Rivers hit with $25k fine
SAN ANTONIO - Coach Doc Rivers was fined $25,000 by the NBA yesterday for publicly criticizing referee Bill Kennedy after Tuesday's loss in Chicago. The penalty was determined by league executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson.
"Amazing," Rivers wrote via text message. "What can I say? It reminds me of the song, 'How can something feel so right yet feel so wrong.' "
According to an NBA source, Kennedy also was fined an undisclosed amount for his conduct toward Rivers. Neither was suspended.
With the Celtics trailing, 124-119, following a timeout with 29.8 seconds left, Rivers received his second technical foul and was ejected. He said he was baited by Kennedy.
"The technical on which I got thrown out was the most unprofessional technical by a ref I've ever had," Rivers said after the game. "He stood there and goaded me and goaded me and stared at me. Look at the film. I actually walked away.
"He asked me, 'Where do you want the ball?' And I said, 'Ask them,' talking about my players. That's my right to say that. He stood there and stared me down and stared me down and goaded me until I turned around and said, 'What?' That's when I got thrown out of the game. In a [5-point] game? Think about that."
Kennedy was not available for comment after the game, or yesterday concerning his fine.
Home-court advantage, Cousy believes, is overrated.
"It is neutralized in the playoffs, pretty much," Cousy said from Florida in a telephone interview. "In the playoffs, any player worth his salt comes to play wherever the game is. Of course, you would rather have home-court advantage, but it's easier to overcome in the playoffs than the regular season."
Cousy, 80, who was not retained by
"I wouldn't bet against them," Cousy said. "[Bill] Russell's last season [1968-69] was a mediocre season, but they surprised the world. "Doc has done a magnificent job. They may still surprise us - [Kevin ] Garnett typifies the attitude we're talking about. They still have a good shot at it."
Cousy believes the Cavaliers are too reliant on LeBron James, as are the Lakers on Kobe Bryant.
"LeBron is a great one, but the other guys have got to beat you," Cousy said. "They can put two, three, four guys on him and force the other guys to beat you; and when you aren't used to doing it, you can't imagine the pressure. A great player thrives under pressure, a mediocre one collapses. All year long, LeBron has been carrying you, now I'm supposed to hit wide-open shots. And it's the same with LA, to some degree. Kobe is great, but still, in my judgment, there is a lack of defense. Kobe is a good defender, but I don't see improvement on the defensive end. It's a tossup, those three teams."
Rivers and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge have been able to maximize the Celtics' bench.
"Doc maintains as good a relationship with the guys as any coach in the league," Cousy said. "There is a lot of nodding the head affirmatively, I love you, and yes all the time, but Doc's not that. He's a friend in need but not their buddy. It requires a certain amount of discipline and they know Doc will be there if they need him, and that creates a bond."
Marc J. Spears reported on this story from Boston; Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com. 
