Scott Foster, the referee most reviled by the Houston Rockets, has been assigned to call Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday.
Foster has not worked a Rockets game since James Harden publicly criticized him after the superstar fouled out of Houston’s Feb. 21 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Harden, who was fined $25,000 by the NBA the next day, declared then that Foster should not be assigned any more Rockets games because of his personal issues with them.
“It’s lingering, and it’s something that has to be looked at for sure,” said Harden, who described Foster as “just rude and arrogant” when interacting with players. “For sure, it’s personal. For sure. I don’t think he should be able to even officiate our games anymore, honestly.”\
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Foster issued 18 fouls (personal or technical) in the Feb. 21 game, 12 against the Rockets and six against the Lakers. Seven of the fouls against the Rockets, who blew a 19-point lead in the second half, occurred in the fourth quarter.
Houston did not attempt a free throw in the final 20 minutes of the game, compared to 17 free throws for the Lakers during that span.
Looks like the Rockets have another built in excuse in case they lose.
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