National Basketball Association penalizes Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson for criticizing game officials: NBA News
Although the Los Angeles Lakers are now out of the race for Larry O’Brian’s trophy, after losing their fourth game on Sunday, coach Phil Jackson’s troubles were not over even after the elimination.
After the Lakers fell behind 3-0 against the Dallas Mavericks in the second-round of the 2011 Playoffs, a frustrated Jackson criticized the game officials publically. That remark cost him a $35,000 fine as National Basketball Association penalized the veteran
coach on Sunday. The Lakers management issued the press release just before Game-4.
Jackson's comment depicted his observation of how Dallas players were guarding Los Angeles forward Pau Gasol. The manager believed that the lack of rule-enforcement on the Mavericks' defence was causing a lot of trouble in the series.
An aggravated Jackson said, "You know, I've resisted this the whole playoffs, but the NBA used to call a knee (to the backside). That's what they call it. You couldn't lift a knee off the floor to run a guy off the post. And they're doing it every time.
They're taking him out of the post so we can't get a tight post play."
"We didn't complain about it against New Orleans. But the Mavs are doing the same d**n thing. And until the league goes back to the rules that they have about playing post play, Pau's got to move out and face the basket,'' he added.
Jackson, who was receiving $12 million for coaching the Lakers, at the end of his media session on Friday, was enquired if the $35,000 fine could be a tax write-off.
Jackson wittily replied, "Certainly, That's a gift to the NBA charities. NBA Cares, they really care a lot about me. ... I got to get out of here before I start something else."
Los Angeles, who were already 0-3 before going into Game-4, had paper thin chances to bounce back from this hole. Before the game, Jackson fully backed his team and reminded them of some old victories which they clinched exactly under the same circumstances.
However, in spite of Jackson’s motivational speech, they failed to coup up and were routed by the Mavs 122-86.
The Mavs were finally able to pull off what no eighth seeded team had achieved before so far in the history of the league, as they successfully swept the two-time defending Champions and went from the No. 8 position to the third-round of the NBA playoffs.
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