Fans were astounded and irate when an official gave Atlanta star Trae Young a technical just for talking during Game 6 between the Hawks and Bucks.
If ever there was a time to let players play, an elimination game in the Eastern Conference Finals is it.
The referees in Game 6 between the Hawks and Bucks don’t agree.
During the second quarter, an official hit Atlanta’s Trae Young with a technical for pointing out a foul on the court. All the guard did was indicate he wanted a foul. The ref responded as though he’d gotten into his face and screamed about it.
Trae got a tech for saying something to the ref. pic.twitter.com/eaFxnNSWY4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 4, 2021
Twitter was angry about the refs giving Trae Young a weak technical
The soft tech set off fans on Twitter, who couldn’t believe that call got made in such a crucial game.
They gave Trae a tech for THAT. Are you KIDDING ME.
— GSN (@GASportsNow) July 4, 2021
I don't understand the tech on Trae even after all of the replays
— MaybeACrook 👍👍👍 (@MaybeACrook) July 4, 2021
Others pointed out how referees respond to other players around the league doing similar things.
Hahahaha they give Trae a tech for that????? Embiid did it whenever he touched the ball and nothing.
— DKsportstalk (@KsportstalkD) July 4, 2021
If that was a tech on Trae, CP3 must get multiple techs every game
— • (@DeandreHuntersB) July 4, 2021
When Trae got a tech Reggie Miller didn’t know what to say. He knew if refs were that soft when he was on the court he would have been kicked out of the league.
— DKsportstalk (@KsportstalkD) July 4, 2021
Khris Middleton made the ensuing free throw to put the Bucks up by seven. However, Kevin Huerter and Young quickly responded to pull back within three.
huerter making that shot after the trae tech was civil rights
— Rembert Browne (@rembert) July 4, 2021
The question of justice was raised in other ways. After all, it was a ref’s foot that injured Young in the first place.
After the ref almost ended Trae's season he shouldn't have a tech called on him the rest of the playoffs
— Charles Fortune IV (@CIV_LIT) July 4, 2021
It initially looked like the sequence worked out more in Atlanta’s favor than Milwaukees.
Refs have been absolutely brutal lol I’m so glad I’m not the one coaching this game right now #BelieveAtlanta
— Casey Rhodes (@the_coachrhodes) July 4, 2021
Also, I’m glad Trae got the tech because it fired the crowd up. It had been way too quiet for a home game.
Even though the Bucks regained an eight-point lead near the end of the half, the Hawks trimmed it down to four by the break.
Young made his return after missing two games in the series with five points on 2-of-8 shooting in the first half. He missed all three triples he attempted. Bogdan Bogdanovic led the way with 11 points for Atlanta while Huerter had four steals in the opening half of play.
Jrue Holiday was the difference for the Bucks with 10 points.