LOS ANGELES – It appears tensions between Doc Rivers ‘LA Clippers and Kristaps Porzingis’ Dallas Mavericks have heated up just one game in their first round playoff series.
Porzingis was exhausted from Monday night’s Game 1 between the Clippers and Mavs, after recording a second technical foul in an altercation with Marcus Morris. After the 118-110 loss, Porzingis declared his side of the techniques.
“I understand we sat in there a bit and I saw him come in Luka’s face and I did not like it,” Porzingis said after the match. ‘That’s why I react. That’s a smart thing to do on their part and I just need to get worse and check my emotions next time, especially at first. I understand the second one, but the first one even though I felt like it was a clean block and they will probably call this tech every time for throwing the hand so I just have to be smart and my emotions do not get the better of me to let . ”
The 7-foot-2 Latvian then appeared to be taking a bit of a jab at the other Clippers boys, ‘claiming it was their job to get into the opponents’ heads.
“They provoked us,” Porzingis continued. ‘They provoked us, especially me. I should have been smarter. I already had a technical one that I did not really have in mind. I would not have been in that situation, really. That was bad of her to grab Luka, get in his face and get a reaction out of me. They got what they were looking for, in principle. I just learned from this.
‘They do. Not her main boys, but some of the other guys, that’s her job. That’s part of their game, and we can ‘t fall into that. We need to be above and that is it. These are the mistakes you almost have to go through to gain that experience and not make those mistakes later in your career. ‘
To the credit of Marcus Morris, he did not think the change was much over and thought the eviction was unfair.
“I did not think it was a lot of nothing, honestly,” Morris said as the crushing postgame. ‘I think Luka thought I was, I think, extra physical than anything, but if you look at the movie, I actually did nothing. I did not think it was enough to get technical errors. I wish Porzingis played because it’s the playoffs, man, no one should be thrown in playoffs. I know her team really hurts. Not my fault, but I did not think it was so serious. ”
When told about Porzingis’ comments, implying that the Clippers were trying to provoke the Mavericks into some sort of confusion and bad decision, LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers did not.
“It’s funny. I was at one of those meetings and I think someone in the league said, ‘You coaches, you’re trying to play games with the refs,’ Rivers said. ‘I’m sure, I’ve never met a coach in my life, thinking, ok, this is what I need to do to get under their skin. No, I think we have some guys who are agitators. I like that. But I can guarantee you that was not on our list of game plan. That’s just ridiculous. “Okay, let’s throw him out.” ”
Rivers continued to double down on his comments from last night’s game, saying he disagreed with the decision to give Marcus Morris and Kristaps Porzingis a technical on the minuscule change as well as the reaction techniques earlier in the game.
“I did not really like it. If I have a critique, I do not think so [Paul George] must have a tech and I did not think Porzingis should have the first tech.
“In some games they do the punch, it was a quick frustration thing. I just think we should – I do not know how to judge that. If you do not do one thing, you do the other. I guarantee you they had to give his because they gave Paul his in the first quarter. I thought these first two techs were connected. I do not like either of them.
‘In the defense of the officials it is difficult, because they are trying to control the game, the emotions of the game. I get it. It’s a hard job. ”
The Clippers and Mavericks will play Game 2 of their first round series on Wednesday night at 6PM PST. You can be sure that after just 20 minutes of action in Game 1, Kristaps Porzingis will be looking for a direct impact in Game 2.
