DAN BICKLEY

The rant Suns’ Monty Williams should have made after Game 2 vs. Lakers

May 26, 2021, 4:04 PM | Updated: 5:58 pm

Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns talks with Devin Booker #1 and Jae Crowder #99 during...

Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns talks with Devin Booker #1 and Jae Crowder #99 during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Monty Williams is an excellent coach and a better man. But he missed a great opportunity to send a much-needed message after the game.

Not to his players. To NBA officials.

Here’s what Williams might’ve said following a Game 2 loss on Tuesday, words that would’ve guaranteed a hefty fine. They would’ve been worth every penny.

*****

“You know, I normally don’t complain about officiating. But this is getting ridiculous. Our players aren’t getting a fair shake and our fans are convinced the league is tilting the playing field to help the Lakers.

“Anthony Davis shot 21 free throws in Game 2. Devin Booker shot 17, but 10 of them came after the outcome was already decided. If you didn’t know any better, you would think the officials were trying to launder the numbers at the end, so the box score didn’t look so bad.

“Look at Jae Crowder. He received two fouls in the first 58 seconds. He also took a deliberate kick to the groin area, which is clearly a malicious act by Davis given the benefit of instant replay. How is this man allowed to keep playing basketball after that? Why is Cam Payne ejected from a game for much lesser actions? And why does Montrezl Harrell not get ejected for trucking Payne in Game 1?

“Do you see what I’m saying? LeBron James breaks COVID-19 health and safety protocol before the series and it’s no big deal. Other NBA players pay stiff fines for these violations. We don’t want any handouts in Phoenix. We want to beat the Lakers at their best. But by my count, James could’ve been suspended from Game 1 and Davis should’ve been ejected from Game 2. Think that would have an impact on the series?

“It’s not fair because basketball fans in Phoenix have dealt with perception for too long. They’ve endured real NBA injustice before, namely the suspensions of Boris Diaw and Amar’e Stoudemire when they were the true victims, when it was Robert Horry who chose to hip check Steve Nash. We’ve heard Tim Donaghy, a disgraced referee, claim that officials were looking to penalize Robert Sarver during the playoffs. What are they supposed to think?

“It’s not fair because our basketball team doesn’t take a night off. We don’t load manage. We’ve never dishonored the fans or the sport. And we deserve better than this.”

*****

Veteran readers know where I stand. Complaining about officiating is a sport of losers, akin to playing the victim whenever possible. To demand more of our sports franchises, we must give them fewer alibis and excuses. It’s one of the worst traits of our market because, in the end, there is no grand conspiracy. If so, the NBA would’ve never let the Grizzlies eliminate Steph Curry and the Warriors.

But that shouldn’t have stopped Williams from some heavy gamesmanship.

In the NBA of yesteryear, head coaches often deployed this tactic. They accepted a fine to blow up the NBA in a post-game press conference. It was so predictable that it became cliché. It also worked.

Referees are human. If a head coach puts an officiating crew on blast, the last thing the incoming referees want is to appear biased and confirm suspicions.

Generally, it’s a pricey way to ensure a moderate increase in favorable calls, especially when the benefits only last for one game. But at the intersection of injury and desperation, one game is all the Suns need.

Dan Bickley

The first three rounds of the 2025 WM Phoenix Open have delivered on the Thunderbirds promise of be...

Dan Bickley

2025 WM Phoenix Open delivering on promise of better not bigger

The first three rounds of the 2025 WM Phoenix Open have delivered on the Thunderbirds promise of better not bigger.

22 hours ago

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic drives against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) duri...

Dan Bickley

Luka Doncic trade proves again the Lakers are the luckiest franchise in sports history

The blockbuster Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade is not about the Lakers getting Luka. It’s about the Lakers getting lucky.

7 days ago

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia introduces the new Ring of Honor during the NBA game against the Utah...

Dan Bickley

Suns fans can both love a Jimmy Butler trade and hate everything it represents

I want Jimmy Butler with the Phoenix Suns. But I hate everything this trade saga represents.

11 days ago

Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Phoenix Suns watches the action during the first half against th...

Dan Bickley

Trade rumors provide both hope and harm for these Suns

The Suns are a .500 team. Mediocrity isn’t supposed to be this difficult. Or expensive. Changes are coming despite a three-game win streak.

27 days ago

Kyler Murray Cardinals Rams embracing Trey McBride after first touchdown...

Dan Bickley

Kyler Murray has one last dance with Cardinals after season of close calls

There are no better options for the Cardinals than Kyler Murray in 2025. The quarterback has one last dance in the Valley. For better or worse.

1 month ago

Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals runs the ball against D.J. Wonnum #98 of the Carolina Pant...

Dan Bickley

Shame on the Cardinals for being eliminated from the playoffs in the worst of ways

The Cardinals fumbled around and found out and were eliminated from playoff contention after an embarrassing loss in Carolina on Sunday.

2 months ago

The rant Suns’ Monty Williams should have made after Game 2 vs. Lakers