Memphis coach goes off on 'atrocious' refs after loss to Jazz

MEMPHIS — Saddle up.

Those were the first words from Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins Friday after his team fell to the Utah Jazz 127-121 at FedEx Forum in the first game of the In-Season Tournament for the Jazz and second for the Grizzlies.

It was a game that had two Grizzlies players ejected (one by technicals and one by fouls), and one where the Jazz shot 16 more free throws than the home team, so Jenkins came to the podium with some issues of how the game was officiated.

But before we mount on up, let's get to heart of his displeasure: the ejection of Jaren Jackson Jr.

In the third quarter, Jackson appeared to be fouled as he went up for a putback shot, but no call was made. An irate Jackson threw his arms up in disgust and then turned to the officials to voice his displeasure.

And kept on voicing it.

Soon, Jackson was headed for an early exit. Jenkins was also given a technical for his reaction to the no-call, and he'll probably be hearing from the league office again after his rant postgame.

"One of the worst officiated games I have ever seen," he said.

Jenkins saw several phones pointed at him and made it clear he was more than OK for the media to keep filming. "Record it, I'm fine with it. (Expletive) atrocious."

"Jaren Jackson plays 23 minutes and is in the paint all night," he added. "He's one of the most professional players in this league and gets a double technical foul. And the excuse I get is that he's charging at an official. It's called de-escalation."

Jenkins pointed to the free throw discrepancy, too.

"I'm not that coach; you go back to the history. I've done this one other time. Our team is competing their (expletive) off. Competing their (expletive) off. And this is what happens? The interactions right now with the officials? Complete disrespect. ... It's unbelievable, the looks on the faces when I'm trying to engage in conversation to defend our guys that are busting their tails right now. Busting their tails.

"Jaren Jackson is one of the most professional guys. And if you go watch the play, two possessions in a row, he gets hacked underneath the basket, zero free-throw attempts. I'm not trying to put a name on a jersey and this guy should earn these fouls and all this stuff. Watch. The. Game."

It was a damning critique on the officials. The ejection, however, lit a fire under the Grizzlies. The Jazz were in the middle of an 18-6 run that pushed their lead to 21 points, but the missed call and subsequent ejection brought a different edge to the Grizzlies and livened up what had been a disengaged crowd.

The Grizzlies went on a 28-8 run and eventually tied the game in the fourth quarter, only for the Jazz to hang on at the end. It was a valiant effort, but one Jenkins felt was handicapped by the officials.

"In the heat of the battle, when conversations are trying to be had (with officials), notice is trying to be made on things that are happening, and there's not the enforcement of it. It blows my mind," Jenkins said. "What are we doing here? I don't get it.

"Again, I'm gonna go back to the interactions — stern, nothing, stonewall, ignoring — and then you wonder why our guys are trying to compete. I don't get it. I look forward to watching the tape and getting responses for when I send clips in to see what should have happened."

He may have a point. He'll likely have to pony up for a fine after making it, though.

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