January 14, 2009 3:21 AM
Mark Cuban expecting J.R. Smith to be suspended
By Chris Tomasson
Rocky Mountain News
Dallas owner Mark Cuban indicated he will file a complaint to the NBA about an elbow thrown Tuesday night by Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, and he expects Smith to be suspended.
In e-mails to the Rocky Mountain News early Wednesday morning, Cuban was critical of an elbow thrown by Smith in the final seconds of the first half of Denver's 99-97 win over the Mavericks at the Pepsi Center.
"I do take exception with players throwing elbows that could have severely injured one of our players,'' Cuban wrote. "I was very cordial in letting Mr. Smith know (at halftime) that I will be turning it into the league, and I expected him to be suspended for it.''
Nuggets coach George Karl referred to the incident speaking to reporters after the game. He took exception to Cuban talking to Smith at halftime.
"I don't care if Cuban barks, but he shouldn't be barking at my players,'' Karl said. "He barked at J.R. at halftime. I thought it was very unprofessional, irresponsible. And, if he sees something that he wants to deliver to the league, fine, he can do that.
"But he shouldn't be on the court talking to one of my players. And he was talking to J.R. about an elbow situation. And I thought it doesn't look good for anybody.''
Cuban was asked via e-mail about Karl's comments, about the elbowing incident and about Cuban's post-game conduct. Cuban went onto the court after the game, and was seen yelling at someone soon after a controversial officials call with 2.2 seconds left that allowed Denver's Chauncey Billups to hit two game-winning free throws. Cuban claimed he wasn't yelling at the officials.
Cuban took exception to Smith's elbow. Cuban wrote that after the game Smith sent him a pair of signed shoes in an apparent goodwill gesture, and Cuban declined them.
The Rocky Mountain News viewed the Smith incident on an Altitude replay. In the final seconds of the first half, Smith threw an elbow toward the head of Dallas swingman Antoine Wright that missed.
"Away from the play, J.R. threw a full-force elbow right at Wright's head,'' Cuban wrote. "Barely missed connecting... That's uncalled for. He could have severely hurt him.
"And you can ask George why he is condoning his players throwing elbows at people's heads away from the play? He thinks that looks good?''
Cuban did not believe he was out of line talking to Smith at halftime.
"I have conversations with a lot of players,'' Cuban wrote. "Often. It's no big deal. I talked to Chauncey, other guys. It happens pretty much every game. All very cordial.''
Cuban wrote that a Nuggets official, whom he did not name, dissuaded him from talking to Smith at halftime.
"The professional thing to do would be to find out what the issue was and the volunteer to address it with his player,'' Cuban wrote. "One of (the Nuggets') people came up to me, told me to not talk to the player, at which point I told him I would be very happy to discuss it with him. It would have given the Nuggets the opportunity to discuss it with J.R. Instead, the Nuggets official just walked away.
"My conversation with J.R. was actually very cordial and levelheaded. I told him that it's not cool to throw elbows at someone's head, that I would be turning it into the league. He politely and cordially told me our player (Wright) had grabbed him before that. I told him that, if our guy did something wrong, I will say something to the player and he should turn it into the league . No 'barking.' There were several other Nuggets right there. They made the point to tell me J.R. and our guy 'had history.'
Cuban wrote he spoke to Wright at halftime.
"I went to our player and told him that he was not to retaliate, that I would deal with it with the player and the league,'' Cuban wrote. "He agreed.''
Cuban made reference a brawl the Nuggets had at New York in December 2006. Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony was suspended for 15 games for his role in the incident, and Smith got a 10-game penalty.
"The professional thing to do was to make sure that an altercation was avoided and that throwing elbows at another player's head would have consequences with the league,'' Cuban wrote. "You would think that the Nuggets already had a bad enough experience in this type of situation that they would be overly cautious at even the slightest red flag.''
Cuban wrote Smith made an apparent goodwill gesture after the game.
"The humorous part of the whole thing was that, after the game, J.R. sent over to our locker room a signed pair of shoes for me,'' Cuban wrote. "I sent them back, saying he should sell them, if you could get anything for them, to help pay for the fine he was going to face.''
