The Philadelphia 76ers have taken the step of filing an official grievance with the NBA over the officiating in the first two games of their playoff series against the New York Knicks. Despite this action, the grievance will not affect the outcome of Game 2, which currently leaves the Knicks with a 2-0 lead in the series.

The 76ers' decision to file the grievance is not considered an official protest of the latest game, but rather a means to express their dissatisfaction with the officiating. The team felt that this was the best course of action to voice their displeasure.

This is not the first time that the Sixers have taken issue with officiating in crucial games. Two years ago, head coach Nick Nurse, then with the Toronto Raptors, complained about what he felt were too many calls in favor of 76ers star Joel Embiid. In response, Embiid told Nurse to stop complaining about calls.

Furthermore, last season during the playoffs, Embiid argued against a whistle, stating that in such high-stakes games, officials should be more confident in their calls. The sentiment was echoed by LeBron James, who recently expressed frustration with the NBA's replay center overturning calls. James questioned the purpose of having a replay center if it does not yield consistent decisions.

While the Sixers' grievance may not alter the current series outcome, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding officiating in professional basketball. Critics argue that calls sometimes favor star players and famous teams, like the Lakers, while others maintain that officiating decisions tend to balance out over the course of a season.

In the case of the Lakers, they attempted a significant number of free throws during the regular season despite lower rankings in key statistical areas such as paint touches and drives to the basket. Such observations contribute to the perception that officiating decisions may occasionally favor popular teams and star players.

However, there are also instances where calls or non-calls disadvantage certain teams, as illustrated in the Sixers' series against the Knicks. Philadelphia fans were particularly incensed by the lack of calls on plays involving Jalen Brunson's jersey grab and the subsequent missed timeout call.

The Sixers' decision to file the grievance draws parallels to a previous incident involving Daryl Morey, who was then with the Houston Rockets. Morey filed an audit of Houston's loss to the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, highlighting numerous potential infractions. The NBA responded by expressing disagreement with the Rockets' methodology.

Critics argue that such actions, including filing grievances and audits, set a dangerous precedent and reflect a loser's mentality. Instead, they suggest that teams should focus on maximizing their efforts within the game and strive to overcome challenges rather than relying on external factors or excuses.

As the NBA playoffs continue and teams battle it out on the court, the debate surrounding officiating and its impact on the outcomes of games will undoubtedly persist. Whether this grievance leads to any changes or further discussions remains to be seen, but it highlights the ongoing need to address and find solutions for the challenges faced by both players and referees in determining fair and consistent calls throughout the season.