DALLAS — The Mavericks have been fined $100,000 for “continuing to violate league rules regarding team bench fitness,” the National Basketball Association announced Sunday.
This is the third time the Mavericks have been fined for fitness violations this postseason. Total penalties totaled $175,000, doubling each time.
The league office statement said several times in the Mavs’ Game 2 loss to the Golden State Warriors that “several players and one member of the coaching staff stood in the Mavericks’ team bench area for a long time, well away from the team. On the bench, they’ve been on the field, or they’re invading it during the game.”
The Mavs were fined for similar violations after losing Game 2 and winning Game 7 against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Mavs made it clear at the time that they had no intention of dampening a two-way player’s enthusiasm Theo Bensoninjured goalkeeper Tim Hardaway jr.. And the rest of the bank.
“The league is concerned about the error,” Kidd said after evaluating the first penalty. “You have millionaires cheering on other millionaires. That doesn’t happen in this community. And the in-game excitement of a team member cheering on another teammate. And I think sometimes we focus on the wrong thing. And then you look at people making big bucks cheering on their teammates. Again, we’re looking at “the wrong thing.”
Once in Game 2, the Reserve Mavs on their feet affected the game. Warriors made a turn when Stefan Curry He accidentally passed the ball to Benson, who was standing and wearing a white shirt that was the same color as Golden State’s uniform.
“I don’t mind as long as it doesn’t interfere with the game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Saturday. “I don’t mind. I love the fact that the Dallas seat is so lively and has trash talk and in. I think that’s what the fans want to see. They want to see a team that cares and they want to see energy and chemistry.. well I love it but if it’s against the game then it’s over the line. .
“That’s the only thing that matters to me when there’s a game… If someone’s on the field, someone gets up and defends the ball, it’s just too much. But otherwise I’m really enjoying it. I think it is cool.”
