NBA Cracking Down On Antics Towards Refs, Untucked Jerseys

NBA Referees Cracking Down On Verbal Abuse

A team of NBA referees explained the new rules regarding the league’s crackdown on players complaining to officials about their calls before last night’s Celtics-Raptors game, according to Dave Feschuk of the TORONTO STAR. Players who complain constantly “will receive a warning and, if the warning isn’t heeded ... a technical foul can be assessed.” Profanity “does not need to be uttered to trigger a technical.” Players who “throw up their hands in resentment” after a call will also be whistled for a technical. Those who throw “projectiles” into the stands, whether it be a ball, headband or shoes, “will be automatically ejected, so long as the projectile is propelled ‘with force.’” Celtics Exec Dir of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said, “I hope they don’t take away the emotion of the game. But it’s something that can be cleaned up. Then again, I’m not sure I would have been able to play if they did that in my era.” Heat President & coach Pat Riley said, “Every call, there’s always 10 guys complaining to the officials. They’re just telling them to cut it out.” Feschuk reports the rule also extends to uniforms, as players who take the court “with their shirttails untucked will be hit with a delay of game violation (no matter how fast they hustle to tuck them in).” The first delay of game counts as a warning, with all others resulting in a technical foul (TORONTO STAR, 10/12).

RULES IN ACTION: In Minneapolis, Steve Aschburner reports T’Wolves C Mark Blount “picked up two quick technical fouls” in last night’s game against the Bucks, and G Marko Jaric earned one “for punching the ball to the court.” T’Wolves coach Dwane Casey said, “If you continue to show the official up and be demonstrative, they’re going to call it. (But) you don’t want to take guys’ passion away.” Jaric added, “I don’t understand if you want players to be emotional or if you want us to be robots out there.” T’Wolves F Kevin Garnett: “This league is about basketball and guys who can play it at the highest level. We shouldn’t have to be worried about all this” (STAR TRIBUNE, 10/12).