Rick Carlisle Slams ‘Unfair’ Scrutiny of Scott Foster After NBA Finals Officiating Controversy

Scott Foster officiated Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals which resulted in a loss for Rick Carlisle and his Indiana Pacers.

Rick Carlisle Slams ‘Unfair’ Scrutiny of Scott Foster After NBA Finals Officiating Controversy

Rick Carlisle wants Scott Foster criticism to stop (Image via FirstSportz)

After Game 3, Rick Carlisle and his Indiana Pacers led the NBA Finals. In Game 4, they were in the driver’s seat for a potential series-killing win. However, the game was mired in controversy, with fans questioning Scott Foster and his crew’s intentions.

Many pointed out that there were way too many fouls in the game. Other than the controversial flagrant on Obi Toppin, 53 total personal fouls were called, more than the 44 called out in Game 3. Players attempted a total of 71 free throws in Game 4, compared to 52 in the previous game.

All that despite Game 4 being a lot less physical than Game 3’s bruising battles proved. Fans, particularly, pointed their fingers at Scott Foster. The 58-year-old has a fan-awarded reputation of being a ‘series extender’. They believed he doctored Game 4 to extend the series for the league.

I think it’s awful, some of the things I’ve seen about the officiating, and Scott Foster in particular. I’ve known Scott Foster for 30 years. He’s a great official. He’s done a great job in these playoffs. We’ve had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that’s thrown out there is terrible, unfair, unjust, and stupid.

Rick Carlisle said at the press conference

That was Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who believes it was unjust to target Foster for the countless calls. He said later on that his players need to foul less. However, fans watching this clip believe Carlisle was ‘buttering’ Foster and the league with this statement.

Gilbert Arenas knew Pacers would lose Game 4 once he saw Scott Foster officiating

Gilbert Arenas and his crew were watching and reacting to Game 4 live on Playback. When the game started, the 3-time All-Star was wearing Pascal Siakam‘s No. 43 jersey, expecting the Indiana Pacers to almost finish off the series by using their momentum to win this game.

At around the 11:30 mark, his Gil’s Arena co-host, Josiah Johnson, informed him that ‘series extender’ Scott Foster was officiating the game. Arenas waited until he saw the veteran official on the broadcast, and immediately took off Siakam’s jersey and put on OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s one.

Oh man, oh hell no. If Scott is here, it’s extending.

Gilbert Arenas said

Gilbert Arenas has played in games when Foster has officiated, and also knows how the veteran official is crafty when overseeing a game. His beef with some players notwithstanding, there is a reason why the 58-year-old Maryland native is known to help playoff series take unexpected turns.

Rick Carlisle’s Indiana Pacers have to be wary of fouls

Rick Carlisle believes his Indiana Pacers should be careful of fouls and find ways to avoid them. That might be easier said than done, considering Scott Foster and his crew’s officiating in Game 4 was quite loose. Aside from the numbers proving that the game was officiated differently than Game 3, there is other proof that there might be other factors at play.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams exploited foul calls late in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams exploited foul calls late in Game 4 (Image via Open Source/X)

Many believed bringing so many fouls into play invariably favored the Oklahoma City Thunder. Those small in-game breaks helped them avoid fatigue, which was the primary cause for concern in Game 3. On top of that, their late-game scheme tweaks helped them to use that to their advantage and drew fouls.

If the Indiana Pacers are to keep hopes of winning their 1st NBA title alive in this series, they have to find ways to avoid fouls late in the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams exploited calls to the T. That helped swing a game that was in the Pacers’ hands for much of the time.

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