De'Aaron Fox calls out refs for 'swallowing their whistle' in playoff games

De'Aaron Fox calls out refs for 'swallowing their whistle' in playoff games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series to take a commanding 3-1 lead.

All-star guard De'Aaron played a huge role in the Spurs' win with a game-high 28 points, shooting 11-17 from the field and also setting his teammates up to score with seven assists.

However, during his post-game interview on 'Inside the NBA.' Fox spoke more than just about his performance, calling out the officials for essentially calling playoff games differently.

"Refs are going to swallow their whistle. It is what it is. The NBA says that they don't officiate games differently in the playoffs, we all got eyes and we can see it," Fox expressed.

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The statement came after comparing Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers to an earlier matchup with the Golden State Warriors shortly after the All-Star Game, which Fox felt prepared the Spurs for a game similar to Sunday's.

Fox will likely be fined for his comments, but what he is saying is not false to many.

The stigma surrounding the playoffs has always centered on the increased physicality, so it's not uncommon for officials to be more lenient with foul calls.

However, that shouldn't be seen as a particularly bad characteristic for playoff referees, as nobody should expect the 'softer' fouls to be called when the games mean much more, with teams competing for a title.