The new regulations and refereeing in general are being one of the most vaunted debates of the start of the season. Apart from its numerical impact, it is an issue that has lovers and detractors within the NBA itself. Damian Lillard had not yet spoken on the subject as Draymond Green, Trae Young or James Harden had already done. But after his last loss to the Clippers, the Portland star has exploded at a press conference. “The way it is being arbitrated is unacceptable.”
Lillard’s performance in that game was discreet beyond a last quarter in which he managed to make up very poor percentages for a player of his reach. The Blazers’ flagship is one of the players most affected by the new umpiring line, cutting his free throws per game by more than half — from 7.2 last season to 3.2 so far this year. «I was not worried about the new regulations because I was not one of those who did those tricks looking for the fault. I do not want to go into explanations because I know that they are benefiting from the change, but the explanations they give [se encoje de hombros]».
Lillard has an irregular moment in his shooting, and according to data from NBA Stats, his solution is being to finish more actions near the rim. However, their percentages there have been significantly reduced from last season. Partly because of the whistle’s greater defensive permissiveness. Something that, added to the lower concession of free throws, makes the path that Damian has sought to correct his meager 25% in the triple inefficient.
(Photo courtesy of Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)
