SAN ANTONIO — Richard Jefferson has always enjoyed a good relationship with referees. At least he said so today on the eve of tonight’s Game 3, joking that he’s gotten to the line plenty over his career.
The Spurs forward also said there’s an art to talking to officials, knowing when in a game to pick your spot and make a point.
“It’s true,” Jefferson said. “You say some things and it can help a situation go either way. The referees are human. They’re not being influenced, but they’re humans. They understand what everyone’s been saying and people talk about it for three or four days, and their character is being questioned. It’s a tough job. There’s human error involved in everything.”
That error has led to plenty of complaining in recently about the quality of officiating, who’s getting calls and the like. A fed up commissioner David Stern said Thursday in Oklahoma City that’s he’s tired of it and will begin
suspending coaches and players if the foolishness doesn’t stop.
That got the attention of coaches and players at this first-round series.
“I believe him,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “I’ve gotten to know the commissioner well over the last few years because of my involvement with the coaches’ association. He’s a man that’s interested in the well-being of the game. He’s interested in doing the right things. I don’t think you’re going to see any of that stuff in this series.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn’t to see any of it, either.
“No matter what happens, referees are going to miss calls, players are going to make mistakes, coaches are going to make mistakes, and it’s probably best if we can all find a way to shut up and move on,” Pop said. “It’ll be better for everybody. Sometimes emotion takes over and hopefully [suspensions] won’t happen for anybody.”
As Mavs guard Jason Terry summed up: “Stern is going to be real stern obviously here in the playoffs and that’s a good thing.”
