3 takeaways from Pistons 120-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves

3.The refs are messing with Andre Drummond

This has been going on for a while but last night it was a major problem. Drummond is, or used to be, sometimes out of control. He also gambles a lot and goes for loose balls which often results in unnecessary contact.

He goes up for a finish through contact and he kind of flails or loses his balance and the referees are extremely reluctant to call fouls on him. You have plays like this where his defender is completely vertical and Drummond still goes for the foul.

But then you have plays like this where his defender clearly pushes him or doesn’t stay vertical but because Drummond is freakishly strong, the contact is just not that obvious. But that contact is detrimental to the success of the shot.

On the other hand, Drummond rarely gets away when he puts pressure on people. It’s the curse of being the strongest guy on the floor. Even a slight push can knock someone down, forcing the refs to call a foul.

People often get away with pushing him and swiping at him. Bobby Portis uses his arms to keep him away from the basket with a full extension but because the contact doesn’t displace him much, no call.

You have to be a nut job not to call this offensive foul.

This was his first foul. His feet are set and the shoulder contact is minimal. Not an obvious call either way.

Then the refs reward Towns on this flop. How is that a foul?

Drummond does dig his shoulder on this play but Towns is not set for the charge. He flops and gets the foul.

We don’t have a closer replay on this one but from this angle it looks pretty clean.

Maybe some of these are fouls. Certainly, not all of them are. Drummond’s attitude in the game initiates a lot of contact on both ends. The point is that he’s not being officiated fairly and that’s been going on for years.

Being the strongest man on the floor is not always a good thing and the refs hold his fate on most games. Murky calls often keep him off the floor and with the Pistons lack of depth at his position, it’s a huge issue.

Two quick fouls in the first quarter can play a huge role in the outcome of the game. In any case, Drummond has to be more cool about it.

We can’t blame him for how the officiating treats him but he often loses focus when it’s not going well for him. And that can’t happen.