It was a tough day for Smith. He was cited for contempt of court earlier Tuesday for failing to appear at a hearing in New Jersey regarding traffic summonses from a 2007 accident in which his passenger died, and he shot 1-of-14 for two points against the Mavericks.
Meanwhile, ESPN, while showing game highlights, mentioned the possibility of Cuban being fined for going onto the court after the game. With 2.2 seconds left and the score tied 97-97, Dallas guard Jason Terry was called for a foul on Billups. Terry said it was a bad call.
"The guy said I hit him with the body,'' Terry said. "There was no body at all. He kicked his leg out falling down so I don't see how I could hit him with the body. He saw it different and that happens. Human error.''
Following Billups' two free throws, the Mavericks had no timeouts left, and a desperation full-court pass failed. Cuban then went onto the court after the final buzzer.
"That last call on Chauncey could have gone either way,'' Cuban wrote. "And I didn't run onto the court. I walked off the court the same way I do after every game, right next to our coaches. And I wasn't talking to the refs, I was talking to someone else (not named by Cuban) who was quite clear in their pleasure of their team winning the game and mocking the fact they got away with the calls. I definitely wasn't as polite to them (as Cuban claimed he was to Smith).''
January 14, 2009
6:43 AM
Jared writes:
Come on. "Questionable" call? There should've been an overtime at the very least. Denver, you know Dallas got cheated in the final seconds and that your boy JR is a head case.
January 14, 2009
7:23 AM
Anonymous writes:
Some times you get a break from the officials and other times it costs you. Remember JR's drive to the bucket against Detroit when AI fouled him and there was no call?
January 14, 2009
8:02 AM
Mark writes:
JR is a head case? what about Cuban? the guys a nut. seems like if anything he was out of line.
January 14, 2009
8:05 AM
Anonymous 2 writes:
I remember several should be foul calls during that Pistons game. It's not like no one was getting them, Denver got nothing.
January 14, 2009
8:25 AM
Anonymous 3 writes:
All this complaining... just play basketball and stop acting like teenage girls
January 14, 2009
10:42 AM
Mike writes:
Mark Cuban needs to get over himself. So you made a ton of money with the Dot Com boom and bought yourself a basketball team. That doesn't give you the right to jaw at players or run on the court after the game and start running your mouth like a girl. This guy constantly insults the dignity of the game and makes a fool of himself. I think deep down he is just upset because of the way his team was handled by the Heat and the Warriors in back to back years. Ever since that series against the Warriors, this Mavs team (ie any team led by Dirk) will always be a second tier NBA team.
January 14, 2009
11:02 AM
John writes:
Too many times there have been too many bad calls made in Mavs games. Fouls go both ways but the Billups foul called on Terry is just like when Manu gets kicked in the nuts by Kobe on his jump shot... poor officiating in the NBA the past few seasons, almost makes basketball not worth watching. They don't let them just flat out play anymore.
January 14, 2009
11:06 AM
John writes:
Also, for Mike... to say that Dallas is a 2nd Tier team is insane... especially to think that yours isn't. The west is the same this year as it was last year, top 9 or so all within about 9 games... and I also don't think that Denver made it to the post season last year. Make the post season consistently first, then speak proudly about your team instead of down-talking the others.
January 14, 2009
11:08 AM
Nick writes:
Give a five year old a billion dollars and "ta da" you get Mark Cuban...quit crying like a baby and act your age trash
January 14, 2009
11:16 AM
brett writes:
2 horrible calls in the last 2.2. Chaunc-knee's Billups audition for the Rockettes, then nene's Macho Man Randy Savage takedown of Dirk on the inbound pass.
Sure, Dirk really had no chance of catching the pass, but with Nene's full extension shove, a foul has got to be called...especially with the results of the previous play.
