NBA Sunday Social: Focusing on the fallout from botched call in the Trail Blazers game

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Back to business as usual. The NBA was in rare form this week, with several exciting events, such as the trade deadline and a botched call

This week in the association, we will examine the call heard around the league. Which potentially cost the Portland Trail Blazers a game.

Some will argue that the game should have never depended on a single call, but the contest featured 16 lead changes. So yes, there are instances where a call in the waning moments can absolutely impact the eventual outcome. More on the Blazers botched call later though. Let’s jump into this week’s recap:

A salute to Kobe

Portland possesses a close-knit backcourt

Stats are fun

This is an eye-opening statement

Some impressive Kobe artwork

The NBA is a brotherhood

Feisty Grizzlies

It’s definitely not broken

Gotta put the baby down first

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8SjwzMht4_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Bradley Beal for the win

This must be why he did not fit in Golden State

Keep scoffing Morant

Rolling Raptors

A little?

Good company to be in

High praise from Carlisle

Marc Cuban might get me to join Tic-Tok

Social media in a nutshell

Kyle Lowry shares a cool moment with a fan

Howard’s comments hit hard

Looks like Eric Gordon is going to miss Clint Capela

That’s pretty interesting

Real talk

Classy Capela

I would buy this

The Business Side

More like the art game

Legendary quote

Andre Iguodala is a genius

This is how Iggy gained legend status

Doc’s quote could be taken two different ways

A tweet about a basketball game

We see you, Winslow

This is why Sam Presti did not surrender Gallo for less than his value

The full quote where Dillon Brooks fired shots at Iguodala

Fans first

I favor the Bucks in this matchup

Enes Kanter remains undefeated

https://twitter.com/EnesKanter/status/1225490053788569601?s=20

Every year at the trade deadline teams become obsessed with a random player

Kyle Kuzma is a powerful man

Dr. Tomorrow is one of the best in the business

Accurate

Breaking News the New York Knickerbockers made a smart trade!

Shameless plug from Mr. Booker

This seemed a little rushed

This is mean

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ShchQhivZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I don’t understand why IT cannot stick on a team

Adding JR Smith will end badly for the Lakers

This was literally a live look at all of NBA twitter on Thursday afternoon

https://twitter.com/BraidedRussell/status/1225509563878776837?s=20

Sometimes the best trade a team can make is the ones that never happen

Nothing but love from Marcus Morris

This is historic

Harsh reality

For anyone who says sports are not like real life, this harsh reality Andre Drummond experienced displays how they actually are. Sometimes a career path can take an unexpected turn, which is completely out of your control, and it’s not always fun. Hence, the origin behind the phrase it’s just business.

Drummond is not the only player bummed about being moved

The Raps are still rolling

This didn’t happen, but the tweet is still funny

Splitting up the pack

https://twitter.com/GorguiDieng/status/1225548534805618688?s=20

The opinion of a former teammate

Jae Crowder will fit right into the Heat culture

IT thanks Washington

Bill Simmons is was not satisfied watching the new-look Rockets

Never change Shaq

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Kn1ZZI7bK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This is exactly what is going to happen

Intriguing thought?

Which former teammate will LeBron reunite with?

Another accurate depiction of social media

Smart strategy?

Why is Chris Webber still on TV?

PRESTO! However, they still could bribe Presti

Pun intended

Staggering does not work with Russell Westbrook

The Clippers are going to be a tough out in the playoffs

This debate is absurd

Westbrook is a special superstar

More from Carson Cunningham

Russ joins the 20k club

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1225653179968176128?s=20

To further reiterate Cunningham’s point, Westbrook has the potential to become the first player in league history to score 20,000 points, dish 10,000 assists, and pull-down 10,000 rebounds. He is currently 2,788 assists and 3,896 rebounds away from creating his own elite club. Regardless if you consider his numbers arbitrary or not, there is a reason no one has ever accumulated such statistics in the past.

However, it appears LeBron James will likely become the first player to compile such statistics as he currently only needs 749 rebounds and 821 assists to establish the 20-10-10k club.

Couldn’t have said it better myself

Quirky for the win!

Doing it for Kobe, on Kobe’s court

Yes.

