With 18 seconds left in the first overtime period in a 127-122 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers argued his way off of the bench. He even had to be held back by center DeAndre Jordan before being ejected.
Rivers was ejected by lead official Ken Mauer, who didn’t appreciate Rivers’ animated behavior after a foul called by official Lauren Holtkamp.
After the game, Rivers didn’t hold back when discussing his ejection, as per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN:
“I thought it was an awful tech,” Rivers said. “Honestly, I think you guys know why the tech was called. The official who had nothing to do with the play thought I was yelling at Lauren, and I wasn't. Actually, she said, ‘Doc, you're right,' or whatever, ‘Let's walk back.' We were walking. We weren't even arguing. So it was the damnedest tech to give at that time.
“What the league is going to do, they're going to fall back on, ‘He crossed half court.' … that's what they're going to say. And we're going to all know that's not the real reason. I don't think an official that has nothing to do with the play should be giving someone a tech. That's my thing. That's why I got upset. He didn't even know what we were talking about. It wasn't even an argument. But listen, that had nothing to do with the game, and that's not why we lost the game.”
After explaining that crossing over midcourt is an automatic technical foul, Mauer stated that the reason for Rivers’ second technical doesn’t need much of an explanation:
“Do I need to explain it to you?” Mauer said. “Watch the tape. Behavior, language warrants a second technical foul. Warranted an ejection after getting a first technical foul.”
While Doc Rivers was especially heated during the incident, it’s just another occasion in which the 2008 NBA champion head coach has shown that he wears his heart on his sleeve.
Follow Us
Subscribe