January 14, 2009
11:21 AM
brandon writes:
J.R. has a temper but if he can get past that he is an great player.......but the coach for the other team shouldny be talking to them during the game anyway......but it doesnt really matter anyway.....Dallas is going to be in the lottery anyway
January 14, 2009
11:25 AM
Dal Fan writes:
Cuban is an embarrassment to our city and team. Could you guys possibly stop him at your state line and keep him from returning to Big D?
Just jail him on some trumped up charge please!
January 14, 2009
11:26 AM
David writes:
John, Denver did make it to the post season last year and have been each of the five years carmelo has been on the nuggets. Granted they have not gotten past the first round, but that's because of their bad defense in the past. I am just glad that the nuggets are playing better defense since chauncey has arrived in denver and hopefully this year we will go far in the playoffs GO NUGGETS!!
January 14, 2009
12:10 PM
brandon writes:
yea david knows whats up......and they are getting past the first round this year for sure.....and the defense has been 100 percent better than last year.....and with MR. BIG Shot and Melo on the same team and the other players are playing some of the best basketball of their careers.......denver is going to make some noise in the west this year
January 14, 2009
12:34 PM
Joe writes:
I can't believe reporters just print e-mails from Cuban. It totally lets him drive the story.
And, what an -----le Cuban is.
January 14, 2009
4:15 PM
diverse7 writes:
The nuggets deserved this game.
January 14, 2009
4:36 PM
DIVERSE7 writes:
lmao, c'mon mav fans. You cant blame the refs for not bailing you guys out. I saw many no calls and bad calls for the mavs to stay in the game. Give Denver our credit. Your team WAS good, but you messed up trading your team for an old Jkidd. Who is great, but they gave up too much for him, and got nothing. We have made the post season for the past 5 yrs and will be a better team by the end of this yr.Our team is much better all round since Chauncey came, and if melo would have played, the score wouldnt be as close. I dont think its "ok" or exceptable for JR Smith (Im a huge fan) to throw elbows. But Mark Cuban shouldnt be telling off our players at halftime. George was right. Mark acted unprofessional and like a retard. He should have talked to Karl and brought it up, or just waited to tell the nba after the game. The nuggets won becasue we played good enough to win at the end. Chauncey WAS fouled at the end, and made his free throws. Your stupid coach should have had a time out to call, with 2.2 secs. That crazy ugly full court inbound pass to win the game? Dont blame the refs, blame your team for not having that timeout that proved to end the game. Your team should have had the discipline on defense to not put our BEST ft shooter at the line for the game. Bad team play by the mavs cost you the game you didnt deserve to win!!! GO NUGGETS!!!!
January 14, 2009
4:37 PM
DIVERSE7 writes:
lmao, c'mon mav fans. You cant blame the refs for not bailing you guys out. I saw many no calls and bad calls for the mavs to stay in the game. Give Denver our credit. Your team WAS good, but you messed up trading your team for an old Jkidd. Who is great, but they gave up too much for him, and got nothing. We have made the post season for the past 5 yrs and will be a better team by the end of this yr.Our team is much better all round since Chauncey came, and if melo would have played, the score wouldnt be as close. I dont think its "ok" or exceptable for JR Smith (Im a huge fan) to throw elbows. But Mark Cuban shouldnt be telling off our players at halftime. George was right. Mark acted unprofessional and like a retard. He should have talked to Karl and brought it up, or just waited to tell the nba after the game. The nuggets won becasue we played good enough to win at the end. Chauncey WAS fouled at the end, and made his free throws. Your stupid coach should have had a time out to call, with 2.2 secs. That crazy ugly full court inbound pass to win the game? Dont blame the refs, blame your team for not having that timeout that proved to end the game. Your team should have had the discipline on defense to not put our BEST ft shooter at the line for the game. Bad team play by the mavs cost you the game you didnt deserve to win!!! GO NUGGETS!!!!
January 14, 2009
4:55 PM
DIVERSE7 writes:
p.s I think J.R Swish kept his composure, and took what happend to him well. He could have cussed Cuban out, or hit him, or anything negative. CUDOS to Jr for being the better man, and sending him autographed shoes. Cuban thought he was some head mobster and wanted a sit down, after he told off jr. And was still showing his deep frustration about his team, underachieving against top 10 nba teams, by trying to bring up the past and talk negative about the nuggets orginization and players. J.R, your doin great, just no more elbows son. The last thing we need is to lose you.