Team LeBron is set

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1225578009748365312?s=20

They needed this win to convince their locker room?

Just a reminder, Trae Young watched Westbrook while he was growing up

https://twitter.com/TheTraeYoung/status/1225659392705495041?s=20

It’s not tampering because he is not on a team

The Pistons made a terrible trade

The sample size is small, but this strategy might work

Houston’s key edition seems pleased with the initial results

https://twitter.com/Holla_At_Rob33/status/1225725599924142080?s=20

More teams should give their players a defined role

The Wizards seem pretty high on Jerome Robinson

Presented without comment

I love Steve Kerr‘s brutal honesty

I think Russell will do just fine in his new situation

https://twitter.com/Timberwolves/status/1225652081089896448?s=20

This is the soup on D’Angelo Russell, he made a foolish mistake when he was a 19-year-old rookie, which spoiled his time in LA quickly. He got hurt his first year in Brooklyn, then in his second year, he led the Nets to the playoffs and garnered an All-Star selection.

His stint in Golden State was short, and it seems he possibly never got a fair chance because they had intentions of moving him from the start. Perhaps being reunited with his Kentucky teammate Karl-Anthony Towns will be the best scenario for both Russell and KAT.

Wiggins arrives in the Bay

LeBron is such a special athlete

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1225949464956788736?s=20

I love this attitude from the Thunder’s sophomore guard

Andrew’s got a point

This team is tight

My apologies if you don’t get the inside joke

Another sophomore with a great attitude

Celebrating GIGI

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8NSFuKgLBP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The Bucks have a lot of fun

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8P1YOsppRi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Steph Curry with a fan

Remember this for later

It’s nice to have a voice on the national stage

So funny

Here is the missed called

Money well spent

This is a bad look for the officiating crew

However, just like players, the refs are human and there will be human error. The problem here comes from the league itself because this should be review-able, hence the error could be corrected. The simple solution to this problem should be this, allow the coaches to use their challenge for whatever play they deem necessary, no call from the official required.

Coaches only receive one challenge per game, so they must use it wisely. Conversely, because coaches are only allotted a single challenge the fear of the game being slowed should not be an issue.

Bravo Ruocco

This seems good

NSFW

The Blazers players knew this when the game was still in play

THIS!

Donovan Mitchell celebrates Utah’s victory over the Portland Trail Blazers

Lillard sounds off

This was a good call

Big Perk has spoken

This is one of my favorite soundbites from the entire season

CJ McCollum hit the nail right on the head. Officials should be held accountable. In fact,  they are, just not with fines. Unlike teams who earn a playoff spot with victories, refs earn the right to officiate playoff games based on season-long performance. Therefore, egregiously missed calls could cost an NBA official the chance to officiate a game in the post-season.

I want them all

Thibs is in the building

Keeping basketball alive

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1226182821481517056?s=20

I concur

Good to see you again, welcome back Enes

Enes Kanter is the best!

https://twitter.com/EnesKanter/status/1226298241374965760?s=20

More good stuff from Kanter

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8PQcgnlXe6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I can confirm this is art

Friendly fire between former teammates

https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins/status/1226363544653877248?s=20

Rebounding matters

An intriguing question, I’ll reserve my judgment until after the playoffs

Interesting

That’s one way to look at it

They’re Spuring

The Nuggets are good

This is pretty spot on

https://twitter.com/JoshEberley/status/1226363647099731968?s=20

Way to go, Seth

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8U77CWh426/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Even Steph had to laugh

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8VEVTBhH04/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It will never feel real

Classy Dubs

Much bigger

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8VAYWXnY9O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Not the best look for a contender

Doc was steaming after the loss

Kawhi couldn’t explain it

This made me laugh

This was a statement from the Wolves

Ring around the Westbrook’s

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8NRN-FHs4s/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Sharing is caring

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8JzTgbBwPt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The young man in the above video probably does not know who Terrence Davis is, but that did not stop the Raptors rookie from making his evening by sharing his pretzel after this adorable child shared some strawberries. Which, concludes our high note of the week.

That’s it for this Sunday, enjoy the final week of NBA basketball that will lead us into the 2020 All-Star hiatus.