David Stern addresses issue of technicals
NBA Commissioner David Stern conceded that there just might be something to the concerns voiced by Celtics Coach Doc Rivers about the rash of double technicals assessed this postseason.
More precisely, Rivers does not think a double technical should be part of the seven technicals leading to a one-game suspension. And the Celtics’ Kendrick Perkins is on that threshold, one T away from missing a game.
Stern agreed with Rivers. Kind of.
“I think he has a worthy point that’s worthy of consideration,” Stern said Thursday in a news conference at Staples Center shortly before Game 1 of the NBA Finals. “We are where we are right now, but I’d like to take a look at it between seasons. As much as I hate to agree with Doc, I think he actually has a point.
“But we are where we are, and thus far, we haven’t had anyone miss a playoff game by reaching the technical foul limit, and hopefully our players will exercise the control that this rule is in there to cause them to exercise.”
He was speaking about an hour or so before the game. And as if to underscore Rivers’ point, double technicals were assessed to the Lakers’ Ron Artest and Boston’s Paul Pierce just 27 seconds into the game.
Stern also addressed the notion of the free-agent meeting (“there is no free-agent summit”) and said that the league has given the Players’ Assn. certified financial statements and tax returns, saying it had not done so in the past.
Most of the session was typical state of the NBA boilerplate, though it did sound rather unusual to hear Stern utter the words “ Lady Gaga.”
He made reference to the pop star when asked about LeBron James’ much-hyped interview with CNN’s Larry King, which is scheduled to air Friday. James has been criticized in many quarters for the timing of the interview, in proximity to the NBA Finals.
“I don’t have a problem with it,” Stern said. “…I mean, we’re really up there now with Bill Gates, President Obama and Lady Gaga. How do you beat that trifecta, to add LeBron James to that…. Of course I’m the demographic. I don’t think anyone else here probably watched it, but I did.
“It’s fine. The same way it’s fine to have the President talk to Marv Albert about where LeBron is going or about our game.”
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