January 14, 2009
6:06 PM
Anonymous writes:
nicely put diverse
January 14, 2009
8:37 PM
sim writes:
cuban u should stop crying like a baby and admit that ur team sucks and denver is a way better team...oh and if didnt want the shoes jr gave u i do cuz im a huge fan ha ha....and the one getting fined should be u for being a retard!
January 14, 2009
10:43 PM
Mike writes:
John, as several posters have already informed you, the Nuggets have made the post season for the past five years. So before you come flying off the handle at me, get your facts straight son. I wouldn't consider Denver an elite team and didn't even attempt to make that point in my post, use your head. But, at this point, I do consider my Nuggets a level above the Mavs. Fact: the Nuggets are 3-0 against the Mavs so far this season. As good as they have been over the past decade, with playoff appearances in eight straight years, and several deep runs, they are definitely a team on the decline. Trading a budding player in Devin Harris plus two first round picks for an aging Kidd and change was a desperation move, and one that I don't see panning out for them. The arrival of Chauncey in Denver, however, has only solidified the team. Don't be surprised when the Nuggets go deeper in the post-season this year than the Mavs. And don't blame it on poor officiating.
January 15, 2009
1:08 AM
Tijs writes:
From the "Comments on the Rules" Section in the rule book. (page 55)
Part C -- An offensive foul shall be assessed if the player initiates
contact in a non-basketball manner (leads with his foot, an unnatural
extended knee, etc.).
in our Case Book - Play 222
Defender B1 establishes a legal guarding position outside the restricted
area prior to Player A1's upward shooting motion. However, Player A1
extends his left leg in an unnatural movement and contacts Player B1 with
his foot first.
What is the ruling? An offensive foul shall be assessed against any player
who initiates contact in a non-basketball manner such as leading with a
foot or unnatural knee.
January 15, 2009
11:19 AM
Eric writes:
Tijs: Yeah, because the NBA follows the rule book to the letter of the law for EVERYONE, as if! Tell that to anyone on the wrong end of Patrick Ewing's kick every damn time he shot a jump shot. Don't get me wrong, I'm a much bigger fan of the college game with team play instead of just freak athletes going one-on-one, but Denver has had their share of questionable calls on their side, too. For example, 'Melo gets mugged every time he goes to the basket with the ball, and whether a foul is called or not is 50/50. That's how he broke his hand, and is out for 10-15 games . . . so quit complaining about Chauncy getting the benefit of a call doing a veteran move that's been called like this for the last 20 years.
January 15, 2009
2:21 PM
jason writes:
if everything has a tendencie to balance out as most people beleive we still get acouplle more no called elbow as we have taken several this year already
(knicks game this year comes to mind)
January 15, 2009
4:34 PM
Andy writes:
Ok, JR through an elbow, did he hit anyone? Then SHUTUP!!!
Also, I saw Dirk travel at least 4 times with his stutter steps that were never called.
JR shouldn't have thrown the elbow, but he didn't hit anyone. If he would have, then go ahead and suspend him. You can't blame the refs on the nuggets staying ahead the entire game...
