J.R. Smith explains why he's done talking to NBA referees
J.R. Smith historically hasn't been the type of player that racks up a ton of technical fouls. But after picking up a total of eight of them last season, and being suspended two games in the playoffs for punching Boston's Jae Crowder in the face, he claims the officials are viewing him in a different light.
And that's the primary reason he's stopped talking to them altogether.
“I’m trying to leave the refs alone,” Smith told the Beacon Journal. ... "“And the crazy thing is they (officials) all want to laugh and joke with me before the game. Watch them during layup line, ‘Hey J.R.’ I’m not going to talk to you because as soon as we go jump ball they’re going to start what they do and I’ll be upset which is going to take me out of my game, which is going to take my team out of the game.”
Smith said he noticed a change in the very first game of the preseason, when he was given a flagrant-one foul on a simple attempt at blocking his opponent's shot.
Whatever strategy he's using with the officials, he should keep it up. Smith has just one technical foul so far this season, while the league leaders in that category -- Draymond Green of the Warriors and Kyle Lowry of the Raptors -- are tied with eight apiece.