Dallas Mavericks veteran Jason Kidd fined for criticizing game officials - NBA Update
Reigning NBA champions Dallas Mavericks don’t seem to be satisfied with the referees and their decisions this season.
On Monday night, in a disappointing loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they again felt they were hard done by the referees during the intense ending moments of the game, which allowed the Thunder to seal the victory.
Point guard Jason Kidd openly criticized the referees after the game for their unfair attitude towards his team and as expected, he has been fined $25,000 for it, by the NBA.
Kidd, in his frustration after the loss, slammed the game officials and accused them of not giving the NBA champions the respect that they deserve.
"We don't get the benefit of the whistle," Kidd said. "I don't think we're looked upon as champions, but that's a whole other story. Dirk [Nowitzki] should live at the line if they would call it the way it's supposed to be. But
he doesn't."
In the game, the Thunder were awarded 33 free throws in contrast to 10 for the Mavs. What was more frustrating for the team was that two of those came in the clutch, when the referee called an Ian Mahinmi foul.
According to Kidd, it was completely a wrong call.
"He didn't foul him. It was a bad call. Clean block. I just said [to the official] it wasn't a foul. He blocked the ball and after the play he said he bumped him with his body. I don't think so. It was a bad night for the officials.
It happens."
Not only Kidd, but the team’s coach Rick Carlisle also deemed it as a surprising call.
"I'm in disbelief that there was a foul call on Mahinmi," said Carlisle, "I just watched the play five times. I mean, it's a block. It's an enormous play”
However, unlike Jason, Rick escaped the fine.
This is not the first time that the Mavs have complained and served for speaking out this season. On February 1st in a home loss against the same team, the Mavs owner, Mark Cuban was fined a hefty $ 75,000 for criticizing
the officials openly. Even Carlisle has been fined for expressing his emotions against the officials in the past.
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