Damian Lillard says Trail Blazers had ‘worst officiating crew’ in win over Pistons

The Portland Trail Blazers walked away with a 110-104 win over the Pistons Monday night in Detroit, but that didn’t stop Damian Lillard from airing his frustrations with the referees.

“I feel like this was the worst officiating crew we’ve had all season,” said Lillard, who was sporting a visible knot on his forehead after their win at at Little Caesars Arena.

The seven-time All-Star finished with a triple-double – 31 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists while shooting 10 of 28 from the field – but he had six free throw attempts (5 of 6) in 38-minutes on the floor. In fact, Lillard didn’t get to the line until the fourth quarter despite the physicality of the Pistons. He’s averaging 9.4 free throws per game this season.

NEWSLETTER: Sign up to get sports news and features delivered daily

“You know teams are going to try their hardest to stop you. They are going to be physical. They are going to give you attention,” Lillard said. “When I have the ball in my hands as much as I do, its impossible for me to go three quarters and not go to the line when I’m attacking. That’s when it gets frustrating.”

Lillard said Pistons defenders were “reaching in, not in legal guarding position” and that he finished the game with a “knot on my head, knee bleeding, elbow bleeding.”

“I’m telling (the referees) that we’re playing to try to be in the postseason and we’re putting our best effort out there and you’re looking at me like I’m crazy when somebody is smacking me in the face or hitting me in the arm,” Lillard said. “And when we respond wrong, you want to tee somebody up. It was bad, man.”

BY THE NUMBERS: Damian Lillard scored 71 points against Rockets

DRUG TEST: Lillard puts NBA on blast for drug test following 71-point game

DAME TIME: Lillard wins 3-point contest at NBA All-Star weekend

He described the officiating crew, John Goble, Marat Kogut, Brandon Adair, as apathetic, suggesting that the NBA get some fresh eyes into the mix.

Story continues

“From their body language to their responses to what I was saying to them,” Lillard said. “I’m coming to them, even telling them directly what to look for and they’re making these faces. Maybe we need to start adding some referees into the rotation because they have an attitude in the first quarter of the game.”

Lillard’s comments about officiating will certainly result in a fine from the NBA, but they’ve also renewed concerns about controversial officiating this season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Damian Lillard blasts worst NBA referees Blazers have seen this season