January 16, 2009
1:21 AM
afan writes:
ok mike, nick,diverse7, you're all idiots!! mark cuban can do whatever he wants to,last time i checked he owns the mavs, he can pay any fine this stupid league can throw at him, and already has paid more fines than any other player or owner, ever in the nba. so think again. also, he only reason j.r. isn't suspended is because he threw a bow against a team ownwed by mark cuban! think back to mavs and kings several years ago( you know when mavs were making the playoffs and denver was as bad as the seattle supersonics). Raja Bell threw a non-conecting elbow at mike bibby and got a 5 game suspension for it. so everyone saying the refs follow the rule book to the letter of the law, can think again. and a dignified league so say, are you kidding me?! wasn't a ref just put in federal prison for placing bets on games that he officiated? the nba has been the gangster step-child of leagues for the past 5 years now. extremely questionable calls from many teams over the years ( the suns/spurs cluster f*** of obvious bad calls, the dwayne wade terrible call with 2 seconds left in game 3 of the finals, the michael finley knee to jason terry's throat while manu "flop" throwing elbows to his face to get a ball "jump" ball call in the playoffs a couple of years ago, what about all you denver fans boy nene grabbing on to clippers center's balls during the playoffs. how about everytime carmelo goes in for a layup he leads with his knee, just watch. i do live in dallas and no i don't really like mark cuban (i wish he would just buy the cubs and move on), but don't call anyone one you don't know "son", you are a retard and need to be on medication denverhas gone no where in the past decade in the nba, and if you think billups is going to take you somewhere new, think again. he is just as washed up as kidd, and hasn't had any success in the playoffs in the past 4 years! andy - well you're not even smart enough to respond to. carmelo might as well watch the playoff games from the couch of his living room he is so bad in the playoffs. don't get me wrong i don't think the mavs are better than the nuggets currently, but at least i don't have the illusions that all of you have about our teams. we all need to face the real facts here- mavs are on the decline, nuggets won't get past the first round curse, officiating is undebately horrible, tha nba sucks, and j.r. is a problem child who should have been suspended for his actions! he just needs to get a better haircut and play basketball! besides their isn't a player on the nuggets who can shoot like dirk. face facts dirk is the greatest pure shooter in the game period. not just 7 footer, that's a remrkable thing on it's own. no he is the greatest pure shooter in the game period. don't judge it, just research it!!!
January 16, 2009
12:22 PM
brandon writes:
ok this must just be me but i think "afan" might be spending too much time "researching" and not enough time getting a life. the refs dont always call everything. GET OVER IT! if you dont like it become a ref. JR shouldnt have done it but he isnt the only player who gets away with hard fouls. So stop whining about it and just watch the game
January 16, 2009
2:35 PM
Andy writes:
Well, Afan, at least I can use proper grammar and punctuation. Did he connect? No, SHUTUP!!!
January 17, 2009
5:37 PM
Mike writes:
Afan, I love it. While I am trying to make valid points in argument, you list off a bunch of nonsense and insults. You can't even get your own facts straight. It was Reggie Evans who grabbed Chris Kaman's nuts, not Nene. And the point is that, despite being an owner, Cuban cannot do whatever he wants. He has no right to run out in the middle of an opposing teams court to jaw at another player or ref. He also doesn't have a right to talk it up with Jones and Billups after half time. My point is the guy is a punk.
Let's get into the rest of your argument against the Nuggets. First, we are talking about this season, so throw out all that trash about the Mavs doing this and that while the Nuggets were as bad as anyone else in the league. The fact is the Nuggets are quietly taking their place as one of the teams to beat in the West. The Mavs, on the other hand, are currently ninth in the West and scrambling to make a deal to shore up their sad roster. I do agree that Melo has been pretty terrible in the playoffs, but a lot of that has to do with teams doubling Carmelo. Chauncey's vetern leadership will change that this year. And please tell me what you description of playoff success. Let's look at this four year period you say Chauncey hasn't done anything in the playoffs. If we look back 5 years ago, Chauncey led the Pistons to the finals, upset the Lakers, and won the MVP. Since then, Chauncey has been to the Finals once and to the Eastern Conference Finals the other three years. Pretty successful, if you ask me. He has been there and knows how to deal with the playoffs. Kidd, on the other hand, is the most washed up player in the NBA. Prior to coming to Dallas, he was playing on a terrible Nets team. Last year in the playoffs, he was one and done with the Mavs (like the Nuggets). But this year I guarantee the Nuggets make it to at leas the second round, while the Mavs will struggle to make the playoffs.
May 1, 2009
1:47 PM
NUGGZ FAN writes:
FUCK DALLAS N MARK CUBAN! WE GUNA SWEEP THEM.