The Lakers’ backcourt duo racked up a pair of fines for their comments to the referees after Game 4, the league announced (via Twitter).
Marcus Smart has been fined $35K for “questioning the integrity of game officials,” while Luke Kennard was fined $25K for “directing inappropriate language towards game officials,” the NBA said, adding that the offending incidents took place after Game 4 concluded.
Smart, surrounded by both Lakers and Rockets players after the final whistle sounded, appeared to be shouting and pointing at referee James Williams, who ejected both Deandre Ayton and Adou Thiero during the second half of the game. Kennard was on the outskirts of the scrum at the time, talking to someone off screen (Twitter video link).
The Lakers seemed particularly displeased with the ejection of Thiero, a rookie who was playing in his first postseason game. He was thrown out of the game along with Aaron Holiday after the two players physically battled for position under the basket (Twitter video link).
“I’m more pissed off about them kicking Adou out. That was uncalled for and it made no sense,” LeBron James said after the game (Twitter video link). “Think that’s his first time he’s ever been thrown out of a game in his life. I don’t think that was warranted. Give him two technicals, the kid just got in the game, that was ridiculous.”
Ho hum another day in the books for the NBA stealing a cool 55k from players for telling the truth.
Noticed the officials name was James, is that the same guy Booker called out just a day or two ago?
If so you can’t be blaming 3 players for all having issues with 1 guys officiating in the same number of days. Clearly the man in control is the problem
Yes it’s the same official.
Wow good catch. That guy needs to be removed from the playoff crew. I actually think the NBA officiating is mostly good and mostly ethical. But there’s a handful of clown referees who ruin it.
Totally agree this official seems like he can’t handle the playoff pressure as a referee. There is a certain level of expectancy you come under as a player in the playoffs, as well for the referee’s. The NBA needs to pull this official it’s a little obvious that he cannot handle the stress of playoff basketball.
NBA just gets faker during the playoffs
The NBA really needs to work on the integrity of it’s product…
Silver crows on about tanking like it matters to that minute of a detail that the teams are competing that season… Then there’s all the anti resting rhetoric…
But competition is meaningless when the referees are useless because they are letting their emotions get the better of them or simply plain miss a call… Let alone get bribed to help make a bet payoff…
AI is at the point it would make less mistakes than humans… But the NBA does have the money to follow other sports and have live video reviews with humans over ride anything live and reset the score and clock… They have the resources to do it… It isn’t perfect but it is better than the current situation or letting AI take over another fun job…
Tanking and resting players may have fans whinging in the short term… But they see a silver lining… With bad referee work… they end up like the post above me and feeling it’s just entertainment like pro wrestling or tuning out of the sport altogether…
James Williams is getting complaints from all sides, but the NBA won’t even look into it. Something stinks, and it’s not the player complaints.
And he’s the crew chief in Boston tonight.
Watch him pull more BS.
As one of the top ref haters online, IMO he’s more incompetent than corrupt.
Zarba, Foster, Dagher, Malloy, Davis, Taylor, Tiven, and the Goble brothers are the ones that have integrity issues
Looks like the NBA just suspended him for the rest of the playoffs.
GOOD!
Williams made horrible calls in Phoenix v. OKC series, this past Sunday in Portland v. San Antonio, and most recently in the Lakers v. Rockets game. Briefly, how do you know the NBA isn’t looking into Williams’ poor performances? Or is this just another unfounded conspiracy theory claim?
” … the NBA won’t even look into it.” How do you know this?
Because he’s been incompetent for 14 years as an NBA referee. 756 regular season games 56 playoff games including 4 NBA finals.
Questioning the integrity of the officials? The Lakers outshoot their opponents at the line probably 79 out of 82 games every year. LBJ gets away with whatever the hell he wants. Give me a break. Babies.
If you didn’t pay attention to the article, the Lakers were more upset about Williams ruining the playoff debut of Thiero who was kicked out for little to no reason. It sounds more like sticking up for the kid. Good for them.
The NBA is right at the top in integrity issues, a few notches above MLB and their umpires, and now with a possible referee strike facing the NFL this season I do believe the NBA will still be the league with the most all-around integrity issues when it comes to players playing only when they want to, franchises throwing games, referees, NBA wanting certain matchups for ratings.
More terrible ref calls… just another night in the NBA…