DALLAS -- The NBA fined Dallas Mavericks guard Delonte West $25,000 today for using his left index finger to poke Utah guard Gordon Hayward in the right ear during Monday's 123-121 triple overtime loss to the Jazz.
Before the league announced the fine, coach Rick Carlisle had a frank discusison with West about the incident.
"He and I sat down (Tuesday) and talked about that incident, and he understands,'' Carlisle said. "I made it clear to him that that's unacceptable.''
West is a hard-nosed player who brings a lot of aggressiveness to the table. And Carlisle doesn't want him to lose any of that aggression.
"We talked about that and I'm never going to do anything to take competitiveness away from anybody,'' Carlisle said. "But in a situation like that where a competitive advantage is gained by the other team, that's logic enough to stay from it, and he understands.''
The Mavs knew West was an edgy player when they signed him to a one-year, $1.18 million contract during the offseason.
"He's a competitive guy, but your competitiveness has to manifest in the right way,'' Carlisle said. "By and large, he's had a tremendous year for us, and he's done the right things.
"I see that as an isolated incident and I don't see it happening again.''
-- Dwain Price
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