Fansided

NBA fines Doc Rivers $25,000 for public criticism of officiating

By Brad Rowland

May 13, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers reacts to a call in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in game five of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers reacts to a call in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in game five of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tuesday’s Game 5 between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder had a fantastically entertaining finish that was largely overshadowed by a large-scale focus on officiating. In the aftermath of the game, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers had plenty in the way of negative things to say about what took place, and as a result, he has been fined $25,000 by the NBA.

There were beginning to be rumblings about whether Rivers would escape a fine in this instance, simply because it took about 36 hours to announce it, but this was all coming. From the moment that Doc opened his mouth and began saying things like “this could be a series-defining call” and “we got robbed”, the NBA was backed into a corner, and it slammed the door shut on Rivers.

Game 6 is set to take place on Thursday night in Los Angeles, and with the Clippers trailing 3-2 in the series, it may be good to close the book on this entire situation in favor of focusing on the game.

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