Doc Runs His Mouth: Upset with Flopping, Refs

"Last night, Paul was never in his rhythm. He couldn't be. He played for four minutes, he was back on the bench, played for five minutes. I mean, I played Paul at times last night when I should not have had him on the floor with four fouls, but I had no choice. You've got to get him on the floor at some point.

"But it clearly -- you know, we watched film today, and I showed Paul, it's funny. I said 'Paul, that's a driving lane. You've got to get to the basket.' His response was: 'I was worried about getting another foul.' It's tough to play that way."

Rivers revealed that he has sent tape to the league for review. "I think it was a ton of moving screens they got away with...As far as off-the-ball action ... you are not allowed to hold, you are not allowed to bump, and you are not allowed to impede progress. I read that this morning, and I'm positive of it. So, you know, when that happens it has to be called."

Doc didn't stop there, however. His comments on LA's Game 3 hero, Derek Fisher, painted him in a less than admirable light. "Derek? What, besides flopping, he doesn't do a lot extra," the Boston coach said of the Lakers hero who was in tears after singlehandedly holding off a late-Celtic run:

"I thought there was a lot of holding going on and a lot of flopping going on, and finally he showed that last one. But he's good at it, he's always been good at it. We knew that going into the series. He's one of the best charge-takers in the game. He's always been that. And some of them are charges and then some of them are flops, but all of them are tough to call"

Here's some Fisher Flopping from Game 2 on video, courtesy NBA Playbook ,this one didn't get called, however. 


According to ESPNLosAngeles's Dave McMenamin, Fisher is the playoff leader in drawing offensive fouls with 20. Second to him are Glen Davis with 11 and Pierce with 10. During the regular season, Fisher drew 48 offensive fouls - tying him for 5th in the league.

The officiating in this series has been criticized from the very beginning by both sides. After Game 2, Phil Jackson was open about his own displeasure - calling several calls on Kobe Bryant: "unusual". Now it's Doc's turn. He did hint Tuesday night that perhaps Jackson's critiquing of the refs after Game 2 had an effect. Perhaps Doc is trying to do the same. "I think he [Phil Jackson] is good, I think we're all pretty good at it," Rivers said yesterday. "But listen, if Phil Jackson says something the day before and it  happens, I hope that has nothing to do with the officials."


(Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo Credit should Read /AFP/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)