Suns head coach Monty Williams is the latest NBA figure to be penalized by the league for criticizing its officiating. The NBA announced on Tuesday in a press release that Williams has been docked $15K for his comments following Phoenix’s Game 4 loss in New Orleans on Sunday.
The Pelicans shot 42 free throws in their 118-103 win, compared to just 15 for the Suns, a disparity that Williams called attention to during his post-game press conference.
“You can slice it any way you want to,” Williams said on Sunday, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “In a playoff game that physical, (the disparity) is amazing. Coaches shouldn’t have to come up to the microphone and feel like they’re going to get their heads cut off for speaking the truth.”
Sixers center Joel Embiid and Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins were also hit with fines on Monday for their comments about the officiating.
Meanwhile, Nuggets center DeMarcus Cousins has been fined $15K by the NBA for kicking towels into the spectator stands, according to a press release from the league.
The incident occurred midway through the second quarter of Denver’s Game 4 win over Golden State on Sunday. Cousins, having been called for a foul and subbed out of the game, expressed his frustration by kicking a pile of towels next to the bench, causing some of them to land on fans (video link).
Instead of repeatedly fining players and coaches for criticizing the referees, maybe Adam Silver should listen to them and hold the refs accountable to some standard of consistency.
Harkens back to the days of David Stern and the Lakers. L.A. would get three or four times the trips to the line as their opponents so the league could have the “glamour” team in the running. Stern endorsed this.
Harkens back to the days of David Stern and the Lakers. L.A. would get three or four times the trips to the line as their opponents so the league could have the “glamour” team in the running. Stern endorsed this.
So that means the NBA supports crappy, game impacting officiating? Screw them
Adam Silver and the NBA make a significant amount of money when a playoff series goes as much games as possible. Which is why the refs do whatever possible to make sure they have a say in the final score. It’s BS.
Game 4 in Denver had so many bad missed calls against the Warriors it wasn’t even funny. 3 out of bounds plays that should have been over turned.
Now everyone is tearing their hair out about the officiating, as if it was the first time the referees glaringly lean towards the home team in the POs. 42-15 would be something if it had happened in Phoenix, otherwise it’s just business as usual.
True the home team always gets the calls in their favor. That is why its so hard to win on the road. Just like how they don’t call fouls in the last 2 minutes of a game unless its 100% obvious.
Why on earth DMC gets fined?
Those fans will treasure for life them filthy sweaty towels!!!
I really struggle so much to understand the reasons for fines sometimes!