For the first time this postseason, NBA referees will host a live Q&A session on Twitter to answer fans' questions about some of the calls made during games.
The officials will be actively responding to fans as the conference semifinals continue Sunday and Monday. They will conduct a "Ref Watch Party" where they will respond to fans' questions on fouls or non-calls in real time for Game 4 of the Raptors-76ers (Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET) and Bucks-Celtics (Monday at 7 p.m. ET) series.
The #NBAPlayoffs are the perfect time to enhance your viewing experience - and the #RefWatchParty is returning to Twitter, live from the NBA Replay Center!
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) May 3, 2019
Sunday May 5 - 3:30pmET @ABCNetwork @ESPNNBA - @Raptors at @Sixers
Monday May 6 – 7:00pmET @NBAonTNT - @Bucks at @Celtics pic.twitter.com/C1cHyokjkQ
Fans can ask their questions using the hashtag #RefWatchParty and officials will respond using the National Basketball Referees Association Twitter handle, @OfficialNBARefs.
Referees have held a similar Q&A session before, but this is the first time it will come during the 2019 playoffs.
This comes at an interesting time and could be fascinating as there has been some controversy with the officiating in recent days.
The comments after Game 1 of the Warriors-Rockets series focused around several of the calls and non-calls as Golden State walked away with a win. Rockets star James Harden was outspoken about how he believed several of the Warriors' defenders should have been called for fouls.
"I mean, I just want a fair chance, man," Harden said after Game 1 (per ESPN). "Call the game how it's supposed to be called, and that's it. And I'll live with the results."
The talk about officiating continued into Game 2 as Warriors star Draymond Green said all the chatter was "disheartening" and the focus should have been about how the two teams were playing the game — not solely about the officiating.
“It’s kind of embarrassing for the game of basketball about how much has been talked about fouls and officiating," Green said after Game 2. "What about beating your man? What about stopping your man? Nobody wanted to talk anything about schemes the last two days. It’s all about foul calls."