NBA fines Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle $25K for comments about officiating
The NBA announced Saturday that Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has been fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officials after a 100-97 loss to the Warriors on Thursday night.
Carlisle joins owner Mark Cuban and forward Shawn Marion, who have also been fined for criticizing the league’s officials in recent weeks.
The Dallas Morning News reported Carlisle’s post-game comments on Thursday.
“The game came down to the call that wasn’t made,” Carlisle said. “Brandan Wright got hit on the arm. And it’s obvious. And it’s two nights (games) in a row. It’s very tough to take with as hard as our guys are fighting to not be on the free-throw line with a chance to go ahead with 6 seconds left in the game.
“We put ourselves in position and I don’t know what you want to call it at the end – unlucky, whatever you want to call it. Screwed? It happened.”
ESPNDallas.com reported additional comments, as well as Carlisle’s reaction to the fine on Saturday.
“I’m disappointed and I’m very concerned,” Carlisle said Thursday. “Concerned about what’s happening at the end of games with the officials. I can only be honest.”
Moments later, Carlisle added: “I’ve never been one to make it about the officials. So I don’t want to wallow in this too much. But it’s a fact that two nights in a row, miscalls have really hurt us, and I’m disappointed by it.”
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“I spoke to the NBA office and agreed that I should be fined for my comments following the Golden State game,” Carlisle said in a text message. “In this league we all have challenging jobs, and the job of the officials is one of the toughest. Those postgame remarks about the officiating were not appropriate, and I accept the fine.”
Carlisle was upset because of crucial late-game calls that went against Dallas in a Tuesday night loss to the Blazers in Portland and Thursday’s loss in Oakland.
Against the Blazers, Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo was whistled for a charge on a last-second drive with the score tied. The NBA announced Wednesday that the ruling was incorrect and Blazers guard Ronnie Price should have been whistled for a block on the play, which set up a LaMarcus Aldridge game-winner on the ensuing possession.
Against the Warriors, Mavericks center Brandan Wright had his shot blocked by Warriors center Andrew Bogut with five seconds remaining and Dallas down one, leading to two free throws for Golden State on the other end. Mavericks wing Vince Carter was not able to make a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer.
Dallas is currently 20-27, in the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference and on track to miss the postseason for the first time since 1999-2000.