The Brooklyn Nets were furious with the officiating in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Philadelphia 76ers, and now we know why.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Nets are “livid” that Joel Embiid’s flagrant 1 fouls in Games 2 and 4 were not classified as flagrant 2s. This was apparently what led to Nets GM Sean Marks entering the referee locker room after Game 4, an act which earned him a fine and suspension.
In addition, Marks was attempting to back his team and the way they’re playing in the series.
Sources: Nets and GM Sean Marks were livid over belief Embiid’s flagrant 1 fouls in Games 2/4 should’ve been deemed a 2. More than message to league with ref challenge, Marks intended to message his team on how franchise is determined to support way they're competing in series.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 21, 2019
Marks and the Nets have a point on Embiid’s Game 2 flagrant, considering he himself felt he should have been ejected for it. Despite this, the league opted against retroactively upgrading it. The Nets’ case on Embiid’s Game 4 flagrant is a lot weaker, however.
The series has been a very combative one, and apparently Marks and the Nets are fine with that. They just want it officiated more tightly, especially in Embiid’s case.
