Paul Pierce broke down why NBA players dislike controversial referee Scott Foster

It’s never a good sign when officiating assignments are an actual pregame talking point, but that’s where we are with Game 2 of the Rockets and Warriors.

Longtime NBA official Scott Foster will work Game 2 on Tuesday night, which is especially noteworthy in a series that has already put out an insufferable share of whining about officials. Foster’s presence in this series will undoubtedly make matters worse.

In his 25-plus seasons as an NBA referee, Foster hasn’t made many friends. Referee assignments are handed out before the series, so the NBA isn’t punishing the Rockets for their complaining. Still, the Rockets have a history with Foster. He hasn’t worked a Rockets game since Feb. 21, and the Rockets have been beefing with him for years.

But what is it really about Foster that bothers NBA players? Paul Pierce explained in an appearance on ESPN’s The Jump that Foster’s quick trigger with technicals and attitude towards NBA stars have players making adjustments in games that he works.

Pierce said:

“Every referee has their own personality. He’s just not one you mess with. It shouldn’t be like that because when you look at it, it’s stars — Harden, DeRozan, Chris Paul that he’s getting into it with. You gotta be able to listen to the players, have that relationship. I don’t feel like Scott has that relationship amongst the superstars in the league … It was hard for me to even say something to him because it was like I know that Scott is going to have a quick trigger with the technicals. So, if you’re gonna say something, you gotta keep it short and keep it moving. Because if you sit there and elaborate on a call, you’re gonna get a technical or he’ll throw you out like we’ve seen. But the players know this.”

For the Rockets, they take the Foster controversy personally.

The Rockets are 0-9 in games officiated by Foster since 2017 and all three of their home playoff losses in 2018 were officiated by Foster.