Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has been fined $35K, while Nets center Nic Claxton has been fined $25K, the NBA announced today in a pair of press releases (Twitter links).
Mazzulla was hit with his fine for “aggressively pursuing and directing inappropriate language” toward a referee in Boston’s loss to the Bulls on Thursday. The Celtics’ coach came onto the court at the end of the game and had to be held back by his assistants and a security guard as he yelled at official Justin Van Duyne (Twitter video link).
Mazzulla was believed to be upset about technical fouls assessed to him, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum during the fourth quarter of the loss, but he offered a deadpan response when asked during his post-game media session about what he was saying to Van Duyne and the other referees.
“I just hadn’t seen them in a while, so just a Merry Christmas, happy holidays,” Mazzulla said (Twitter video link). “I wasn’t sure I was going to see them before the holiday. I just can’t let a moment go by where you wish someone just the best to them and theirs and their families.”
As for Claxton, he earned his $25K fine for throwing the basketball into the spectator stands during Brooklyn’s win over Toronto on Thursday.
That incident occurred in the second quarter — after being fouled by Kelly Olynyk, the Nets center tossed the ball into the crowd, seemingly frustrated about a non-call on the previous possession. He earned an ejection and also appeared to be on the verge of throwing a seat cushion before assistant coach Juwan Howard intervened (Twitter video link). Claxton admitted after the game that he needs to do a better job of keeping his emotions in check on the court.
“Yeah, he knows he has to be better, especially this one,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “You can control your frustrations. That’s no reason to do that. I understand that we all have emotions, but the team needs him. His teammates need him, and he knows it. And that’s why he’s going to come back and work and be better.”
Joe Joe Joe…you know this happens from time to time. Everyone gets some games where it’s called different at both ends. Small picture, big picture? I’m yet to see a referee ever be wrong at any level, just as I’ve never seen a coach or player win an argument against a referee and yes, you will screwed over if you react like this. Far as the techs go. I fully understand why Tatum is a proper whinger from time to time, Jaylen a little less. Look at how often those two drive to the bucket and compare their free throw attempts to guys who drive less and who have nowhere near the team success or individual success of the two. Tatum be like ‘I swear to God I’m about to be all nba 1st team 4 seasons straight and I still can’t get the superstar treatment’. Take it on the chin, there will be plenty of nights it’s a pro Boston whistle. You play the same team today, come out hungry.
Were you reading a different quote than me?
Probably