After a close loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, frustration is building in the Dallas Mavericks locker room, as the defending NBA champions have dropped five of their last six games.
Jason Kidd has one explanation, and it starts with a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T:
Jaff Caplan of ESPN Dallas reports that Kidd was unhappy following Monday's loss; in particular, the officiating:
"We don't get the benefit of the whistle," Kidd said. "I don't think we're looked upon as champions, but that's a whole other story. Dirk (Nowitzki) should live at the line if they would call it the way it's supposed to be. But, he doesn't."
In the game, Oklahoma City was awarded 33 free throws to only 10 for Dallas. Kidd pointed to one call in particular: the foul call on Serge Ibaka which fouled out Ian Mahinmi and gave the Thunder their first lead in the last two minutes:
"He didn't foul him. It was a bad call. Clean block," Kidd said. "I just said (to Fraher) it wasn't a foul. He blocked the ball and after the play he said he bumped him with his body. I don't think so. It was a bad night for the officials. It happens."