Celtics' Marcus Smart fined $15k for public criticism of officiating

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-marcus-smart-fined-15k-233640882.html



Celtics' Marcus Smart fined $15k for public criticism of officiating



Justin Leger, NBC Sports Boston

17 hours ago


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Marcus Smart didn't hold back in criticizing the refs following the Celtics' win over the Hornets on Thursday night, and now he has to pay the price.

The NBA fined Smart $15,000 on Friday for his comments.

"I wish they would call the game the right way, you know?" said Smart. "A lot of calls that they called, I didn't understand where the fouls were. And it just seems like, whenever I get the ball and I'm on offense, I can't get a call."

You can read the NBA's statement below:




Despite what Smart would consider questionable officiating, the C's defeated the Hornets 108-87 to improve to 6-1 on the season.



bob
MY NOTE: Chump change for Marcus, and money well spent. Go get'em, kid.


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Whether Smart can afford a fine or not is not the point. I would much rather have the officials 'handle' this issue by calling better games.

Not that Smart never fouls, but he also gets fouled as well, and there should not be a double standard.

He was set off when they called an offensive foul on him. It was a correct call. They missed a foul by Zeller on him but made a correct call on graham.

I thought the refs called an even game.

There were 19 fouls called on the Celtics and 19 fouls called on the Hornets.

Marcus was upset when he was called for that offensive foul and he got upset with Brad Stevens.

You know all the negative things that fans from other teams say about how he plays.  Grabs, holds, shoves, bumps, hits, flops, etc.  That is all true.  I expect Marcus to show leadership out there on the court.  He did not do that.  He has overall been a great leader but had a relapse in the Hornets game.

It is also true that he dives for loose balls, rebounds in traffic against bigger players, makes great passes, shuts down anyone and everyone.

Every team would love to have him. Fortunately he is our guy.