Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle doesn’t back down after $25,000 fine

Dallas Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle had some more to say Saturday after he was fined $25,000 by the NBA for his critical postgame remarks Friday night about the officiating in Game 3 of his team’s first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

After Rod Thorn, the NBA’s president of basketball operations, announced the fine in a release Saturday, Carlisle was not backing down.

“I have strong feelings about how I feel about my team, and I’m going to fight for my team,� Carlisle told reporters in Dallas, where Game 4 is to be played Sunday evening.

“That’s just the way it’s going to be. I’m a lot like my owner. I’m going to fight for my guys. I understand the fine. I accept it, and I think they’ll put the money to very good use.�

Carlisle voiced his displeasure to the officials throughout the game, a hard-fought 130-128 victory for the Rockets, who lead the best-of-seven series, 3-0. Carlisle was frequently arguing calls and questioning why fouls were not called in other situations.

He appeared particularly upset about one play early in the fourth quarter when he indicated that he thought Rockets center Dwight Howard should have been called for a foul because he appeared to push Mavericks guard Devin Harris when the two were chasing a loose ball. Howard gained control of the ball and threw a pass to Trevor Ariza, who made a three-point shot.

“That stuff’s got to stop,� Carlisle said in his postgame interview. “The officials have to get that stuff under control ... because there’s too much physical stuff going on. Howard’s throwing people all over the place. That can’t happen in Game 4.