Aurélien CANOT, published on Sunday August 02, 2020 at 2:03 p.m.
For complaining about the refereeing Friday night after his team’s loss to Milwaukee, Boston All Star point guard Marcus Smart was fined $ 15,000. The Clippers, meanwhile, aren’t sure when they’ll be able to count on Montrezl Harrell again, bereaved by the loss of his grandmother and at the lowest mental level.
After six seasons in the NBA, Marcus Smart should come to know it: the League does not laugh with the criticisms of refereeing. For having again made the mistake of criticizing the referees after the defeat of his team against Milwaukee (119-112), Friday night in the Orlando bubble, the leader of Boston has therefore learned the hard way. The player of 26 will therefore have to pay a fine of 15,000 dollars (just over 12,700 euros). His fault? Complain openly after the meeting of this sixth foul first whistled against the star of the opposing team Giannis Antetokounmpo then canceled and transformed into a foul against Smart himself, with a basket awarded to the Greek. Very frustrated, the number 36 of the Celtics had regretted in front of the press that the referees had made this decision but without being fooled, certain that this option had only been decided in order to leave Antetokounmpo on the floor at this time when Boston could still believe in victory. “Quite frankly, I think we all know how we got here … Giannis took his sixth fault, and they didn’t want him out.” Let’s call a spade a spade, and that was exactly it, ”said Smart. Words that have not been to the liking of the NBA, and the culprit will have to put his hand in the wallet.
Harrell in mourning and at the lowest mentally
Meanwhile, Montrezl Harrell is far from Smart’s troubles and the first games played in Florida since the restart of the season. The interior of the Clippers had left the Orlando bubble on July 17. On Saturday, he let it be known via several stories posted on his Instagram account that he had just lost his grandmother, to whom he was obviously very close, to the point of no longer having his heart in basketball for the moment. “I would like to wake up from this bad dream (…) I haven’t really slept for two days, I just spent my time driving (…) Only wandering around the city trying to find out why … “His coach Doc Rivers urged Harrell to take all the time he needs before reuniting with his teammates. “The others always ask me here when Trez will come back and my answer remains the same: when he will be ready.” You cannot play if you are not well mentally and emotionally. His grandmother was very close to him, so all I told him was that I love him and that he take the time to come back. We will be ready to welcome him with open arms when he returns ”. A real poignant message of love from a coach to his player, in mourning and at the lowest mentally.
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