Clipper Kris Dunn grabs Laker Maxi Kleber's jersey in front of the referee Saturday at the Intuit Dome.
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Lakers have been assessed five technical fouls in their last two games for their behavior with officials as frustration over inconsistent decisions begins to mount. After Doncic, Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart picked up technical fouls in the third quarter of Thursday's win over Utah, Doncic and Smart tied again Saturday in the first and third quarters, respectively.
“I think what we ask for from any coach, any player, is consistency,” Redick said. “And it's not about singling out any official or any team, that's not what it's about. We need to know what's going on night after night.”
Smart also committed a technical foul against Utah after attempting to talk to an official during halftime. As Smart walked away upset, he raised his middle finger at the official, a gesture for which he was fined $35,000 on Saturday, the NBA announced.
“Sometimes you have to take a hit to get your point across,” Smart said Saturday.
Redick expressed additional frustration with the lack of transparency in the replay system and unclear communication with officials. He said he didn't get any feedback when he asked for it, and the distinction between plays that can and can't be challenged seems to change nightly.
The lack of communication also frustrates the players, said Smart, who met with the officials before the Utah game as team captain but still had his questions rejected.
“The captain needs to be able to talk to them,” Smart said. “They still don't want to hear it. So control what you can control. They don't want to say, you know, you try and move on. But it's definitely frustrating when you're pouring your heart out to this game and the feedback literally brushes you off, tells you to show your face, and then gives you the technology because you're asking a simple question.”
