NBA referees have had better weeks. On Thursday, the league admitted that Blake Griffin should not have been given a technical foul – his second of the game, resulting in an ejection – in the Christmas matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. On Tuesday, the league announced that Dallas forward Shawn Marion should have been called for a foul on his “blocked shot” on Minnesota’s Kevin Love at the end of Monday’s 100-98 win by the Mavericks. [Read
The NBA admitted Thursday that Blake Griffin should not have been ejected from Wednesday’s LA Clippers-Golden State game. “After a league review of the Clippers-Warriors game, we have come to the conclusion that Blake Griffin should not have been ejected from the game,” NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn said in a statement. “A common foul should have been called on Griffin for initially attempting to dislodge the Warriors’ Andrew Bogut and a technical foul should have been assessed to Bogut
The worst night of Paul Pierce’s career had a hangover. It wasn’t enough that the future Hall of Famer was held scoreless Monday for the first time since 1999, when he was a rookie. It also wasn’t enough that the Brooklyn Nets forward’s scoreless night ended with an ejection for a flagrant-2 foul on Pacers guard George Hill. On Tuesday, NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn – apparently not in any sort of holiday spirit – fined Pierce $15,000 for his clothesline
Philadelphia’s Daniel Orton had played 24 minutes this month. Portland’s Meyers Leonard had played 31 minutes this season. So when they both got extended minutes in prolonged garbage time, they couldn’t control themselves. In the fourth quarter of the Blazers-Sixers mess Saturday in Philadelphia – check the score and the time remaining as the video begins – the two big men got in a good old-fashioned tussle with both delivering significant blows. Leonard grabbed Orton and threw him to the floor. As
That was an expensive drink Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd spilled on the court Friday night. The NBA fined Kidd $50,000 on Thursday after determining that Kidd intentionally spilled his cup onto the floor to delay the game and buy his team some huddle time. [Read more…]
Losing to the Philadelphia 76ers apparently makes folks lose their cool. After Friday’s loss to the surprising 76ers, Wizards coach Randy Wittman lost his and was fined $20,000 by the NBA on Monday. The fine was announced by NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn. Wittman was fined for using profane language in his comments following a 109-102 loss in the team’s home opener. Washington led throughout the first half, by 11 points midway through the third quarter and by
After more than 13 years on the job, it has been confirmed that executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson will be stepping down from his post. [Read more…]
One day after the NBA implemented a new anti-flop rule to penalize players with fines for flopping, there were plenty of reactions around the league, from happy campers to those that weren’t quite sure if it was the best of ideas. See what was said around the league about the change along with other news around the league on Thursday: Blake Griffin thinks the flopping rule is a great way for the league to make money on, from Marc J. Spears