
For now, the Pacers must regroup after coughing up a double-digit lead. But Carlisle’s media strategy might already be planting seeds for when—and if—Scott Foster holds the whistle in a decisive Game 7.
(Hang tight as we bring in more soon…)
The post Rick Carlisle’s Public Defense of Scott Foster Hides Ulterior Motive as Per ESPN Source appeared first on EssentiallySports.
