One of the most heated moments of Monday's Game 5 between the Celtics and Warriors wasn't show on TV.
Talk about an epic fail from ABC.
Early in the fourth quarter, Marcus Smart committed an obscene flop while guarding Klay Thompson on the perimeter. Thompson put out his arm to try and create space, and Smart proceeded to fall backwards as if he was punched in the gut.
They usually charge airfare for a flight of that length. Smart flung himself back all the way towards the paint.
Ime Udoka, who's complained himself this postseason about teams flopping, was visibly upset that Thompson wasn't whistled for a foul. His anger only increased when Smart was called for a foul after a ridiculous flop from Jordan Poole, who may have been committing some theatrical retribution.
During an ensuing timeout, Udoka got into a charged confrontation with Tony Brothers, who was responsible for Smart's absurd foul. But sadly, viewers watching on ABC didn't see the argument.
The network's producers opted to not show the incident. Jeff Van Gundy alluded to it following a commercial break, remarking there "was a lot going on" during the last timeout. "I do not blame the officials at all," he said.
That's all we got. Fortunately, journalists covering the game on Twitter supplied the real-time play-by-play. Apparently, Brothers was the one who initiated the charged back-the-forth.
"Why is Tony Brothers going to Ime Udoka to confront him?," tweeted NBA writer Keith Smith.
"By the way, Tony Brothers looked like he wanted smoke with Ime Udoka during the timeout," added 957 The Game's Bonta Hill.
Udoka was asked about the episode after the game.
"He didn't like how I pointed at him," Udoka said.
So it looks like the sequence of events went as followed: Udoka expresses his displeasure with a non-call on Smart, which likely only intensified when Smart was called for a phantom foul on Poole. Then during the ensuing timeout, Brothers went over to Udoka and started arguing with him.
NBA referees are supposed to diffuse situations. But in this case, it seems as if Brothers created one.
Thanks to all of the hard working journalists who publicized this significant event during Game 5 of the NBA Finals. In this case, they were truly the public's eyes and ears.
