Legendary basketball coach Rick Pitino has some thoughts on the officiating in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Pitino appeared on The Post’s “Schein Time” on Tuesday, the morning after attending Game 3, which the Knicks dropped to the Spurs 115-111.
“It was unreal,” Pitino said of the fans at MSG Monday night. “The fans were up. I’d say I was on my feet for 90% of the game, and that’s the type of magic it was.”
Rick Pitino reacts during St. John’s loss to Duke in the Sweet 16 in March. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
On a less positive note, there’s been some controversy surrounding the officiating.
Postgame, Knicks head coach Mike Brown commented on the free throw disparity, as the Spurs took three times as many free throws as the Knicks did in the second half.
Pitino sees the complaints and understands them.
“Look, there were a couple of plays where I was like, OK, that’s the wrong call. And I’m a die-hard Knicks fan. … I credit San Antonio. I didn’t think the Knicks played their game.
“I got the sense watching it live that Mike Brown wanted to either shift the conversation or kind of go Phil Jackson on everyone and let the officials know for next game, hey, we want some calls at home.”
Pitino also credited the Spurs’ physicality for helping them escape with a close win in Game 3, especially in a raucous environment like that of MSG, which was hosting its first Finals game since 1999.
“I think San Antonio last night knew what to do to win that game from a coaching standpoint, strategy standpoint, that was extremely physical…It was a game like it was when I was coaching the Knicks. It was back then they allowed physicality.”
The Knicks look to win their first NBA Finals game on their home floor in 25 years tomorrow, with tipoff at 8:30 pm.
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