Frustration boiled over for Rick Carlisle on Wednesday night during a Mavericks loss to the Thunder. Having already received a technical earlier in the game, Carlisle became upset with a no-call on a steal play. When Russell Westbrook dunked the ball on the other end of the floor, it went bouncing toward Carlisle. The Mavs coach then booted it, and it went off the side of his foot and into the stands. The ball hit a young boy in the head, and as you can see Carlisle immediately regretted the decision. Fortunately, the boy’s father was a good sport about it.
“It was an interesting night,” Shawn Marion said according to the Dallas Morning News. “He could try out for FIFA. He was right, though. It was an interesting game. It was emotional at times and Rick felt like he needed to make his presence felt.
“It was kind of crazy how the possessions went. We attack the basket strong and didn’t get anything. They call ticky-tack down on the other end. Just a bad night all the way around. But we were still right there in position to win the game.”
Carlisle said he did not intend to kick the ball into the stands, but instead kick it to the official. If you watch the kick you can see the ball went off the side of his foot, so he’s likely being truthful. That being said, you can’t kick the ball at anyone without getting a technical.
“I want to apologize to our franchise, Mark (Cuban), our fans,” Carlisle said. “My intent was not to kick it into the stands. The officials made the right call on that one. That’s a regrettable situation.”
Carlisle did not back down from his frustration with the officiating crew, saying that his team did not play well but there were a number of physical plays that should have been whistled dead. Stand by for fine and/or suspension.
