PROOF! Nets, Dinwiddie lead NBA in blown calls

We’re back to discuss the officiating of Nets games and this time, there’s scientific evidence to support Spencer Dinwiddie’s claims all season long.

According to a report out of FiveThirtyEight, the Brooklyn Nets have been on the wrong side of an incorrect call or incorrect non-call in the final two minutes 29 times. That leads the league with the Mavericks trailing behind them at 25 times.

Make what you’d like of it, but the Nets would not be 20-43 if at least some of these calls had gone their way. It’s understood that refs calls may not determine games but they certainly can determine the game flow and decision making ... and that can ultimately determine games. They don’t miss shots or miss defensive assignments, etc.

That said, when you play as many close games as the Nets have this season; it’s safe to say they have a pretty big hand in the outcome.

This has been the talk of the season, especially for Spencer Dinwiddie. He actually leads the league in most blown calls against him with 10, the only player in double-figures, according to the research from FiveThirtyEight, which is based on the league’s Last 2 Minute Reports.

The last time Dinwiddie spoke on this to the public, he made his point loud and clear.

“It’s like, that’s Russell Westbrook and Paul George … and I’m Spencer Dinwiddie,” he said after this play that should’ve been ruled an offensive foul, and would’ve likely resulted in a Nets victory. It’s blatant. Paul George absolutely laid him out.

It all started after a game against the Celtics in early January. Dinwiddie was hacked on a drive that would’ve tied the game at 87 apiece. However Rondae Hollis-Jefferson grabbed the offensive board and was also hacked — missing two potential game-tying shots inside the paint that would’ve sent it to overtime. [Watch here]

It wasn’t just about the missed call. It was about the lack of respect, going back to his Westbrook and George point.

“To see the same type of respect not reciprocated is very frustrating for us,” Dinwiddie said after the Nets fell 87-85 to the Boston Celtics. “The other thing that’s very frustrating as well: We have these meetings as teams, or with [the players’ association], about respect, so we want to treat everybody with respect, right? Because everybody’s doing their job, and they’re trying their best, including us, [even if] we turn the ball over or calls are missed or whatever it is. But when you approach somebody, and they shush you or they wave you off like you’re not a man, or something of that nature, that’s also very frustrating.”

That was far from the end.

Just three days later against the Toronto Raptors, Dinwiddie took it hard to the hole and missed on a physical play. No call. Nets lose. They were down one and the layup would have won them the game.

Afterwards, he sat down on the court, looking depleted into the camera and said, “See this is what I’m talking about.”

“I think the statement is very self-explanatory. People are going to be looking for a sound bite after what I said last game. Hey look man, ya’ll saw the game but at this point I was respectful in my response to what happened. I have to better on dunking (on Serge) Ibaka even though I got my wrist hit,” Dinwiddie said after the Raptors loss.

It only continued. Most recently in late February, DeMarre Carroll was smacked on a drive to the rim with 6.2 seconds left. He missed and the Nets lost in double overtime.

Again, make what you’d like of it. In speaking with NetsDaily right before the All-Star break, Dinwiddie was quite honest and fair with his assessment.

“ I gave up on this about a month ago – but the Last Two Minute reports will say that we have at least five or six more wins. Five or six games in this league are huge and that’s only half. Now think if we got all of them. That’s close to 30-35 wins and things would be completely different. I don’t know who has 30 wins right now but I’m sure they’re in playoff contention.”

It is what it is. You can’t go back and change the outcome. Referees are human and make mistakes, as we all do. But this is hard for a lot of people and not just the fans.

Certain folks in management and coaches are not pleased with how the Nets have been officiated. But don’t expect anybody to say much. Especially not while Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinson are running this ship.

In fact, at one point in January, Atkinson gave a very diplomatic appraisal of the refs and his team...

“I think those guys, the referees, do a heck of a job,” said Atkinson, while declining to address the details of a Two Minute Report specifically. “I’ve been privy to their process. The coaches’ association, we get to meet with them, and I know they are held to a high, high standard by the NBA. They have an incredible review process. There’s a process where the coaches evaluate them. I don’t think there’s a group that’s held more accountable than them in the league. It’s a tough, tough game to referee.”

All in all, Spencer Dinwiddie was right this entire time. No entitlement, no over-complaining. He just wants an even playing field.

And this just in: Ken Berger of Bleacher Report writes that the vaunted summit between players and refs over all-Star weekend was attended by only two players: Andre Iguodala and ... Spencer Dinwiddie.