Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart said he was willing to absorb a league fine if it helped underscore his concerns about what he views as inconsistent NBA officiating.
Smart spoke after the Lakers’ loss to the L.A. Clippers on Saturday night, two days after being penalized $35,000 for making an obscene gesture toward a referee during a win over the Utah Jazz. The guard has been assessed technical fouls in each of the last two games.
“It’s just the consistency,” Smart told Spectrum SportsNet when asked what he hopes will change. “We understand nobody’s perfect. We don’t expect them to be perfect. We just expect consistency, and that’s it.”
The 31-year-old said his frustration has grown because referees have been reluctant to discuss calls during games, even when he approaches them as a team captain.
“You try to talk to them and they still don’t want to hear it,” Smart said. “It’s definitely frustrating when you pour your heart out to this game and the feedback is literally waving you off, telling you to get out of their face, and then giving you a tech because you’re asking questions.”
Smart acknowledged that the gesture against Utah was deliberate. “Sometimes you gotta take the hit to get your point across,” he said. “They’re gonna fine you regardless. At this point, what’s the point of us calling them to talk about a situation when you’re just gonna have your mind made up already?”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick echoed Smart’s complaints in his own post-game remarks, saying he, too, is frustrated with what he labeled inconsistent whistle patterns.
Smart, known for his fiery style, indicated he does not plan to change his approach on the court, while hoping communication between players and officials improves.
Source: Lakers Nation
