New York, NY

The NBA has slapped a $35,000 fine on Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau for his postgame criticisms of officiating in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat.

"I see how things are going, I watch very closely. We're not going to get calls, that's reality," Thibodeau said after the Heat defeated the Bulls, 104-94 in Game 3 for a 2-1 lead.

Thibodeau, through a Bulls PR representative, said he has no comment regarding the fine, adding that he wants to focus on Game 4.

Thibodeau's statement stemmed from several calls that went against the Bulls in Game 3, particularly mentioning an alleged flop by LeBron James that led to the ejection of center Nazr Mohammed.

"From my angle, I saw a guy basically flop," Thibodeau said. "I don't think it warranted an ejection. I understand a flagrant foul, I understand that, but ejection, no, nope."

"It's kind of the same as when people said I was overrated, I have the same response," James said in response to Thibodeau's statement. "I don't need to flop. I play an aggressive game but I don't flop. I've never been one of those guys. I don't need to flop."

The Bulls-Heat series has been a physical and emotional one, highlighted by several technical fouls and ejections and Thibodeau said it would remain that way until the end.

"Playoff basketball," Thibodeau said. "That's normal."

 

NBA Fines Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau for Postgame Comments

 

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