Rockets point guard Chris Paul was fined $35K for “aggressively confronting and recklessly making contact with a game official” but was not suspended, according to a league press release relayed by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Paul was ejected with 4.4 seconds left in Game 1 of the Rockets’ conference semifinal series with Golden State on Sunday. He was whistled for his second technical foul when he made contact with referee Josh Tiven while arguing that Warriors guard Klay Thompson committed a loose-ball foul against him. The non-call on Thompson was correct, according to the NBA’s last two minute report, MacMahon notes. Paul said the contact was accidental.
We have more from around the Western Conference:
- Rockets reserve forward Danuel House harbors no ill will toward the Warriors for cutting him loose during training camp, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes. “I was just trying to secure a job, show people my potential. I just needed an opportunity,” House said. “Those guys didn’t see me fit for it. I’m just grateful my hometown team took me in. It’s business. I respect the nature of the business. But of course I want to win.” House had three points and three rebounds in 21 minutes during the series opener. He had his two-way contract converted into a standard deal in mid-March.
- Grizzlies executive Tayshaun Prince was promoted to “special advisor” to vice president of basketball affairs but his role won’t change much, as Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian explains. He’ll remain a crucial link from the front office to the players and coaches, though now with more empowerment, Herrington continues. Rich Cho, who was earlier named vice president of basketball strategy, will lead the analytics/research/systems staff while Chris Makris will continue to lead the traditional scouting staff, Herrington adds. Prince will also help evaluate professional, college and G League personnel.
- Derrick Favors‘ chances of remaining with the Jazz hinge on what happens in the early days of free agency, as Ryan McDonald of the Deseret News explains. Favors’ $16.9MM salary for next season, which could total $18.8MM if he reaches incentives in the contract, becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster past July 6. If Utah is able to secure a commitment from a free agent power forward, Favors won’t get the guarantee. If it can’t find a suitable replacement by then, the team will likely retain Favors.
- The Suns are close to hiring Gonzaga assistant coach Riccardo Fois for a major player development role within the organization, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets. Fois is current the Zags’ coordinator of analytics and video operations.
The Rockets are the biggest poor-sports …ever.
The game has fouls for a reason. Refs should be calling them all the time not just conveniently.
Goes both ways but you don’t see the Warriors throwing rooms full of statisticians at it and crying at the press conference. Stop trying to get fouled on every possession and play basketball.
Paul gets away with SOOO much. Watch last 25 seconds. Fouled Durant. Fouled Thompson. Pushed ref. Sorry, didn’t get away with that. Biggest baby in the league
He needs State Farm refs.
I agree. That contact with the ref would have meant 2 game suspension for Draymond Green. Between harden and paul, they could win best actor and best supporting actor.
Try playing the game and winning without needing to flop. What if Harden tried making the shot instead of pretending to get fouled? I guarantee it would have been a much better shot than he threw up there to get a foul call.
cp3’s lucky his phat face isn’t sitting a game – idc which team wins, refs have called it even
No one can say that the league does not favor Chris Paul and the Rockets. Exact same scenario happened to rondo early in the season and he got a one game suspension. Chris Paul get away with a lot and is the second biggest crybaby in the league the first you guessed it harden.
Standards for physicality are higher in the playoffs– apparently for pushing refs too! Seriously I would be surprised if Paul got a suspension for that–the stakes are higher.
By the same token Harden should not expect regular-season standards for contact he is involved in. He is not very physical so this puts him at a disadvantage which he cannot be happy about.
Start calling Harden’s illegal push off….he will be gone by halftime
GSW get away with murder from the refs, but hey they are a superteam, right? Even the last 2 minutes report said 3 calls favored the Warriors… sooo maybe they might have just lost the 1st game, who knows?
Harden’s whole game is flopping. Everyone is sick of it.
Rockets are so whiny. I can’t believe they actually launched a whole internal investigation over missed calls. Get over it and learn to win without barely-noticeable fouls.
It’s getting to the point where I’m kinda like “ok guys, can we just play basketball?”
Yeah, I’d like to see the results of the investigation into how many bs fouls Harden draws a game
It’s laughable the Rockets are complaining so much that they’re even claiming they were robbed of the Finals last season, never mind that they shot terribly in that game 7.
Since Curry’s MVP (ref) statement, he’s been getting calls against him, specifically fouls. Refs must be hoping for all-defensive team, one way to contain number 30.
link? date? said?