The NBL's new slogan of `Hardball' has been thrust into the spotlight after Melbourne United pinched top spot on the ladder with a thrilling 97-96 home win over the red-hot Illawarra Hawks.
With the referees encouraged to call fewer fouls, the NBL has produced some brutal but riveting basketball in its relaunched form. However the style has also brought frustration for players and coaches around the league.
The latest to vent his feelings was Hawks boss Rob Beveridge, after an unsportsmanlike foul on star big man AJ Ogilvy in the third term on Thursday sparked a stunning change in momentum in Melbourne's favour.
After United's Chris Goulding (27 points) barged through Hawk Rhys Martin in the open court, Ogilvy unwisely squared the ledger and was penalised.
Goulding made both resulting free throws, Hakim Warrick (20 points) was fouled on a one-handed dunk on the following possession and Melbourne unleashed a 24-9 run to set up a 10-point lead at three-quarter time.
"That was a massive change in the game right there and then," Beveridge said.
"It was one of those things where one ref decided to let the physicality go and the other didn't.
"The referees need to get together and work out what is hard and what isn't hard."
Illawarra produced a long-range storm to charge back into the game in the final quarter, landing five three-pointers from Kirk Penney (20 points), Oscar Forman, Kevin White and Cody Ellis to pinch a two-point lead with 80 seconds to play - before Goulding nailed three crucial free throws to seal the win.
Despite his reservations about the inconsistent officiating, Beveridge refused to blame them for the loss - instead praising his team's fight without forward Tim Coenraad.
Melbourne coach Dean Demopoulos arrived this season from the NBA sidelines and acknowledged the style of refereeing in the NBL has a unique flavour.
"I've been at all levels where officials are all different levels themselves," he said.
"It's different here, there's no question. It's different everywhere. But I have to adjust, players have to adjust."
Demopoulos wasn't complaining about the pivotal unsportsmanlike foul, with his team notching their third straight win to break a mini-slump that produced seven losses from nine matches before Christmas.
"I saw it and I was happy with the call," Demopoulos said.
"I'm sure the other coach wasn't but that's the way it goes - it certainly didn't help them."
Melbourne (14-7) sit one win clear of Perth on the NBL ladder with five of their final seven games away from home, while the loss sees Illawarra slip to fourth with an 11-8 record.
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