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Comparing Wallace's comments

Posted by Julian Benbow, Globe Staff January 21, 2010 12:56 PM

Freely criticizing the refs for, in his eyes, over-protecting Dirk Nowitzki cost Rasheed Wallace $35,000. He had already been fined for letting the world know what he thought about Hedo Turkoglu's flopping. The only person this season who was fined an amount equal to what Wallace paid for his Dirk comments was Stan Van Gundy. Most of the jabs were directed at the replacement refs. Here's a look at the people who've been fined for criticizing officials this season, what they said and how much it cost them.

Charlotte coach Larry Brown, Oct. 14, $25,000

What he said: Asked about the fouls being called in the preseason by replacement refs, Brown said it reminded him of summer-league games, when action is constantly stopped by whistles and "you never get to see the kids play."

He was fined $35,000 for verbally abusing game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner after being ejected The Bobcats paid $60,000 for Brown getting tossed.

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins, Oct. 14, $25,000

What he said: "Dwight Howard's a great player and Thabeet didn't get a fair share of the calls right from the start of the game," Hollins said. "It's not Dwight Howard against Thabeet --- it's us against the Orlando Magic."

His reaction to the fine: “It was not even directed at the officials,” Hollins said. “But, I was quoted, and I have to pay the consequences ... “I’ve never had any issues with officiating,” Hollins said. “I didn’t have any issues in this particular game with officiating. We were down 20 points at the end of the game. I had some issues with some of our players and their efforts at times, and their execution.”

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, Oct. 16, $35,000

What he said: "There’s no problem with them. These are guys the NBA in large part has identified. They’re good, young officials on the way up and one day they’ll be ready. It would be like us having to play with an entire d-league roster. A lot of those guys will be ready to play in three years. If you put one of those guys on an NBA crew they’d probably be all right, but they’re all out there together. It’s like me taking a d-league team and going all right, let’s go play the Hornets. It’s not going to look too good.

"There’s no fault of those guys. As much as we get on our own officials, as coaches, those are the best 60 guys in the world. You’re comparing the replacement guys to them. Well, those are the best 60 guys. I don’t care what profession. When you’re getting compared to the best 60 guys."

Wallace’s comments and fines

Jan. 20, $35,000:"[The officials] don't like tough defense on [Dirk Nowitzki], so, of course, I get a whole lot of [expletive] calls. That's how the story goes, I'm not worried about it. We'll see them again. ... Actually, I honestly can't remember which one the fourth foul was, there was so many bogus [calls], but I'm not worried about it."

Nov. 29, $30,000: "They've got to know that he's a damn flopper. That's all Turkododo do. Flopping shouldn't get you nowhere. He acts like I shot him ... That's not basketball, man. That's not defense. That's garbage, what it is. I'm glad I don't have too much of it left."