David Fizdale Fined for Blasting Refs Following Grizzlies' Game 2 Loss vs. Spurs

Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale received a $30,000 fine from the NBA on Wednesday for his postgame rant about the lack of free throws granted to his team Monday night in its Game 2 playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Chris Haynes of ESPN confirmed the fine amount.

The Grizzlies, who are now down 2-0 in the series after losing both road games at the AT&T Center, shot 15 free throws in the 96-82 defeat. Meanwhile, the Spurs went to the line 32 times, including a 19-of-19 effort from superstar forward Kawhi Leonard.

Here's a look at Fizdale's remarks about the free-throw disparity, citing numbers that suggest Memphis was more active in the paint throughout Game 2:

The first-year head coach likely knew punishment was coming from the NBA after making public comments about the officiating.

That said, he's been through these battles before while winning a pair of championships as an assistant with the Miami Heat. His pointed remarks are a clear effort to get his team a little more respect from the referees as the series heads to Memphis for a virtual must-win Game 3.

Eli Savoie of WHBQ commented on the rant:

In addition, Fizdale has to figure out a way to keep Leonard from getting into the paint so easily to create open looks or free-throw opportunities. The Spurs' MVP candidate is averaging 34.5 points while shooting 71.4 percent from the field and a perfect 28-of-28 from the charity stripe through two games.

The first-round series continues Thursday night at the FedExForum as the Grizzlies attempt to turn their battle with second-seeded San Antonio into a competitive matchup before it's too late.

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