AAP.<\/p>\n
Brisbane Bullets coach Stu Lash claims NBL referees are disrespecting his players after they were on the wrong end of a lop-sided foul count in a narrow loss to Melbourne United.<\/p>\n
A horror week ended in heartbreak for the Bullets, who cut a 21-point deficit back to three points with more than one minute left before falling to a 99-93 defeat to ladder leaders United at John Cain Arena on Saturday.<\/p>\n
It came after Brisbane sacked import Jaylen Adams mid-week and lost star man Casey Prather to a season-ending knee injury in Wednesday’s thrashing from New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Mitch Norton (19 points), replacement player Lamar Patterson (18) and Tyrell Harrison (16) all threatened to inspire a Bullets upset against Melbourne.<\/p>\n
But United’s Milton Doyle posted a season-high 28 points and stood up at the foul line in the dying stages, as did Shea Ili, to seal the home side’s win.<\/p>\n
Significantly, Melbourne were 31-of-36 from the charity stripe compared to Brisbane’s 8-of-11.<\/p>\n
Lash said post-game he will demand an explanation from the NBL over the foul count.<\/p>\n
“Our guys are not getting the same level of respect as others in this league do,” Lash said.<\/p>\n
“They hold, they grab, Tyrell gets no calls.<\/p>\n
“The challenge on (Tyson) Walker is clearly a foul. Mitch Norton’s played in this league for 15 years, he gets thrown into the baseline.<\/p>\n
“It is what it is, but there has to be some explanations.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Lash insisted a lack of respect from referees is a “pretty ongoing” issue for the Bullets.<\/p>\n
“But tonight, 36 to 11, it’s a wide disparity. It’s a very wide disparity,” he said.<\/p>\n
Lash clarified his complaint wasn’t a specific attack on Melbourne.<\/p>\n
“We do have some guys that are in their first year in the league and there’s always an adjustment to that level of play,” Lash said.<\/p>\n
“It’s far more physical than the NBA and the G-League, no doubt. You can’t hold and grab like this off the ball.<\/p>\n
“It’s just them making an adjustment to it and I’m not picking on United per se. It’s just that foul disparity really stood out to me tonight.<\/p>\n
“We’ve just got to make an adjustment to how we play and play through it.”<\/p>\n
In response, Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman said he didn’t see anything untoward.<\/p>\n
“We want to play with a physicality and if we’re stepping over the line we expect to be called for it,” Vickerman said.<\/p>\n
“I think we had one possession where we had three fouls called there.<\/p>\n
“Our league is encouraging our physicality right now and hopefully we’re doing it the right way.<\/p>\n
“But at times you’re getting rewarded for really attacking the paint and that was part of our success tonight.”<\/p>\n
Melbourne trailed 7-19 early but took a stranglehold on the contest through the middle stages and appeared headed for a massive home win.<\/p>\n
Patterson and Norton helped turn it around as Brisbane nailed seven last-quarter triples on the way to 39 points for the period.<\/p>\n
They were a live chance before Melbourne’s game management and ice-cool hands from the foul line saw them home.<\/p>\n
Ili’s return from a serious hamstring injury with 10 points and four assists was a positive note for Melbourne (11-2).<\/p>\n
Lash forecast further roster moves for Brisbane (5-9) to reignite their finals push.<\/p>\n
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