Sharks Playoff Update: It Took Refs 18 Minutes to Determine Whether Buzzer Basket was a 2 or 3 Pointer
So last night was the Shanghai Sharks 2nd playoff game against the Shenzhen Leopards and their first one at home in The Shark Tank (They got SPANKED 115-75 in the first game but that was just because Jimmer Fredette decided he would rather be in Colorado witnessing the birth of his first child than play in his first playoff game as a Shanghai Shark. I won’t pass judgement on that decision but last time I checked babies can be born in China too. Just saying. Cute kid btw.)
Anyways, while Jimmer looked to be feeling a bit jet lagged for some of the game, he turned on the thrusters at the end and burned through the entire Shenzhen defense for a wild lay-up that gave the Sharks a 92-90 lead with 2.2 seconds left on the clock.
Unfortunately, former Gonzaga star Jeremy Pargo responded immediately with what looked to be a game-winning 3 at the buzzer.
Now obviously a shot like that has to be reviewed. If this was the NBA, the refs would go over to their replay booth and re-watch the play in HD from like 6 or 7 different angles. Then the refs would have a quick discussion amongst themselves and the final call would be made. Usually takes 1-2 minutes, maybe 3. Well folks, this sure as hell isn’t the NBA, this is the Chinese Basketball Association, where the refs at times only have access to replays from one angle at a stunning resolution of 250p. Let’s just say the review process lasted a little longer than I’m used to.
At first the refs plan seemed to be to just watch the same shitty angle of the play over and over for what seemed like hours in hopes that the right call would magically come to them.
When that didn’t work they decided to try watching the replay with their eyes very close to the screen to see if it would shed some light on the situation.
Then they just said fuck it and started looking at random people’s cellphones to see if that would help…
All the while Jeremy Largo stood there staring off into space, questioning every decision he had made in life that led him to this moment.
Finally, after EIGHTEEN MINUTES, the refs found a Big J Journo who had filmed a clear shot of the play from the baseline and they felt confident enough to officially call it a 2 pointer and send the game into OT. 18 God damn minutes. Sometimes I get so dialed in watching the Sharks I start thinking it’s the NBA. Then something like this happens and I’m reminded I still live in a semi-third world country.
Oh and if you’re wondering how OT went, Jimmer put up 8 unanswered points to bring home the W. Fatherhood hasn’t made “The Mormon Megaladon” soft in the slightest. When he smells blood, it’s OVER.
