A Few Thoughts on Mavs 110, Clippers 118

[mtrot]

Some great comments from the above posters. 

On the reffing point, now that we've all had a night to sleep on it, I think we may later see this as a turning point in the bigger picture than just this game. 

Whether the refs "should" have called these techs is a topic that should be discussed at a higher level than the refs who worked this particular game. They were following the instructions they were given, but some deeper thought needs to be given at the league level as to when the refs should interject themselves in a game-changing decision over a relatively minor infraction. 

At the team level, this might be a huge lesson for the Mavs in terms of acquiring veteran savvy right out of the gate. They say that experience is the hardest teacher, but the best one, and they have an opportunity to take advantage. 

Specifically, knowing that officiating is somewhat subjective and that refs make mistakes, the players need to develop a sense of when the potential reward of committing a foul is worth the risk. Let's take the first tech. KP's arm gesture was probably in instantaneous reaction, and he probably didn't have a lot of time to think about it. That is why he and his teammates need to get in the habit of responding to bad calls with something other than an air punch. He could, like, do a Tim Duncan palms up with a disbelieving expression instead. Or something. Each player can develop his own signature method of exhibiting disagreement, if he wants. So that their bodies don't react by offering the refs the opportunity to make a call. 

Take the second T. The Clippers are antagonizers. A big part of their whole MO is trying their best to get under their opponents' skin. The Mavs need to develop a mentality of not allowing themselves to fall into the trap of reacting, at least when a reaction does not help and may make things much worse. The cultivation of the habit and development of instincts are the important things -- it is too hard to mentally process those things in the heat of the moment. 

This is not just an opportunity for KP to learn. The whole team has been through a teaching moment, and if they are smart, they will go on to develop a sense of what kinds of risks are worth taking, and when. Like it or not, they can't depend on the refs to overlook reaction fouls, even when doing so would make sense from the perspective of the fan experience. 

This is not to excuse the league for instituting rules that may have unintended consequences. But, if the Mavs can take advantage of this harsh experience, it will be a big step toward the development of a tough, unflappable mentality.

That's all fair enough, BUT, now that the precedent has been set, I expect the refs to call techs on ANY player who makes a similar fist gesture about a call with which he disagrees.  I don't care if it's Harden, Lebron, Giannis, or whomever else it is.  If they don't, it just further proves the point that Cuban has been making for decades about the biased reffing from which the Mavs continue to suffer.