Spurs Brazil
12-27-2008, 08:39 AM
While the game was already on ice, a Miami time-out by coach Erik Spoelstra with 30.9 seconds to go in the game has been received as an insult by the Chicago Bulls, the Associated Press is reporting.
"That upset the team. They hit our pride," Bulls forward Andres Nocioni said. "There was nothing good about calling that timeout. I feel it was out of place. That is something only done to disrespect the opponent."
"I wasn't clearly doing anything to show anybody up," said Spoelstra, who added that he thought some Chicago players were waiting to get into the game when he called the time-out.
Replays showed there were no Bulls at the scorer's table waiting to sub in for other players with 30.9 seconds left, although it wasn't clear if any were summoned back to the bench in the final moments. The Bulls did not make any changes during that time-out.
"There is no excuse or motive to call a late timeout with 25 seconds left and the game already decided," Nocioni said.
Spoelstra said he was made aware of the Bulls' unhappiness with the timeout when he saw some Chicago coaches pointing angrily at the Heat bench and assistant coach Ron Rothstein.
"If they want to make a big deal about it, whatever," Spoelstra said. "It's a pretty normal thing. I was perplexed by that, to be honest."
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/56210/20081227/heat_time_out_in_final_minute_irks_bulls/
"That upset the team. They hit our pride," Bulls forward Andres Nocioni said. "There was nothing good about calling that timeout. I feel it was out of place. That is something only done to disrespect the opponent."
"I wasn't clearly doing anything to show anybody up," said Spoelstra, who added that he thought some Chicago players were waiting to get into the game when he called the time-out.
Replays showed there were no Bulls at the scorer's table waiting to sub in for other players with 30.9 seconds left, although it wasn't clear if any were summoned back to the bench in the final moments. The Bulls did not make any changes during that time-out.
"There is no excuse or motive to call a late timeout with 25 seconds left and the game already decided," Nocioni said.
Spoelstra said he was made aware of the Bulls' unhappiness with the timeout when he saw some Chicago coaches pointing angrily at the Heat bench and assistant coach Ron Rothstein.
"If they want to make a big deal about it, whatever," Spoelstra said. "It's a pretty normal thing. I was perplexed by that, to be honest."
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/56210/20081227/heat_time_out_in_final_minute_irks_bulls/