The NBA’s slogan is “where amazing happens,” and George Karl couldn’t agree more, following the $25,000 fine of Denver forward Kenyon Martin, for a flagrant one foul in Game 1 against Dallas.
“The NBA’s amazing, absolutely amazing,” a frustrated coach Karl said this morning at Denver’s shootaround, his first public reaction since Monday’s fine. “That’s all I’m going to say, other than it’s way out of line, crazy, amazing. Doesn’t Nike have one ‘unbelievable’ too? You have some commercials that define what happened with that fine.”
Game 2 against the Mavericks is tonight at Pepsi Center (8:30, TNT). At the morning shootaround, Karl defended his player, who’s first-quarter shoulder knockdown of Dirk Nowtizki earned Martin the fine. Martin had received a technical foul for the play, but that was rescinded, and now he has only two in the postseason (seven will lead to a one-game postseason suspension).
“I’m confused — I saw some hits in Chicago-Boston, Atlanta-Miami, and this was not on top of the list from my observation,” Karl said. “It’s amazing to me. The rules are changing and their interpretation, I think, is in a good place. They’re trying to make the game a basketball game and not a wrestling match or boxing match. The consistency of what we’re trying to figure out is — as a coach, I got to help Kenyon through this, and I’m having trouble doing it.”
Karl said the officiating in the postseason has had a “consistent rhythm” but said the “blips have been these interpretations. it seems like the interpretation has been on past history, and I’m not sure that’s the way it should be. Kenyon is a tough defender that, at times, gets the wrong interpretation because he’s so tough.”
Some folks in the Nuggets organization suggested the all-star Nowitzki fell harder than he should have – in other words, “acting” to get the attention of the officials.
On Monday, vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman told The Denver Post: “Dirk is one of the greatest players ever in the NBA. And he’s a good actor, too.”
At the Mavericks shootaround, Nowitzki said with a slight smile about the longtime ex-NBA player, “I didn’t know Rex Chapman was still alive. I don’t think I really acted on that play. I drove baseline, got bumped and fouled and kept on driving, but sometimes with the continuation in the league I guess they didn’t want to make sure I didn’t lay it in and get a chance to count the basket. I don’t think I acted on that play.
“I’ve never had acting lessons.”
Karl said at a previous NBA coaches meeting, commissioner David Stern “talked about flopping and how he didn’t like it, but unless you’re going to do it after the fact there are a lot of guys who are better actors than some other guys. The playoffs, you want the best team to win, not the team that can trick you into winning. . Somewhere along the way, I think we should have seminar on what the interpretation is going to be and help our players. Because as a coach, when you’re confused, and you’re players are confused, it’s tough. My job is to help, and at this moment, I’m as confused as Kenyon is.
“I told Kenyon — we can talk about it today, but when we come back tonight, let’s forget about it.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
