Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle created something a firestorm Wednesday night when he accused referees of favoring a big-market team like the New York Knicks.
After the Knicks beat the Pacers in a come-from-behind Game 2 win, Carlisle ripped the referees, implying they were favoring the Knicks.
"Small-market teams deserve an equal shot," Carlisle said. "They deserve a fair shot no matter where they're playing."
The Pacers compiled 78 plays they sent to the NBA that they thought were called incorrectly.
On Friday, Knicks forward Josh Hart was asked about Carlisle's comments and didn't mince words.
"That’s so stupid, bro," Hart said. “We say that the big market always wins? The Knicks ain’t won the chip in 51 years ... I think that's just idiotic."
Hart continued, explaining why he thought Carlisle's comments were "disrespectful."
"Rick's saying whatever he feels. It has nothing to do with us at the end of the day. I think it's pretty disrespectful to us. Because at the end of the day, we're out there playing and competing at a high level. It's not about officiating. It's not about anything like that."
Hart added: "I've never seen a ref shoot a free throw or make a three or miss a rotation, you know what I mean?"
Carlisle was fined $35,000 by the NBA for his comments.
Pacers players did not agree with Carlisle's comments, either. On Wednesday, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said it's on the Pacers to play better and not worry about the referees.
As Hart alluded to, there's plenty of areas the Pacers can improve to get back in the series. Their defense has not stopped the short-handed Knicks, as New York is scoring 132 points per 100 possessions over the first two games of the series.
Likewise, the Pacers are shooting just 69.4% from the free throw line in the series.
It remains to be seen if Carlisle's comments turn the tide, however. The Philadelphia 76ers filed a grievance to the NBA over the officiating in their first two games against the Knicks in the first round. The 76ers ended up winning Game 3 behind Joel Embiid's 50 points while shooting 33 free throws to the Knicks' 19.
