Van Gundy fined 100K

t3a · May 2, 2005

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy received a $100,000 fine from the NBA on Monday for comments made to the media on Sunday regarding NBA officiating. It marks the largest fine ever issued against a coach.

Van Gundy is upset about the referees' treatment of center Yao Ming in the playoff series against the Mavericks. He went on to say that Dallas owner Mark Cuban is to blame.

Van Gundy told reporters at the team hotel in Dallas on Sunday that a referee not working the playoffs called him and said that officials "were looking at Yao harder because of Mark's complaints" to the league office. He said that Cuban "has been hard on them," and "he's gotten the benefit." "I didn't think that really worked in the NBA, but in this case it has," Van Gundy added. He did not identify the official he spoke to.

Yao played only 20 minutes in the opening game of the set, before fouling out.

He was whistled for four fouls in Game 2, when he netted 33 points, then received five fouls in each of the last two contests versus the Mavericks.

The best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series is tied at two games apiece, with Game 5 scheduled for Monday at AmericanAirlines Center. The home team has yet to post a victory in the series.

Journeyman · May 2, 2005

100 grand is steep!

t3a · May 2, 2005

I never thought Cuban was a fave of the NBA, but I did see him crying about Dan Crawford and the other refs after losing the first 2. I hadn't really noticed Yao getting picked on though.

cincy_ · May 2, 2005

Journeyman said:
100 grand is steep!

Yeah, but it depends on his unit size. He can make it up if they lose by 7 points tonight. He can double dip if he plays Dallas and Houston on a +1/+9 teaser too.

t3a · May 2, 2005

Maybe this was an attempt to wake Yao up. Like getting a 100K T when your team is not getting any calls

TheGeneral+ · May 3, 2005

Stern says

"If the attitude reflected in those comments continues to be public, he's going to have a big problem with me as long as I'm commissioner,"

:finger: :finger:

NBA officials determine ATS results in so many games it's pathetic. Kudos Gundy, even if you are wrong in the instance.

Noreaga+ · May 3, 2005

stern mentioned a lifetime ban if he continues with these remarks

TheGeneral+ · May 3, 2005

If Gundy's source is ever proven out, then Stern will have alot of explaining to do. :finger:

Noreaga+ · May 3, 2005

he probably hit real close to home, why else would stern react like this

TheGeneral+ · May 3, 2005

Noreaga said:
he probably hit real close to home, why else would stern react like this

Bingo.

BaseballGuy · May 3, 2005

Noreaga said:
stern mentioned a lifetime ban if he continues with these remarks

Stern is full of $hit.

TheGeneral+ · May 3, 2005

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2005/columns

Knowing Stern as we do, and knowing how livid he is with what he describes as "a new low" in coach manipulation of referees through the media, Yao's boss is likely facing one of three outcomes from here:

Van Gundy reveals the name of the referee who allegedly told him of a league directive to its playoff referees to be stricter when assessing Yao's movements. In that case, Van Gundy would probably avoid further punishment … but almost certainly would cost his source his day job as an NBA ref.
Van Gundy tells league officials that he made up the story. If that's what happened, or if that's simply what Van Gundy admits to, bet on him getting hit with a suspension of some severity to start next season. Stern dropped enough hints Monday to suggest that he won't stop at a hefty fine if Van Gundy concocted (or says he concocted) the ref tale to add drama to the argument. This is not the sort of drama Stern likes.
Van Gundy maintains his refusal to tell Stern's investigators anything. He joked before Monday's tip-off that he "felt like I was in Watergate or something" when pressed to reveal his sources, but you can surmise that the penalty stemming from this scenario wouldn't generate much laughter from the Rockets.

Here's what we do know for sure:

• All teams complain to the league about the way games are officiated, not just Cuban's Mavs. This happens even more than usual in the playoffs, and the league is fine with it. Stern would much rather receive complaints than read about them in the papers.

• Cuban's chief complaint to the league is that Yao is guilty of moving screens. Screen-setting, moving or otherwise, is not what has saddled Yao with crippling foul trouble in three of the five games so far. So Van Gundy's accusations don't line up with what really bothers him – his belief that Yao is "not refereed appropriately." He attributes that in this series to Cuban "calling and calling" the league, but that has actually been a season-long complaint from the Rockets. Van Gundy even said as much before Game 5 when he conceded that his stance does not stem from a couple of playoff games. "This is how I feel," he said.

• Yao was legitimately touched by Van Gundy trying to stand up for him and was sincere when he volunteered to chip in 50 grand. Sincere, too, when Yao said: "Coach did everything he could. Now we've got to do something for him."

Problem is, only Van Gundy can extricate himself now from this spill of Texas crude.

TheGeneral+ · May 3, 2005

If it does continue, which I almost assure it will :shoota: not, WHO will be the scapegoat I ponder?

t3a · May 3, 2005

Since Stern hates conspiracy theories, let me throw mine out there. In the final minute of the Rockets game, while Stern is sitting in the stands making threats on Van Gundy (I'm not through with him....we'll pursue this when the Rockets run is over... - I like he added all the way to the finals as an afterthought to that comment) here is what happened on the floor:

With about a minute to go, Jon Barry grabbed a rebound under the hoop, only to have Michael Finley slap the ball away while Finley's foot was well out of bounds. Clearly, a violation should have been called, but the officials missed it and Barry ended up fouling Jerry Stackhouse, who made two free throws. With about 16 seconds left and the Rockets down two and attempting to trap Finley in the corner, a referee anticipated a foul when the Rockets were simply trying to trap and force a steal. Finley wasn't touched, but he went to the free-throw line when he very well could have been forced into a turnover.

I know the Rockets cost themselves with their missed free throws and all, but those were 2 critical calls against Houston after the game got close enough to be in doubt. I know Stern did not speak to the refs before the game and his presence in the stands had no influence either. Or did it.....

truthteller · May 3, 2005

Those refs should be fined $100,000 for that call they made when Finley was out of bounds and he stripped the ball from Barry.

t3a · May 3, 2005

I agree, I would love to hear Stern's comments on those 2 plays and also on the Spurs-Nuggs game last night.

Since it is all clean, Stern should publish the league's officials ratings or explain how the refs are chosen or how about announce who the refs will be before the game since they have nothing to hide

Van Gundy fined 100K

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