It's weird how the NBA referees Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Brunson so differently

What a great victory in Game 5 at The Garden.

Back in Game 2, the Philadelphia 76ers led by five points with 27.2 seconds left in the game and lost.

In Game 5, the New York Knicks led by six points with 28.2 seconds left and lost.

Returning for Game 2, the Sixers acquired John Gobred.

In Game 5, the celebrity battle between the New York Knicks and MSG won Maxey in a way that perhaps only Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller have done. Simply put, it was a Maxey miracle at MSG, and one that both fanbases may never forget.

A close friend of mine who is an avid Knicks fan said that beyond Reggie Miller's 8 points in 7 seconds, Patrick Ewing's blow finger roll, MJ's double nickel, and the Dream's devastating spinning dagger, this was the worst of his lifetime. He said it was a loss against the Knicks.

The Last 2 Minutes report found that Maxey traveled before the four-point play against Robinson, and the whistle should have been blown.

But like Nick Nurse's timeout call at the end of Game 2 (unlike Brunson's jersey tag foul or Hart's intentional hit on Maxey), it's hard to imagine how the referees called that timeout. I can understand if you missed it. Also, the referee allowed him to travel a lot and carry the vio, which seemed intentional anyway.

But either way, both fanbases now have their fair share of dissatisfaction with the series' host.

But let's break down how Maxey hosts compared to Jalen Brunson in this series (which is very weird).

Our friends at DraftKings still think New York has about an 80 percent chance of advancing to Round 2. If Philadelphia wants to turn things around, they might look for some extra help from the Zebras.

Maxey vs Branson Whistle

Photo credit: Elsa/Getty Images

This is really frustrating. It all started in Game 1 of this series, when game officials seemed to recognize Joel Embiid and Jalen Brunson as part of the category of “priority MVP candidates who benefit from the question,” and the tie It started when it became pretty clear that Reece Maxey seemed to fall into a different recognition bucket. There are several layers underneath.

And it continues to be this way (wildly) despite Maxey campaigning to be the series MVP so far.

Embiid, the Sixers' top star, happens to be a big man. The Knicks' top star happens to be a point guard. And just as Sixers fans had to go through the hard way when they fell to Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks in 2021, NBA referees have to be careful when two big players collide in the paint. They tend to allow more contact. But once the ball is in the hands of the star guard, 30 feet from the ruck, the referee turns on his microscope lens and prepares to punish the prick.

But Maxey is a newly selected 2023-2024 All-Star, just like Jalen Brunson. Why is Brunson shooting so many free throws?

Maxey won the Most Valuable Player award. While Brunson is (rightly) being talked about as a front-runner for MVP, JB's stats say otherwise. that Much more impressive than Maxie's, right?

2023-24 Regular Season:

Branson: 28.7 points, 6.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 40% 3PA percentage (6.8 attempts), 0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks, TS% .592

Maxey: 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 37.3% 3PA percentage (8.1 attempts), 1 steal, 0.5 blocks, .573 TS%.

2023-24 Playoffs:

Branson: 34.4 ppg, 41.9% fga, 28.9% 3pa, 8.4 ast, 4.8 reb, TOV: 3, +-: -2.6,

*FTA: 9.4*

Maxey: 32.4ppg, 50% fga, 42.9% 3pa, 7.2 ast, 5.2 reb, 2.4 TOV, +-: – 0.8,

*FTA: 4.8*

So how does the NBA explain the apparent difference in the way both teams' top backcourt players are officiating?

Honestly, I don't know. Can you imagine Brunson not getting this call where OG Anunoby bodychecks Maxey to Donte DiVincenzo and DDV traps a critical “denial”?

Late in Game 5, when Joel Embiid's foul was reviewed and upgraded to an aggravated foul on Brunson, all I could think was: Maxie probably won't get the same call and Kelly Oubre Jr. must have been rolling around in pain for a long time on the court. Mitchell Robinson gave Wood a KO in frustration. Before.

Maxie is 23 years old and playing with this deadly weapon disease Rip your beating heart out of your chest with a big smile on your face.

Even Barry Keoghan would be proud of the toxic innocence that Maxie exudes.

Is he just too young? Is he just not famous yet? Is it too much to have Embiid make free throws while also forcing Maxey to take a certain number of shots? Would he have had to play as the only star in the top market like JB's past two seasons?

He just doesn't drive well enough and doesn't have Branson to sneeze at, but looks like he can send Maxie into the woods at will for a fast break?

Maxie (Locomotive) attempted 6 more transition buckets than JB (Surgeon). Does that have something to do with it?

Time and time again, we've seen Maxey absorb contact and be sent to the floor as MSG officials swallow the whistle, while Brunson steals continuity on the other end with nearly the same play.

Maxey's is represented by super agent Rich Paul and plans to cash in all of his five-year maximum this spring.Maybe Paul could help Adam Silver deliver a memo to officials that Tyreese is not qualified to talk about weird stuff. fewer calls What list is he currently on?

And, more broadly, the NBA should give more credit to its ultra-likeable star players who shamelessly do nothing wrong with the devastating celebrity turmoil in New York.

Below, take a look at how each team's guards deal with blow-bys on a daily basis.

But if I were Maxey's full-time skills trainer like Drew Hanlen, Tyrese and I would work on Branson Break Check all summer, take acting classes, and do at least 4 more per game. You better believe they'll come back to achieve that FTA. .

I hate the game, not the players here. Try harder, referee. Try harder, NBA. Brunson is a master at “putting blown defenders in jail,” stopping just a second or looking behind or to the side for contact before leaning in to blow the whistle.

Maxey has also been working on it a bit, usually actively, but he hasn't gotten his fair share of freebies yet. It's very strange to see and it's currently happening in multiple matches spread over 5 games and 15 officials. If the Sixers survive Game 6, I don't think things will change in Game 7 at MSG.