McCutchen hopes meetings show refs’ commitment
As Monty McCutchen visits NBA teams on behalf of referees, he's hearing plenty of what he calls constructive criticism, delivered in a professional way.
"That's exactly what we're hoping to attain on the floor, is that no one is asking everyone to agree, no one is asking for there not to be constructive criticism," McCutchen said. "What we are trying to achieve is the sense of how to disagree respectively, how to disagree with an empathy and understanding."
McCutchen left his job on the floor during this season to become the league's vice president and head of referee development and training. With some high tensions with both players and coaches, he and head of referee operations Michelle Johnson have been conducting respect-for-the-game sessions with each team in hopes of creating a stronger working relationship.
He believes the meetings are going well, that players are seeing the commitment of the officials to have better communication.
Though some players have complained that referees won't engage in discussions with them on the court, McCutchen doesn't believe relations have worsened this season, echoing comments made by Commissioner Adam Silver at the All-Star break. Yet it seems otherwise sometimes, with coaches Doc Rivers, Stan Van Gundy and Alvin Gentry all fined by the league over the last week for criticizing officials.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle, whose team was visited by McCutchen before playing the Knicks last week, said the respected referee can make things better, calling him a great ambassador and teacher.
Jazz hitting stride
It could be the Warriors against the road warriors on Sunday.
Utah has won 11 straight road games, its longest streak since the 1994-95 season. The Jazz begin a three-game trip Thursday in Dallas. After a visit Friday to San Antonio, the trip wraps up Sunday at Golden State.
The Warriors, who could have Stephen Curry back in the lineup by then, will be looking to avenge a bad beating the Jazz handed them in the last meeting.