Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey was none too pleased about the lack of calls by the referees on Jared Dudley and Marquese Chriss on Thursday.
Tempers flared during third quarter of the game between the Jazz and Phoenix Suns. After Utah inbounded the ball following a missed dunk by Chriss, Ricky Rubio was shoved by Dudley. He was then pushed to the floor by Chriss.
Dudley cheap shots @rickyrubio9 Broo-ha-ha ensues. @Joeingles7 steps in! Players will be tossed. #TakeNote #UtahJazz #PHXatUTA pic.twitter.com/4t505iaqx5
— Dave Fox (@Davefox2) March 16, 2018
Here’s a view from another angle, which includes the fracas that followed.
Uh oh, Suns go after Ricky Rubio in Utah. pic.twitter.com/MPlpfTJRNU
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 16, 2018
Dudley and Chriss were both ejected, but their actions were enough to have Lindsey fuming. During a radio appearance on Friday, Lindsey expressed disappointment with the treatment of his players and lack of protection for them.
“I’m tired, guys, to be honest with you. I didn’t sleep well last night after the two hits on Ricky…coupled with my wife’s snoring…so you’ll have to forgive me,” Lindsey told 1280 The Zone in Utah, via producer Austin Horton. “I’ve got an upset starting point guard, I’ve got an upset coach and reasonably so. Literally, when I say I didn’t sleep a minute [last night] I didn’t. We expect our players to be protected. We think the officials made the appropriate determination, [but] we’ve seen this too many times.
“I don’t think there’s any connection individually. Again, what happened vs. Minnesota was inappropriate…what happened TWICE [last night] is not in the name of good sportsmanship. [Rubio]’s upset. He’s got a contusion on his knee now and we’re in a playoff chase. You expect players to be protected by the league, and we’ll stand on that. Hopefully it won’t cause him to miss any time, but frankly as of today we don’t know. We’re disappointed in the actions and we’re going to express that.
“We get competition brings frustration, but again, what happened last night was uncalled for.”
The incident Lindsey referenced against Minnesota was Jeff Teague giving Rubio a body check that sent Rubio into the Timberwolves bench.
Jeff Teague literally bodychecked Ricky Rubio into the Wolves bench pic.twitter.com/TNU1Io18rK
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) March 3, 2018
It’s understandable Lindsey would be frustrated with the treatment of one of his better players, especially considering the Jazz are fighting for a playoff spot and Rubio has been diagnosed with a knee contusion. Rubio is considered questionable for Utah’s game against Sacramento on Saturday.
