As Pang Bo came down after blocking the shot, his hand caught Embiid on the left shoulder.
Given Embiid's style, the moment he felt someone hit his shoulder, he immediately pitched forward and went down.
Pang Bo felt his heart tighten.
Was he going to get called for another foul?
The baseline referee was only six feet away. He clearly saw Pang Bo hit Embiid on the shoulder, but didn't call a foul.
Embiid raised his head from the floor and spread his hands toward the baseline referee. "Foul! Foul! Didn't you see that? That's a foul!"
The referee ignored him.
The crowd saw on the big screen how Pang Bo hit Embiid on the shoulder after blocking him from behind, and they immediately erupted:
"Stupid ref!"
"Stupid ref!"
"Stupid ref!"
Celtics fans weren't nearly as mild-mannered as Lakers Fans.
When Lakers Fans sometimes saw their players treated unfairly on the court, they would only shake their heads or complain a little to show their displeasure.
But Celtics fans would all start cursing the referee the moment he did anything they didn't like.
That was why TD Garden was known as the Devil's Home Court.
It was a Devil's Home Court not only for visiting players, but also for referees.
Whenever referees were assigned to officiate a game at TD Garden, they would privately lament their bad luck. They were always extra cautious and careful while working there.
But the referee wearing number 23 knew Pang Bo had already picked up four fouls. He couldn't foul Pang Bo out before halftime, so he stood firm and didn't call it. Under pressure from the entire crowd shouting that he was a stupid ref, he signaled for play to continue.
At the Commentary Booth, LeBron James explained:
"The NBA used to