David Fizdale Fined for Blasting Refs Following Grizzlies' Game 2 Loss vs. Spurs

Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale received a $30,000 fine from the NBA on Wednesday for his postgame rant about the lack of free throws granted to his team Monday night in its Game 2 playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.Chris Haynes of ESPN confirmed the fine amount.The Grizzlies, who are now down 2-0 in the series after losing both road games at the AT&T Center, shot 15 free throws in the 96-82 defeat. Meanwhile, the Spurs went to the line 32 times, including a 19-of-19 effort from superstar forward Kawhi Leonard.Here's a look at Fizdale's remarks about the free-throw disparity, citing numbers that suggest Memphis was more active in the paint throughout Game 2:The first-year head coach likely knew punishment was coming from the NBA after making public comments about the officiating.That said, he's been through these battles before while winning a pair of championships as an assistant with the Miami Heat. His pointed remarks are a clear effort to get his team a little more respect from the referees as the series heads to Memphis for a virtual must-win Game 3.Eli Savoie of WHBQ commented on the rant:In addition, Fizdale has to figure out a way to keep Leonard from getting into the paint so easily to create open looks or free-throw opportunities. The Spurs' MVP candidate is averaging 34.5 points while shooting 71.4 percent from the field and a perfect 28-of-28 from the charity stripe through two games.The first-round series continues Thursday night at the FedExForum as the Grizzlies attempt to turn their battle with second-seeded San Antonio into a competitive matchup before it's too late.For more news, rumors and related stories about David Fizdale, the Memphis Grizzlies and the National Basketball Association, check out the NBA and Grizzlies streams on Bleacher Report's app.
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