Another game, another knock on the Mavericks’ bench “decorum.”
The NBA on Sunday fined the Mavericks $100,000 for several players and a member of the coaching staff standing away from the bench and encroaching upon the playing court during their Game 2 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Sound familiar?
It’s the third time the Mavericks have been fined for violating the league’s rules regarding “team bench decorum.”
First: $25,000 after Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns in the second round.
Coach Jason Kidd said then “the league is worried about the wrong thing” in punishing a team for cheering on its players.
Owner Mark Cuban posted a link to an explicit video to Twitter, insinuating the Mavericks wouldn’t stop the rowdy support that their reserves — and Cuban himself — have made a hallmark of their chemistry all season.
So came a $50,000 fine after Dallas’ Game 7 victory against the Suns about a week later.
“Who complained?” Kidd quipped in reaction. “It was a blowout, so I don’t think the fans would complain. I thought the guys did what they were supposed to do. They were cheering on their guys. So we’ll find out what the fine is, but it is what it is.”
One notable instance that might’ve prompted the Mavericks’ third fine?
Warriors star Steph Curry committed a turnover in the third quarter Friday night with an errant pass in the direction of bench-mob founder Theo Pinson, who paced the sideline while shouting the Mavericks’ defensive calls and happened to be wearing white, the same color as Golden State’s uniforms.
That’s the only instance with which Warriors coach Steve Kerr had an issue.
“In fact, I really love the energy their bench showed. I think it’s great,” Kerr said after Golden State’s pre-game shootaround Sunday. “They’ve got great chemistry, great energy. They’ve had a phenomenal season, and I think part of it is they’re so connected and they’re pulling for each other. I love that part of it.
“But you can’t interfere with the game, and I thought that one play — I don’t know who it was, but someone was wearing a white shirt and was basically standing right next to our player and calling for the ball. So that’s too much. That’s too much. But the other stuff I have no problem with. I think it’s great.”
No word yet on Pinson’s outfit choice for Game 3 Sunday night.
But if his tweet during the Eastern Conference semifinal Game 3 Saturday night is indication, Pinson isn’t ready to tone down the hype.
“I guess the Miami Heat are wrong for standing up and having white warmups and Boston wearing white jerseys huh,” he tweeted with questioning and crying-laughing emojis.
