“I don’t give a f—”: Jason Kidd fires again at critics after Rockets loss

[ad_1] Mavericks coach Jason Kidd is rising pissed off with what he believes are missed foul calls in opposition to Cooper Flagg late in video games.

Flagg drove to the basket within the closing moments of Dallas’ loss to the Houston Rockets and didn't obtain a whistle. He remained on the ground trying towards the official, however no name was made.

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After the sport, Kidd didn't maintain again.

“I noticed a foul. Sean (Wright), Simone (Jelks) & Jason (Goldberg) had been terrible tonight,” He stated. “It’s unacceptable. It’s a foul & he must be on the free throw line. Does he make each? That’s as much as the participant.”

Later within the postgame information convention, Kidd bristled at a query in regards to the nationwide criticism surrounding his level guard utilization. Earlier than the query may very well be totally requested about Flagg turning into a great ball handler, Kidd reduce in sharply.

“I don’t give a fuck in regards to the criticism,” Kidd stated. “That’s your opinion. You guys write that bullshit. I’ve achieved this. I’ve performed this recreation. I’ve performed it at a really excessive degree & I do know what the fuck I’m doing. However I don’t give a fuck what you guys write since you guys have by no means performed the sport. I've constructed gamers so I do know what the fuck I’m doing. To take criticism, it solely makes me higher as a result of if I wasn’t doing it proper, you guys wouldn’t be poking holes at what I’ve achieved.”

Kidd has been repeatedly requested all through the season about taking part in Flagg at level guard earlier in his profession, and the road of questioning appeared to put on skinny. Nationwide criticism of Kidd’s choices has adopted him all through the season, including to the stress.

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Listed below are two ideas from the 111-107 loss on Saturday:

Flagg’s large recreation

With beneath two minutes remaining, Flagg transformed a layup to chop Houston’s result in two factors. His large night time, nevertheless, was not sufficient. Alperen Sengun answered with a floater to assist raise the Rockets previous the Mavericks.

With a loss, the Rockets tied their collection with the Mavericks at two video games a chunk. Two of the 4 video games had been inside 9 factors. The Mavericks have misplaced 4 video games in a row.

With the Dallas Mavericks trailing within the fourth quarter, Flagg went into assault mode.

The 6-foot-9 ahead bullied his manner into the lane on back-to-back possessions, leading to two baskets. Each occasions, he ended up on the bottom searching for a foul name. On the third possession, Flagg rose over Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie and knocked down a midrange jumper whereas drawing a foul.

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Flagg is coming off a teenage-record 49-point efficiency in Dallas’ earlier recreation in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets. Houston countered by throwing its prime wing defenders, a gaggle that has helped the Rockets submit the sixth defensive ranking within the NBA, at Flagg. Nonetheless, neither Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. nor Tari Eason might preserve the previous Duke ahead from attending to his spots.

Flagg completed with 34 factors, 12 rebounds and 5 assists within the loss. He grew to become the primary teenager in NBA historical past to report consecutive 30-point double-doubles, based on ESPN. Flagg additionally joined LeBron James and Luka Dončić as the one youngsters with consecutive 25-point double-doubles.

Mavs protection Sengun, who entered the night time averaging 21.1 factors and 9.1 rebounds, missed a floater that rolled off the rim, then was referred to as for an over-the-back foul whereas trying to safe the offensive rebound. He shook his head as he ran again on protection.

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Sengun completed with 14 factors and 14 rebounds on 6-of-20 taking pictures (30 p.c). Dallas heart Daniel Gafford helped make issues troublesome for the Rockets’ large man at Toyota Heart.

Gafford turned in considered one of his stronger performances of the season, ending with 16 factors and 11 rebounds. He has performed by a sprained ankle suffered throughout the first 10 minutes of the workforce’s opening coaching camp follow.

Brandon Williams knocked down two 3-pointers within the first quarter and scored 13 factors within the interval, however his night time was reduce brief when Rockets guard Reed Sheppard collided along with his knees whereas diving for a free ball. Williams didn't return due to a left knee contusion. It marked the second straight recreation through which Williams left with an damage.

Dallas struggled to include Rockets ahead Jabari Smith Jr., who completed with 19 factors and eight rebounds. The Mavericks targeted their defensive consideration on Kevin Durant and Sengun, leaving Smith open on a number of possessions. On the opposite finish, Smith was a defensive presence, blocking three pictures and limiting Mavericks wing Naji Marshall, who scored eight factors.